Collaborative decade planning : a case study of sectoral planning in Swaziland

This report describes the sectoral planning activities carried out in Swaziland with the assistance of the Water and Sanitation for Health Project (WASH). Collaborative planning involving WASH and an interministerial body (composed of seven ministries and two departments) resulted in the development of background papers, a national sector policy and two-year action plan together with a review of both, and, finally, a national action plan. Several lessons emerged from the WASH experience. (1) Donors should support a self-reliant national planning process and capability. (2) Institutional development should not be sacrificed to more visible construction of facilities. (3) Programs or activities should not be forced but respond to felt needs. (4) Donor strategies should be coordinated to ensure consistency of purpose, complementarity of approach, and the avoidance of conflicts. (5) Donors should remain flexible and responsive to changing and emerging sectoral needs and priorities. (6) Donors should be willing to commit to long-term support of sectoral development to permit continuity and establishment of development initiatives.