Transcript Document

Intensified action on seven behaviours
by all development partners
Session objectives
1. To review status of intensified action: progress, issues and challenges
2. To discuss possible modifications to the approach
3. To agree next steps
background…
December 2012
IHP+ Country Teams Meeting message to
health leaders
– Is progress in putting agreed principles of effective aid/development cooperation into
practice, but slower than expected
– Countries have moved further than development agencies
– Are some critical areas in which greater progress would lead to more rapid and sustained
results. Become known as the 7 behaviours
April 2013
All IHP+ signatory countries invited to express
interest in championing intensified action
Global health leaders commit to renewed action
on 7 behaviours; support for 'twin-track' approach
May 2013
IHP+ technical briefing at WHA discusses 7
behaviours
The 7 behaviours – not new, but important
1. Agreement on priorities that are reflected in a single national health strategy and
underpinning sub-sector strategies, through a process of inclusive development and joint
assessment, and a reduction in separate exercises.
2. Resource inputs are recorded on budget and in line with national priorities.
3. Financial management systems are harmonized and aligned; requisite capacity building is
being done or underway, and country systems strengthened and used.
4. Procurement/supply systems are harmonized and aligned; parallel systems phased out;
country systems strengthened and used, with a focus on best value for money.
5. Joint monitoring of process and results, based on one information and accountability
platform.
6. Opportunities for systematic learning between countries are developed and supported by
agencies (south-south/triangular cooperation).
7. Provision of strategically planned and well-coordinated technical support.
Intensified action by all development partners
Twin-track approach – to be mutually reinforcing
1.
Country dialogue, review and action on the seven behaviours

Identify problems; underlying causes; priorities for action (government or
development agency; local or global)

Findings shared with agency HQs; any patterns identified
2.
International development agency review and action

Self-review of performance on each of the behaviours – not just what but
why, and what can be done

Take feedback across country rapid reviews into account as well
Country rapid review and action
Status
•
•
Seven behaviours a good framework for strategic discussion of current problems in
development cooperation
Priorities identified; next steps discussed locally; shared with agency HQs
Issues
•
•
Follow-up: less evidence of intensified action to implement agreed country-based
actions, partly because targets and timelines not explicit enough
More attention needed to effect change in agency behaviour in response to
country findings
International development agency review and action
• Status
– Some agencies have held internal discussions, but to date individual agency
review of all 7 behaviours quite limited
– Emergence of collective agency action focused on a single area: improving
measurement of results by harmonizing and aligning agency reporting
requirements
• Issues
– Time-limited focus on a single issue is attractive and works well where highlevel political engagement needed
– Focusing only on one issue at a time would mean that opportunities for
responding to patterns of problems from country rapid reviews, that require
change in a number of agency policies and procedures, could be neglected
Steering Committee invited to comment and advise on
proposed next steps in two areas
1. Follow up on in-country action plans
•
•
Countries review responsibilities for achieving targets, adhering to timelines for
actions agreed
Promote greater HQ staff engagement through informal teams consisting of
members from key agencies in the country concerned; mandated to provide a link
between follow-up at country level and HQs
2. Regaining momentum for comprehensive action within development
agencies
•
•
For greater long-term impact at country level, the case for a more comprehensive
internal review to inform agencies' own reform processes remains strong.
A combination of both approaches (collective single issue focus plus individual
internal review) is most likely to achieve greater gains