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Key Text Service Delivery in Difficult Environments: The Case of Nepal

Author: C Berry and J Armon et al.
Date: 2004
Size: 47 pages (115 KB)

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Summary

What are the challenges for service delivery in difficult environments? What lessons can be learnt from the conflict areas of Nepal? How effective are different strategies for delivering services to the poor and the vulnerable? This collaborative report from the DFID Nepal Office, Asia Policy Regional Policy Unit and DFID Policy Division (PD) describes the different approaches development agencies have used to support service delivery in Nepal and highlights key areas for future support.

The study focuses on six service delivery initiatives drawn from a range of sectors, supported by different agencies and all funded, to some degree, by DFID. Working with the government to scale up service provision will involve a mix of both state and non-state actors and a range of funding. Sectoral co-ordination is the key, as is developing robust monitoring.

Agency responses to the delivery of basic services have evolved in response to the conflict. Service delivery has been reoriented to increase transparency and accountability, adopt a lower profile, use local staff, deliver tangible outputs and target the poorest and most marginalized of the community. Other issues highlighted by the report include:

Understanding the socio-economic and political context is crucial. The conflict in Nepal varies across and within districts, changing dynamically with time.
Large-scale, resource-led intervention into humanitarian problems is inappropriate. It would potentially undermine development and increase the vulnerability of communities.
The space for development activities has been reduced by the conflict. Agencies are frequently “caught in the middle” between the Maoists and the security forces.
The international community’s Basic Operating Guidelines have helped to facilitate access to some of the worst affected areas. However, they protect programmes rather than communities.

Unless democracy is restored and human rights protected, it is difficult to envisage the progression of development in Nepal. Hence, efforts to bring about peace remain central. A comprehensive peace agreement is not likely in the foreseeable future. In the medium term, strategic efforts toward peace-building should be redoubled. Preparedness for a humanitarian response should the situation deteriorate is a priority in the short-term. Additional policy considerations include:

Agencies need access to up to date analysis of the political and socio-economic situation. By beginning to decentralise operations, DFID is responding better and more quickly to the demands of communities.
Agencies need a diverse set of aid instruments and relationships and flexibility to shift emphasis quickly as circumstances demand.
The right combination of service delivery initiatives is crucial; delivery that builds capacity of communities, providers and policy makers through, for instance, umbrella grants and sectoral support.
Approaches need to be able to operate in the grey area between relief and development. This has been partly achieved by reorientation to a focus on short-term benefits and remaining impartial with respect to the conflict.
If the conflict situation deteriorates, it will be necessary to explore further strategies including structured dialogue with non state actors, the application of international humanitarian law and the assessment of protection needs.

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Source: Berry, C. et al., 2004, ‘Service Delivery in Difficult Environments: The Case of Nepal’, Nepal Country Office and Policy Division, DFID.
Author: Jeremy Armon , j-armon@dfid.gov.uk ; Chris Berry , C-Berry@dfid.gov.uk
Department for International Development (DFID), http://www.dfid.gov.uk