Rethinking the donor's role in strengthening health systems through sexual and reproductive health and rights partnerships: A qualitative analysis of Ugandan case studies

Echica van Kelle; Sarah I. Spronk; Denis Kibira; Carolien J. Aantjes

doi:10.1002/jid.3749

Rethinking the donor's role in strengthening health systems through sexual and reproductive health and rights partnerships: A qualitative analysis of Ugandan case studies

Echica van Kelle
, Sarah I. Spronk
, Denis Kibira
, Carolien J. Aantjes^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Athena Institute

Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

International donors continue to prefer vertical programming over systems strengthening despite the universal health agenda. This study explored Dutch policy and practice towards health systems within sexual and reproductive health and rights-focused partnerships between the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and civil society, through a document analysis, 13 in-depth interviews and a stakeholder workshop. The findings revealed that partnerships supported the Ugandan health system in unstructured ways and had difficulties finding synergies. To ensure sustained outcomes and respond to the renewed urgency of strong health systems in the face of crises, donors should incorporate systems strengthening as an explicit goal.

Original language	English
Article number	3749
Pages (from-to)	1711-1730
Number of pages	20
Journal	Journal of International Development
Volume	35
Issue number	7
Early online date	30 Jan 2023
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/jid.3749
Publication status	Published - Oct 2023

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Authors. Journal of International Development published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Funding

We sincerely thank all staff members of the NGOs and the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs who participated in this study for their time and valuable insights, as well as Nicole Pal MSc. for her edits to a first draft of this manuscript.

Funders
Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities

Keywords

advocacy
civil society
development policy
health systems strengthening
sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR)
universal health coverage (UHC)
vertical funding

Access to Document

10.1002/jid.3749

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Cite this

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title = "Rethinking the donor's role in strengthening health systems through sexual and reproductive health and rights partnerships: A qualitative analysis of Ugandan case studies",

abstract = "International donors continue to prefer vertical programming over systems strengthening despite the universal health agenda. This study explored Dutch policy and practice towards health systems within sexual and reproductive health and rights-focused partnerships between the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and civil society, through a document analysis, 13 in-depth interviews and a stakeholder workshop. The findings revealed that partnerships supported the Ugandan health system in unstructured ways and had difficulties finding synergies. To ensure sustained outcomes and respond to the renewed urgency of strong health systems in the face of crises, donors should incorporate systems strengthening as an explicit goal.",

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Rethinking the donor's role in strengthening health systems through sexual and reproductive health and rights partnerships: A qualitative analysis of Ugandan case studies. / van Kelle, Echica; Spronk, Sarah I.; Kibira, Denis et al.
In: Journal of International Development, Vol. 35, No. 7, 3749, 10.2023, p. 1711-1730.

Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Rethinking the donor's role in strengthening health systems through sexual and reproductive health and rights partnerships

T2 - A qualitative analysis of Ugandan case studies

AU - van Kelle, Echica

AU - Spronk, Sarah I.

AU - Kibira, Denis

AU - Aantjes, Carolien J.

PY - 2023/10

Y1 - 2023/10

N2 - International donors continue to prefer vertical programming over systems strengthening despite the universal health agenda. This study explored Dutch policy and practice towards health systems within sexual and reproductive health and rights-focused partnerships between the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and civil society, through a document analysis, 13 in-depth interviews and a stakeholder workshop. The findings revealed that partnerships supported the Ugandan health system in unstructured ways and had difficulties finding synergies. To ensure sustained outcomes and respond to the renewed urgency of strong health systems in the face of crises, donors should incorporate systems strengthening as an explicit goal.

AB - International donors continue to prefer vertical programming over systems strengthening despite the universal health agenda. This study explored Dutch policy and practice towards health systems within sexual and reproductive health and rights-focused partnerships between the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and civil society, through a document analysis, 13 in-depth interviews and a stakeholder workshop. The findings revealed that partnerships supported the Ugandan health system in unstructured ways and had difficulties finding synergies. To ensure sustained outcomes and respond to the renewed urgency of strong health systems in the face of crises, donors should incorporate systems strengthening as an explicit goal.

KW - advocacy

KW - civil society

KW - development policy

KW - health systems strengthening

KW - sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR)

KW - universal health coverage (UHC)

KW - vertical funding

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M1 - 3749

ER -

Rethinking the donor's role in strengthening health systems through sexual and reproductive health and rights partnerships: A qualitative analysis of Ugandan case studies

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

Persistent URL (handle)

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Cite this