Reaching people at the periphery - Can the World Bank's population, health and nutrition operations do better?

Abstract

Many population, health and nutrition (PHN) programs are designed to elicit behaviour changes in poor people living at the geographic and social peripheries. Few programs specifically target the disadvantaged, however, and research about clients focuses mainly on routine statistics rather than on whether education and services do or will meet clients needs. This paper looks at the Bank's past and present PHN work to see whether the approaches being used are likely to be effective in reaching clients at the periphery, and to suggest some directions for the future. The focus is on design and management of direct efforts to deliver services and education aimed at behavioral change, and hence on the interface between worker and client.Health Monitoring&Evaluation,Health Economics&Finance,ICT Policy and Strategies,Agricultural Knowledge&Information Systems,Housing&Human Habitats