Service delivery

About this guide

How can we ensure that basic services reach the poorest?  What is the best way of involving service users and ensuring that providers are accountable to them?  Are non-state service providers pro-poor, and how should the state engage with them? What are the particular challenges for delivering services in conflict or fragile environments? 

This guide provides an introduction to a few of the key recent debates for development practitioners involved in the provision of basic services, particularly health, education, water and sanitation.  It includes academic articles, donor reports and case studies from a range of developing countries.

The guide was written by Zoë Scott and updated by Anna Orrnert and Sumedh Rao. The GSDRC appreciates the contributions of Richard Batley (International Development Department, University of Birmingham), Anu Joshi (Institute of Development Studies), Claire Hughes (Social Development Direct), and Nicola Dahrendorf (DFID).  Comments, questions or documents for consideration should be sent to enquiries@gsdrc.org

Latest Additions

The following document summaries were added in August 2010:

• Yazbeck, A., 2009 'A Menu of Pro-poor Policies' in Attacking Inequality in the Health Sector: A Synthesis of Evidence and Tools, World Bank, Washington, D.C., pp. 157-172
• Marc, A., 2009, 'Delivering Services in Multicultural Societies', World Bank, Washington, D.C.
• Corner, L. and Repucci, S., 2009, 'A User's Guide to Measuring Gender-Sensitive Basic Service Delivery', United Nations Development Programme and United Nations Development Fund for Women, Oslo
• UNDESA, 2010, 'Promoting Citizen-Centric Public Service Delivery in Post-Conflict Situations', in Reconstructing Public Administration after Conflict: Challenges, Practices and Lessons Learned - World Public Sector Report 2010', United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), New York, pp.105-122
• International Policy Centre for Inclusive Growth, 2009, 'Equitable Access to Basic Utilities: Public versus Private Provision and Beyond', Poverty in Focus No. 18, International Policy Centre for Inclusive Growth, United Nations Development Programme, Brasilia
• Harding, A., 2009, 'Partnerships with the Private Sector in Health: What the International Community Can Do to Strengthen Health Systems in Developing Countries - Final Report of the Private Sector Advisory Facility Working Group', Center for Global Development, Washington, D.C.

New additions