Implementing a sector wide approach in health: the case of Mozambique

Javier Martínez, June 2006

The Government of Mozambique and its development partners began to develop a sector wide approach for health in 2000. This paper explores how the key elements of the SWAP have been developed, and how processes and mechanisms are working now.

Efforts to harmonise and align donor contributions with sector plans and budgets have seen some success, but challenges remain - the health SWAP is not a panacea for donor coordination, and cannot address all the constraints of a young national health system.

The key lesson is that leadership, drive, coordination and mutual accountability require constant efforts and renewed commitments from all parties in a rapidly changing health policy and financing environment.