van Reesch, E. (2007) Bridging the Macro-Micro Gap: Micro-Meso-Macro Linkages in the Context of Sector-Wide Approaches.

The shift in aid delivery from donor-led projects to supporting sector programmes (Sector-Wide Approach, SWAp) has contributed to an increase in funding for social service delivery and better management capacity at the national level but not at the local level, creating a macro-micro gap.

The author argues that a systematic effort is required for the micro-macro gap to be bridged. There are several missing links in the current practice of SWAp implementation. Sector-wide often turns into ‘sector-narrow’ arrangements, which are perceived not as a multi-stakeholder process, but as a specific public expenditure programme funded by a group of donors. Involving other local stakeholders in the process is difficult. Avenues for strengthening macro-micro linkages include:

• addressing failing linkages in the policy dialogue;
• better institutional analysis at all levels as the basis for sector programming;
• effective monitoring of performance and results at service delivery level; an appropriate choice of aid modalities;
• supporting local capacities;
• and an open interaction with a wide range of stakeholders.