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Contributions from
the Column
InWEnt News
Democracy and human rights: a case for statistics – or not?
Social services – a political challenge for development cooperation
Crisis prevention in Africa: “We need to be more patient”
More money is needed for global tasks
12/2003 |
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[ Conference on the World Development Report 2004 ]
Social services – a political challenge for development cooperation
The World Bank's "World Development Report " this year shows how important it is for the attainment of the Millennium Goals that the poor should get better access to social services. It also highlights ways in which this can be achieved (see D+C 2003:11, P. 436). What are the implications for the policy of the international donor community, for the providers of social services and for the poor as their clients? That was the question addressed by a conference in Bonn staged at InWEnt's instigation on October 15-16. A first-ever joint venture by the three big German development organisations InWEnt, GTZ and KfW in cooperation with the German Development Institute GDI and the Centre for Development Research ZEF, the conference was attended by representatives of German governmental and non-governmental organisations as well as experts from developing countries (Philippines, Kenya, Malawi, South Africa, Honduras, Kyrgyzstan).
Among the participants was Shantayanan Devarajan, the director of the World Development Report 2004, who presented the report's most important findings. His team member Shekar Shah then explained how the World Bank plans to act on those findings. To heighten the efficiency and standard of services in education, health and the water sector and to improve access for the poor, far-reaching institutional reform will be required. The World Bank, Shah said, will translate the findings into programmatic action; in Southern Asia, for example, current programmes will be adjusted accordingly. What is important is support for the state as a public service provider. One of the principal findings of the World Development Report is that not everything should be left to the private sector. To improve policy and institutions, it says, more studies and research is needed (impact assessments, studies on the impact of political incentives).
Within the Bank, the World Bank Institute runs training programmes for clients as well as for staff. To transform institutions, change balances of power and improve social service provision for the poor, however, Shah said partnerships needed to be established between the World Bank and other development organisations, such as the organisers of the conference. What are also needed are partner countries with the political will to implement reforms. Increased capacities are required at all levels (clients/poor, service providers, politicians); decentralisation and reform at local level and the establishment of education or health committees can underpin client empowerment; quality standards can help assign more responsibility to providers.
For German development cooperation, BMZ delegate Ingrid Hoven said the report highlighted a need for active assistance for key government functions in partner countries. Bruno Wenn (KfW), Rolf Korte (GTZ) and the author of this article (InWEnt) called for German sectoral strategies more systematically coordinated with partner countries' Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs), better coordination between donors (harmonisation) and, with a view to heightening public transparency, help for partner countries with the budget process. What's more, to ensure that private services meet standards, help should be provided to develop regulations and quality management procedures for state and private providers.
Wilfried Steen (German Protestant Church Development Service (EED)) pointed out that the role of non-governmental organisations should not be confined to that of service providers. On the contrary, he said, they performed an important function in the political debate and as watchdogs for the state – because education and health are inalienable human rights and every state is required to provide them.
Dr. Carola Donner-Reichle, Head of the
Social Development Department at InWEnt.
carola.donner-reichle@inwent.org
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