multisettoriale

Multisettoriale, or multisectoral, is an approach that seeks to coordinate actions across multiple sectors of society and the economy to address problems that cannot be solved within a single domain. It is used in public policy, development, health, urban planning, and environmental planning to emphasize the need for cross-sector collaboration and coherence among different actors and institutions.

Key features of a multisettoriale approach include joint planning and decision making, shared objectives, and mechanisms for coordinating activities across ministries, agencies, the private sector, civil society, and local communities. Often these efforts rely on integrated budgeting or pooled resources, formal governance bodies such as multisectoral committees, and common indicators to monitor progress across sectors. Data sharing and interoperability of information systems are commonly pursued to support aligned actions and evidence-based adjustments.

Applications of multisettoriale strategies are diverse. In public health, multisectoral action engages health, education, finance, agriculture, and social protection to improve outcomes such as nutrition and infectious disease control. In climate resilience and urban development, cross-sector collaboration links land use planning, transportation, energy, and social services to reduce risk and increase sustainability. Agriculture, food security, and nutrition programs frequently use multisectoral designs to address dietary diversity and livelihoods. Disaster risk reduction also benefits from coordinated efforts across sectors to strengthen preparedness and response.

Challenges include governance complexity, competing priorities, and fragmentation of funding. Effective implementation often requires political will, clear mandates, defined roles, capable coordination bodies, and shared measurement systems. When well designed, multisettoriale approaches aim to achieve greater efficiency, resilience, and equity by leveraging synergies across sectors.