In the Public Interest: Health, Education, and Water and Sanitation for All

by Bethan Emmett, Mary Robinson (Foreword by)

Overview

This report shows that building public services in developing countries is at the heart of making poverty history. Doing this could transform the lives of millions of people - and, with political leadership, is well within the grasp of our generation.Governments must take responsibility for providing essential services that are well staffed, affordable for even the poorest people, and accessible to all. Civil society organisations and private companies can make important contributions, but they must be integrated into public systems. International donors are crucial partners, but too often they block progress by failing to deliver debt relief and predictable aid that supports public systems, or push private sector solutions that do not benefit poor people.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780855985691
Publisher:	Oxfam Publishing
Publication date:	11/28/2006
Series:	Oxfam International Research Report Series
Pages:	124
Product dimensions:	8.25(w) x 10.25(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

Bethan Emmett is Policy Advisor for Research in Gender and Equity with Oxfam, GB.

Mary Robinson is Honorary President, Oxfam International and former President of the Republic of Ireland and a UN Human Rights Commissioner.

Table of Contents

Foreword; Acronyms and Abbreviations; Summary: Public success: governments that ensure essential services for all; Public failure—when governments fail to act; Civil society: picking up some of the pieces: If the state is broken, the market does not solve the problem; What needs to happen; Recommendations; 1. ESSENTIAL SERVICES: FAILING TO MEET ESSENTIAL NEEDS: Water and sanitation: far off-track; Health: enduring inequalities; Education: signs of progress; 2. WHAT WORKS? THE CASE FOR UNIVERSAL PUBLIC SERVICES: Incomes matter, but policies matter too; When governments get it right: learning from success; Lessons from developing country success; 3. WHEN IT GOES WRONG: POOR COUNTRY GOVERNMENT NEGLECT AND BROKEN PROMISES: The missing millions—doctors, nurses, teachers, and administrators; Killer fees; Missing money; Servicing the rich; 4. RICH COUNTRY GOVERNMENTS: PUSHING FOR PRIVATE PROVISION AND BREAKING AID PROMISES: Private provision is profitable, but not equitable; Things the rich countries don’t try at home; Stealing staff from poor countries; Rich countries still falling short on aid; 5. TIME TO DELIVER: HOW DEVELOPING COUNTRIES AND RICH COUNTRY GOVERNMENTS CAN BUILD EFFECTIVE PUBLIC SERVICES: What developing countries need to do; What rich countries need to do; Conclusion.