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On Learning About Efforts to Strengthen (and Reduce Harm to) Systems for Health
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

On Learning About Efforts to Strengthen (and Reduce Harm to) Systems for Health

Eric Sarriot and William T Story
Health policy and planning, Vol.37(4), pp.535-538
02/04/2022
DOI: 10.1093/heapol/czac013
PMID: 35137084
url
https://doi.org/10.1093/heapol/czac013View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

We comment on two embedded case studies of systems effects of successive mid-size projects looking back over 7-10 years, published in Health Policy and Planning. The papers examine humanitarian projects in Sudan and Pakistan and development projects (integrated Community Case Management) in Ethiopia, Malawi, and Mozambique. In this commentary, we summarize the two papers and discuss the overarching substantive and methodological lessons learned. In both development and humanitarian/emergency practice, projects navigate a dynamic space between gap-filling, systems support, and systems strengthening. In this, their contribution to systems strengthening depends heavily on the eco-system of government, development partners, and donors. Systems strengthening presents great challenges in definition, implementation, and measurement. Nonetheless, project implementers can and should renew their commitment to strengthening systems for health. This comes with a fundamental requirement for learning and evaluation.
 Ethiopia Malawi Mozambique Pakistan Sudan Evaluation Health Systems Systems for Health Case Management Complex Emergencies Community Care Health Systems Research

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