Sektorsprogram

Sektorsprogram, or sector program, is a development cooperation modality in which donor support is aligned with a recipient country’s sector strategy and budget over multiple years to improve performance in a specific sector, such as health, education, or water. The approach emphasizes government ownership and seeks to coordinate funding and policy across multiple donors and government agencies.

Core features of a sektorsprogram include a sector policy and strategy, a multi-year sector program document, and a coordinated action plan that guides budgeting, procurement, and reform steps. Financing is often blended through sector budget support or pooled funding, with donors harmonizing their contributions to align with the sector’s annual budget and monitoring systems. The government takes the lead in setting objectives, implementing reforms, and reporting on progress, while donors align their interventions and reduce parallel project structures. Regular sector-wide reviews and joint performance assessments are common elements to ensure accountability and learning.

Implementation typically requires strong government leadership, transparent governance arrangements, and agreed governance and procurement rules that apply across all participating stakeholders. Sektorsprograms aim to improve policy coherence, use of public funds, and predictability of financing, while reducing fragmentation of aid.

Benefits commonly cited include enhanced ownership by the government, better alignment of aid with national priorities, and improved sector performance through coordinated action. Criticisms point to risks of weak governance, insufficient transparency, and heavy reliance on the recipient’s public financial management systems. Sektorsprograms have been applied in various countries across sectors such as health, education, and water and sanitation.

See also: sector-wide approach, budget support, development cooperation modalities.