• SWAPs
• SWAPs and education
• SWAPs and health

Sector wide approaches (SWAPs)

This paper explores the conditions in which the sector wide approach can strengthen local development institutions.It notes that the sector wide approach is now the preferred procedure for organising development assistance.The sector wide approach involves:

• building partnerships between government and non-state actors and national and sub-national levels of government to implement sectoral programmes
• all stakeholders are expected to participate in the elaboration, implementation and monitoring of the sectoral policy
  

The paper argues that evidence from an evaluation of sector wide approaches suggests that in reality non-state actors and sub-national levels are participating less in the process. This is hindering the equitable distribution of services to local communities and is not conducive to achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The paper however finds an exception in the sector wide approach to the provision of drinking water in rural Benin.

The paper reviews the water sector in Benin, and changes in the institutional framework. It discusses the water programmes implemented in Benin and analyses the evolution of the roles and responsibilities of the different actors in the sector, and the nature of the partnerships established in order to develop and manage sustainable water systems.

The paper finds that aided by the Netherlands, Benin implemented a sector wide approach to the provision of water and sanitation services, which involved:

• the transfer of competencies and resources to local governments
• emphasis was placed on the harmonisation of sectoral policies, decentralisation, deconcentration and financial procedures and ensuring they are in accordance with current legislation, regulations and national procedures
• performance of the water sector was improved by efforts to strengthen and streamline public finance channels and public procurement procedures, as well as assuming responsibility for works at the departmental level and improving understanding of the process

The paper suggests that these public finance management procedures are not specific to the water sector and could be applied to other sectors. Benin’s experience is important for understanding how the programme has helped reinforce the link between the national and local levels. This will have a bearing on the development of approaches looking at how best to align sectoral policies with institutional reforms geared to decentralisation not just in Benin, but also in the sub-region.

• Full text of document
• Publisher details
• Send to a friend