Sector wide approaches (SWAps)

This topic guide aims to provide key sources of information on the governance aspects of sector-wide approaches (SWAps). This guide is supported by three other GRC Exchange topic guides: Budget Support and Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs), as well as providing a generic guide to the broad topic of 'aid instruments'.

Page contents

Definition of topic and content

Where is a good place to start?

Managing SWAps: sector experience

Definition of topic and content

Sector-wide approaches (SWAps) are a form of programme aid directed to particular sectors. Within a SWAp, government and donor funding for a sector is directed towards the achievement of an holistic sectoral strategy which has been matched to available resources and implementation capacity. A single SWAp can incorporate a variety of different funding mechanisms, whether sector budget support, off-budget pooled funds, or projects.

To qualify as a SWAp, in DFID's definition, the approach should meet all the following criteria:

• a comprehensive sector policy and strategy;
• an annual sector expenditure programme and Medium - term Sectoral Expenditure Framework;
• donor co-ordination is government-led;
• major donors provide support within the agreed framework.

In addition, the approach should also meet at least one of the following criteria:

• a significant number of donors committed to moving towards greater reliance on government financial and accountability systems;
• a common approach by donors to implementation and management.

Where is a good place to start?

Lavergne, R. and Alba, A., 2003, CIDA Primer on Program-based Approaches, Canadian International Development Agency, Gatineau, Quebec.
This analytical review of programme-based approaches to aid focuses mainly on SWAps. It covers a wide range of issues, including the design and implementation of SWAps and explores some of the implications of this new vision for how aid agencies work.
Full document available online

SWAps and governance reform

SWAps were introduced to address some of the problems associated with delivering aid through standalone projects. SWAps can provide a unified budgetary framework for both development and recurrent spending and may increase government ownership of development activities by linking all spending to sector plans or a Medium - term Expenditure Framework. By channelling as many resources as possible through government financial and accountability systems, SWAps may also help to build public-sector managerial and administrative capacity.

The degree to which these benefits are realised depends on the context in which SWAps are introduced and implemented, and the progress of parallel reforms and improvements that take place (such as public-sector management reform). The following document provides a review of experiences with SWAps and examines the conditions under which they have been most successful.

Brown, A., Foster, M., Norton, A., and Naschold, F. 2001, 'The Status of Sector Wide Approaches', Working Paper No.142, Overseas Development Institute, London
This paper examines experiences with SWAps looking at issues of ownership and conditionality, management and capacity, poverty and participation as well as targeting and evaluation.
Full document available online

SWAps and poverty reduction

The link between SWAps and poverty reduction is not always made explicit. Although PRSPs are cross-sectoral in scope, the policy ideas developed through SWAps often contribute substantially to the thinking in PRSPs. Both SWAps and PRSPs emphasise government ownership and encourage longer-term planning and the use of government systems.

The following document examines SWAps’ contribution to poverty reduction. It also identifies evidence for complementarity between SWAps and the PRSP process.

Foster, M. and Mackintosh-Walker, S. 2001, 'Sector Wide Programmes and Poverty Reduction', Working Paper 157, Overseas Development Institute, London.
How effective are sector-wide approaches (SWAps) in tackling poverty reduction goals? What lessons can be drawn from current practice to improve their performance? This report by the Overseas Development Institute analyses sector programmes in a variety of countries, and gives an overview of how the current generation of SWAps is addressing poverty concerns.
Full document available online

Managing SWAps: sector experience

The documents below have been selected to provide an introduction to the issues and themes particular to SWAps in different sectors.

Education

Institute for Health Sector Development, 2003, ‘Sector-Wide Approaches in Education’, Background paper for a UNICEF workshop, Institute for Health Sector Development, London.
What are the key issues in the development and implementation of sector wide approaches (SWAPs) in education? This desk study by the Institute for Health Sector Development (IHSD) draws on experience of education SWAPs in Rwanda, Uganda and Zambia to address this question and make recommendations as to how strategy development can be improved.
Full document available online

Sibbons, M. et al., 2000, ‘Mainstreaming Gender Equality in Sector Wide Approaches in Education: Synthesis report’, Cambridge Education Consultants, Cambridge & Overseas Development Institute, London.
What have been the experiences of mainstreaming gender in education sector approaches (SWAPs)? How can SWAPs become effective vehicles for promoting gender equality? This report for the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) assesses the experience of three countries (India, Ghana, and Uganda) and suggests ways of more effectively mainstreaming gender in education.
Full document available online

Health

Institute for Health Sector Development, 2003, 'Mapping of Sector Wide Approaches in Health', Report for the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), IHSD, London.
What is the status of Sector Wide Approaches (SWAps) in the health sector? Which countries have sector wide policies and strategies in place? Are SWAps supported by significant funding agencies? How do they fit with government policy and expenditure frameworks? This article, by the Institute for Health Sector Development, provides an overview of the status of SWAps in eleven countries and highlights their differences and similarities as well as noting key country issues.
Full document available online

Users may also find it useful to refer to the following handbook which was developed by the Institute for Health Sector Development to accompany a series of seminars commissioned by the Inter-Agency Group on Sector-wide Approaches and Development Cooperation in Health between 2001 and 2003.

Institute for Health Sector Development, 2003, 'Sector Wide Approaches for Health Development', Seminar Handbook, Institute for Health Sector Development, London.
What have been the experiences of Sector-Wide Approaches (SWAPs) applied to the health sector? How can SWAPs for health development be improved? This study by the World Health Organisation draws conclusions about the value of SWAPs applied to the health sector in six countries: Mozambique, Uganda, Tanzania, Cambodia, Vietnam and Ethiopia.
Full document available online

Justice

Sserumaga, S., 2003, ‘Sector-Wide Approaches in the Administration of Justice and Promoting the Rule of Law: the Ugandan Experience’, Seminar on the Rule of Law, European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights, 3-4 July 2003, Brussels.
Since the end of 1999, the Ugandan government has worked to plan and implement a medium-term reform plan for its justice, law and order sector. This paper, delivered at a European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights seminar, outlines the achievements and challenges of this sector-wide approach. It also provides insight into the role of donors in such programmes.
Full document available online

What other resources are available on the GRC Exchange?

Key texts
More documents on SWAps can be accessed from the GRC Exchange's Information Database.

Governance Theme pages
Users of this page may also find it helpful to refer to Service Delivery topic guide.

Use the site search at the top of this page, or within the left navigation if you wish to look for wider resources on SWAps.

Additional information resources

CIDA SWAps Network
CIDA hosts an extranet site for CIDA's partners and members of the LENPA (Learning Network on Program-based Approaches) network as a vehicle to enhance communications and knowledge-sharing. The goal of the site is to facilitate the sharing of information on program-based approaches, particularly SWAps. A simple registration is required to gain access to the resource.

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