Aid effectiveness for health. Policy brief

This policy brief looks at reforms to current aid architecture that are needed in order to accelerate progress on the health-related Millennium Development Goals ( MDGs), achieve universal coverage of good quality health services and address prevailing inequities. Through the Paris Declaration in 2005 and the Accra Agenda for Action in 2008, donor governments committed to improve the effectiveness of official development assistance (ODA) for health, by harmonising and aligning ODA with recipient governments’ priorities, plans and processes. However, success in implementing these principles has been limited. To accelerate progress on the health-related MDGs, achieve universal coverage of good quality health services, and address prevailing inequities, significant reforms to the current aid architecture are urgently needed. This policy brief outlines Save the Children’s calls for donor governments to renew efforts to implement the Paris aid effectiveness Principles and invest in strengthening health systems.