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Why we need to work more effectively in fragile states: ( Department for International Development, UK , 2005); This paper lays out DfID’s commitment to working more effectively in fragile states. A working definition of fragile states is outlined as "where the government cannot or will not deliver core functio...
Achieving the Health Millennium Development Goals in fragile states: ( High-Level Forum on the Health Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) , 2004); The success of the Millennium Declaration and Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) requires major improvements in health systems and health outcomes across the developing world. This paper by The ...
Fragile states strategy: ( US Agency for International Development , 2005); This strategy sets out how USAID can most effectively respond to fragile states. The strategy’s overall goal is to guide USAID’s efforts in reversing decline in fragile states and advancing their reco...
Breaking the conflict trap: civil war and development policy: ( P. Collier;V.L. Elliott;H. Hegre / World Bank , 2003); Civil war conflict is a core development issue. The existence of civil war can dramatically slow a country's development process, especially in low-income countries, which are more vulnerable to civil...
The World Bank in fragile situations: an issues paper. An eye on the future: the World Bank Group in a changing world: ( A.R. Menocal;T. Othieno;A. Evans / Overseas Development Institute [ES] , 2008); Engaging in fragile situations with the objective of building capable and accountable states has emerged as a central challenge for the international aid community. The World Bank has identified its w...
Operational approaches and financing in fragile states: ( International Development Association , 2007); Fragile states and situations are difficult environments most importantly for national reformers struggling to bring about peace, improved governance and protection of the population but also for the ...
Global Monitoring Report 2007: confronting the challenges of gender equality and fragile states: ( World Bank , 2007); The 2007 Global Monitoring Report on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) assesses the contributions of developing countries, developed countries, and international financial institutions toward me...
How important are difficult environments to achieving the MDGs: ( A. Branchflower; S. Hennell; S. Pongracz; M. Smart / Department for International Development, UK , 2004); This working paper, published by the Department for International Development, argues that countries defined as "difficult environments” are the single biggest challenge to the MDGs and to the elimina...
Health service delivery in early recovery fragile states: lessons from Afghanistan, Cambodia, Mozambique, and Timor Leste: ( L. Zivetz / BASICS fragile and post-conflict states publications , 2006); The past decade has been marked by a global concern with the number of countries that are unwilling or unable to adequately ensure their people’s security and development needs. This case stu...
Health programming in post-conflict fragile states: ( R. Waldman / BASICS fragile and post-conflict states publications , 2006); The underlying motivation for providing assistance to fragile states is often not humanitarian, but rather one of improving regional and even global security. This short paper by USAID outlines some m...
Delivering health services in fragile states and difficult environments: 13 key principles: ( S. Oswald;J. Clewett / Health Unlimited , 2007); This report by Health Unlimited draws out key policy recommendations and operational implications for stakeholders involved in delivering health services in fragile states and difficult environments. ...
Health in fragile states: an overview note: ( High-Level Forum on the Health Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) , 2005); Progress in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) requires that more attention be paid to the situation of countries in which often, but not exclusively, as a result of prolonged confli...
Primary health care vs. emergency medical assistance: a conceptual framework: ( W. Van Damme;W. Van Lerberghe;M. Boelaert / Health Policy and Planning , 2002); Primary health care (PHC) and emergency medical assistance (EMA) are discussed as two fundamentally different strategies of delivering health care. PHC is conceptualised as part of overall developm...
Public health in crisis-affected populations: a practical guide for decision-makers: ( F. Checchi;M. Gayer;R.F. Grais;E.J. Mills / Humanitarian Practice Network, ODI , 2007); A considerable proportion of humanity is currently living in crisis conditions. This paper by the Humnitarian Practice Network argues that never before has it been clearer what interventions must b...
Lessons learned from complex emergencies over past decade: ( P. Salama;P. Spiegel;L. Talley;R. Waldman / The Lancet , 2004); Major advances have been made during the past decade in the way the international community responds to the health and nutrition consequences of complex emergencies. The public health and clinical ...
From humanitarian and post-conflict assistance to health system strengthening in fragile states: clarifying the transition and the role of NGOs: ( D. W. Brinkerhoff / Health Systems 20/20 , 2008); In fragile states, particularly those that have experienced extended periods of conflict, health systems have typically been seriously eroded and damaged. Health infrastructure is destroyed, or is ...
Rebuilding health systems and providing health services in fragile states: ( W. Newbrander / Management Sciences for Health , 2007); Effective engagement with fragile states depends on donor coordination and an understanding of health system challenges to inform the design of health programmes and selection of interventions. Thi...
Health service delivery in post-conflict states: ( High-Level Forum on the Health Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) , 2005); This background paper for the High Level Forum on Health MDGs (Millennium Development Goals) examines the challenge of investing in the development of health services in post-conflict countries. It o...
Everybody's business: strengthening health systems to improve health outcomes: WHO’s framework for action: ( World Health Organization , 2007); It will be impossible to achieve national and international goals, including the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), without greater and more effective investment in health systems and services. T...
Improving health services and strengthening health systems: adopting and implementing innovative strategies - an exploratory review in twelve countries: ( J. Janovsky;D. Peters / World Health Organization , 2006); In recent years, a number of specific strategies for improving health services and strengthening health systems have been consistently advocated. In order to advise governments, the World Health Or...
Aid dependence and governance: ( D. Bräutigam / Expert Group on Development Issues, Department for International Development Cooperation. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sweden , 2000); This study analyses the political economy of aid dependence. It argues that large amounts of aid, delivered to countries with weak institutions, create some of the institutional problems that lead to ...
Towards better leadership and management in health: report on an international consultation on strengthening leadership and management in low-income countries: ( C. Waddington;D. Egger;P. Travis / World Health Organization , 2007); To achieve the health-related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), many low-income countries need to significantly scale up coverage of priority health services. This report by the World Health Org...
Health governance: concepts, experience, and programming options: ( D.W. Brinkerhoff;T.J. Bossert / Health Systems 20/20 , 2008); This policy brief produced by USAID provides an overview of governance in health systems. This refers to developing and putting in place effective rules for policies, programmes and activities related...
Community-based approaches and service delivery: issues and options in difficult environments and partnerships: ( T. Slaymaker; K. Christiansen; I. Hemming / Department for International Development, UK , 2005); This document, prepared for the Department for International Development (DFID), examines the relationship between community-based approaches and service delivery, drawing together lessons from intern...
When do vertical (stand-alone) programmes have a place in health systems?: ( R.A. Atun;S. Bennett;A. Duran / World Health Organization , 2008); This policy brief by the WHO considers the comparative effectiveness of vertical versus more systemic approaches to health service delivery. The authors unpack what is meant by a vertical programme...
The cost-effectiveness of primary care services in developing countries: a review of the international literature: ( J. Doherty;R. Govender / Disease Control Priorities Project, Maryland , 2004); Knowledge of the local or regional burden of disease is required for governments to understand what diseases are potential priorities requiring intervention within their own country’s borde...
Absorptive capacity of health systems in fragile states: ( L. Tayler / HLSP Institute, UK , 2005); What can donors do for the health sector in fragile states? This paper from the HLSP Institute outlines some principles and approaches that can help to address absorptive capacity constraints, and ...
Health care financing in complex emergencies: a background issues paper on cost-sharing.: ( T. Poletti / London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine , 2003); There is considerable interest in the introduction of cost-sharing as an element of health care financing in emergency and post-emergency situations, but many questions remain. This paper from the Lon...
Human resources for health in fragile states: ( L. Doull;F. Campbell / The Lancet , 2008); Human resources are crucial for a functioning health system. This short article in the Lancet shows how the global shortage of health workers is evident in many developing countries, especially in ...
Establishing human resource systems for health during postconflict reconstruction: ( J. Smith; R-L. Kolehmainen-Aitken / Management Sciences for Health , 2006); This paper, from Management Sciences for Health, outlines the Human Resources for Health (HRH) issues during the period of reconstruction in post-conflict countries. The paper draws on examples from A...
Guide to health workforce development in post-conflict environments: ( J. Smith / World Health Organization , 2005); This guide from the World Health Organization (WHO) examines the issue of human resource management when rebuilding the health system in post-conflict countries. The guide argues that the post-confli...
Health information systems in humanitarian emergencies: ( M. Thieren / Bulletin of the World Health Organization : the International Journal of Public Health , 2005); The production of health information is an important function of a health system. This paper from the Bulletin of the World Health Organisation (WHO) aims to address those Health Information S...
Health information systems: the foundations of public health: ( C. Abou Zahr; T. Boerma / Bulletin of the World Health Organization : the International Journal of Public Health , 2005); This theme paper, published in a special issue of the Bulletin of the World Health Organisation on health management information systems, argues for the importance of health information systems in pub...
Methods for health surveys in difficult settings: charting progress, moving forward: ( K. Bostoen;O.O. Bilukha;B. Fenn / Emerging Themes in Epidemiology , 2007); Health surveys are a very important component of the epidemiology toolbox, and play a critical role in gauging population health, especially in developing countries. This editorial is written for a...
Evaluation of ECHO's Global Plans 2000 and 2001, Democratic Republic of Congo: report on the drug supply: ( Dr. von Massow / Overseas Development Institute [ES] , 2001); The reality in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) today is predominated by a complex and chronic emergency situation characterised by intense violence and human suffering in most of the pr...
WHO medicines strategy 2008-2013: ( World Health Organization , 2008); In 1978 the Alma Ata conference identified the availability, quality and rational use of essential medicines as one of the components of primary health care. Now, after three decades of disease-orient...
Procurement strategies for health commodities: an examination of options and mechanisms within the commodity security context: ( R. Rao;P. Mellon;D. Sarley / US Agency for International Development , 2006); Routine, efficient procurement for health programmes requires specialised knowledge of and expertise in essential medicines and consumables, and the markets where quality products can be obtained. ...
Principles for good international engagement in fragile states & situations: ( Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development , 2007); This paper, published by the OECD, outlines a set of ten principles adopted by OECD Ministers in 2007, which it suggests international agencies should share in order to help max...
Round Table 7 on situations of fragility and conflict: discussion note – session 3: improving the delivery of international assistance for the reduction of fragility and conflict: ( United Nations Development Group , 2008); Over the past ten years United Nations’ (UN) peacekeeping operations have largely increased in number and importance. This short discussion note from the 3rd High Level Forum on Aid Effective...
The applicability of the Paris Declaration in fragile and conflict-affected situations: ( S. Jones;K. Kotoglou;T. Brown / IDL Group , 2008); The Paris Declaration sets out an overall framework of agreement and structure of mutual accountability between aid-receiving countries and their development partners to give substance to the conse...
The forgotten states: aid volumes and volatility in difficult partnership countries (1992-2002): ( V. Levin;D. Dollar / OECD DAC's Joint Learning and Advisory Process on Difficult Partnerships , 2005); Difficult partnership countries (DPCs) are countries with weak policies and institutions, some of the most difficult environments for aid programmes, although they are also amongst the poorest countri...
Aid allocation and fragile states: ( M. McGillivray / World Institute for Development Economics Research (WIDER) , 2006); This paper summarises research on aid allocation and effectiveness, highlighting the current findings of recent research on aid allocation to fragile states. The paper examines the broader context of ...
Aid instruments in fragile states: ( N. Leader; P. Colenso / Department for International Development, UK , 2005); This paper by the UK Department for International Development (DFID) describes the limitations of current approaches to aid instruments and discusses the emerging understanding of their use within fra...
Post-conflict health sectors: the myth and reality of transitional funding gaps: ( A. Canavan;P. Vergeer;O. Bornemisza / KIT Development Policy & Practice , 2008); During the transition from conflict to peace, the limited health services that exist, mainly provided by humanitarian non-governmental organisations, often come under threat of contraction. The mos...
Aid to fragile states: do donors help or hinder?: ( S. Browne / World Institute for Development Economics Research (WIDER) , 2007); This paper examines the relationship between state failure and development assistance. It begins by looking at poor development performance as a criterion for state failure and then examines common...
According to need?: needs assessment and decision-making in the humanitarian sector: ( J. Darcy; C. Hofmann / Humanitarian Policy Group, ODI , 2003); The article states there are three problems underlying responses to humanitarian crises:international humanitarian financing is not equitable, and amounts allocated do not reflect comparative ...
Assessing the impact of humanitarian assistance in the health sector: ( L. Roberts; C.-A. Hofmann / Emerging Themes in Epidemiology , 2004); Published in the journal Emerging Themes in Epidemiology, this paper argues that the health impact of programmes in emergency settings is too often assumed. There is now a substantial body of knowledg...
Advances in monitoring have not translated into improvements in humanitarian health services: ( L. Roberts / Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , 2007); The field of humanitarian relief is relatively promising. Methods for documenting basic health measures on the local level have been developed and general health priorities have been documented. Th...
Concepts and dilemmas of state building in fragile situations: from fragility to resilience: ( Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development , 2008); Policy makers are increasingly concerned by what appears to be a growing body of “weak”, “fragile”, or “failing” states. However, international actors have not yet ...
Rethinking neo-liberal state building: building post-conflict development states: ( J. Barbara / Development in Practice , 2008); In attempting to rebuild post-conflict failed states, the international community has drawn heavily on neo-liberal development paradigms. This article in Development in Practice argues that neo-lib...
Health system reconstruction: can it contribute to state-building?: ( J. Eldon;C. Waddington;Y. Hadi / HLSP Institute, UK , 2008); There is a growing knowledge base demonstrating the importance of good governance in the health sector for effective health systems and improved service delivery. This study commissioned by the Hea...
States in development: understanding state-building: ( A. Whaites / Department for International Development, UK , 2008); States are central to development, and there is potential for donors to both help and hinder their improvement. This paper suggests that looking more closely at state-building allows international act...
Whole of government approaches to fragile states: ( Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development , 2006); The OECD Principles for Good International Engagement in Fragile States highlight the fact that successful development in a fragile environment depends, at least in part, on well sequenced and coheren...
Shifting sands: the search for ‘coherence’ between political and humanitarian responses to complex emergencies: ( J. Macrae;N. Leader / Humanitarian Policy Group, ODI , 2000); The early 1990s have seen increasing calls to enhance the coherence of political and humanitarian action. This report from ODI’s Humanitarian Policy Group examines the origins and evolution o...
Health programming for rebuilding states: a briefing paper: ( R. Waldman / BASICS fragile and post-conflict states publications , 2007); A significant shift has occurred recently in the orientation of U.S. foreign assistance policy. Not long ago, U.S. social sector programmes, including health, were undertaken primarily for humanita...