Coordination of Population, Development, and Health Programs

Abstract

A 1980 study commissioned by the World Bank indicated that resolution of issues pertaining to coordination was a top priority for improving the management of population programs in the world. This book reports findings of a study done to solve the problems identified in the 1980 study. An expert group was appointed to implement the investigation. The emphasis is 2-fold: on descriptive studies of arrangements for coordinating population health and development programs in selected countries; and on the development of an analytic framework for understanding the issues in this field. Analysed are population and intersectoral activities family planning service delivery recommendortions of the World Population Plan for Action formulated at Bucharest; coordination aspects of the Indonesian family planning program; Koreas approaches to coordination in the population field; coordination of population programs in Nepal; and population program coordination in Sri Lanka and Thailand. The concept of organization is examined in depth. Objectives are 1) to clarify further the definitions of and the relationships among interorganizational concepts current in the field of population/family planning by presenting 6 models which seem to capture the essence of most of these concepts and discussing their parameters with program illustrations; 2) to characterize the organizational arrangements or structures which distinguish coordination and integration from other integrating activities; and 3) to focus on the need to select integrating mechanisms (organizational sturctures) according to the objectives to be implemented. In Indonesia the National Family Planning Coordinating Board a nonministerial governmental body functions to coordinate plan administer and evaluate all family planning activities in the country. Koreas and Nepals experiences in coordinting the policies and programs directed toward achieving population goals are analyzed. The diversity and levels of organizations and agencies involved in population program design and implementation in Sri Lanka are examined. Thailand uses a task oriented approach to administering and coordinating population activities. In all case studies the coordination mechanism is stressed ab being very important to obtain enthusiasm and effective ccoperation. It can be implemented by planning committees and informal contacts. Despit widespread recognition of problems in coordination there has been very little evaluation and research on the effectiveness of coordination mechanisms.