Social Development and Public Governance > Social Development > Urban Development
What Makes Inter-Agency Coordination Work?: Insights from the Literature and Two Case Studies
By Rodrigo Serrano (08/03, En, Es)
This working paper is being published with the sole objective of contributing to the debate on a topic of importance to the region, and to elicit comments and suggestions from interested parties. This paper has not gone through the Department?s peer review process or undergone consideration by the SDS Management Team. As such, it does not reflect the official position of the Inter-American Development Bank.
The multiple and interrelated causes of underdevelopment have often led experts to propose interventions that tackle these problems in a multidimensional and integrated way. This approach involves the contribution of different sectoral agencies towards common goals, a condition that is not natural for institutions. The purpose of this report is to discuss some of the key aspects involved in achieving Interagency Coordination (IC) that come out from the academic literature as well as from two case studies of ongoing operations funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (Darien, Panamá y Mendoza, Argentina). Four general issues are discussed: (i) the arguments in favor and against IC; (ii) tools and strategies for coordination; (iii) the conditions that favor or hinder effective IC; and (iv) the practical recommendations for designing and implementing programs that involve IC.
Last updated: 06/08/07
