Sustaining Developmental Interventions and Initiatives
Finding suitable and effective sustainability systems for developmental interventions and initiatives
Sustaining Developmental Interventions and Initiatives
Developing and implementing a sustainability system for key developmental interventions and initiatives is one of the key actions that should be given the needed attention. This holds especially true for interventions and initiatives that seek to engage the populace at all operational levels (i.e. from Community to the National level).
Since most (if not all) interventions ultimately aim to cushion the vulnerable who are most likely to be poor, it is imperative that robust and time-tested sustainability systems be developed and implemented. Donor funded systems cannot be relied upon as most donors will not fund interventions and initiatives in perpetuity.
We configure our systems to function at a high rate of interoperability and integration with existing systems with space for expansion and the addition of other parameters.
Sustainability Systems must take into cognizance some demographic and socioeconomics dynamics such as:
a. Age structure
- In populations and communities with very young people or aged persons, some options are not a viable option due to the low number of persons in the productive age bracket
b. Movement of people
This is a key factor to consider in interventions that involve community-based options. Because people move in and out of communities, static systems for such interventions have a higher level of inconsistency
c. Individual preferences
Though not felt by Programme Officers at “Higher” Operational Levels, developmental issues are largely personal in nature, thus other persons in either a community or population sub-group may not see/feel the need to contribute to a particular developmental intervention and/or initiative
d. Economic situation
Some persons may not have the wherewithal to contribute as they may want to. This inability may thus be miscomprehended as a reluctance or outright refusal to contribute their quota to the community, provincial, and national developmental interventions and initiatives. Hence any system that seeks the effort of all persons should, (as a matter of must) have a level of segregation procedures that will not burden such persons or population sub-groups
e. Indices of morbidity and mortality
Communities and population sub-groups with an undesirable morbidity and mortality profile will be unable to contribute to any medium or long-term developmental intervention and/or initiative. This will be due to the number of Productive Man-Hours lost and/or Disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), which is a time-based measure that combines years of life lost due to premature mortality (YLLs) and years of life lost due to time lived in states of less optimal health, or years of healthy life lost due to disability (YLDs)
So which Sustainability Models are effective?
In finding a suitable and effective sustainability system for developmental interventions and initiatives, some approaches that have been applied/used by HDPi include:
1. Strengthening Prevention Systems
This is one key factor in ensuring the sustainability of developmental intervention and initiatives and involves the constant engagement of communities and population sub-groups in terms of awareness creation, education, and community participation.
Social and Behavioral Change Communication has been proven to be effective in virtually all domains of development. However, designing, producing, and distributing the needed Information, Communication and Education (IE&C) materials can take time and needs adequate funding.
Thus, the use of Electronic means to Disseminate information on developmental issues is quicker and more cost-effective. With mobile technology and internet penetration and use as well as the proliferation of AI-assisted and increasingly user-friendly devices on the rise daily, its use for development communication and promotion of key interventions and initiatives is sustainable and can serve as a means to raise revenue.
2. Funds Allocation
Allocating a percentage of funds for local development and administration to community social and developmental interventions is an option that has been effectively employed in improving ownership of, and involvement in developmental interventions and initiatives. This has also proven to improve compliance with regulations
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