Results from implementation of aid effectiveness principles in the health sector in Mali

The international community holds high expectations for aid producing demonstrable results in the health sector, at the global and developing country levels. Yet, measuring the effectiveness of aid presents methodological challenges. Existing evaluation frameworks are not sufficiently geared toward learning whether and how practices have changed. We present a framework for measuring the results of implementing aid effectiveness principles at three levels: implementation process, health system strengthening, and outcomes/impact. We developed this framework in the context of monitoring results on the effectiveness of the aid agenda in the health sector in Mali. Despite some changes in behavior that resulted in increased aid effectiveness and improved results at system and outcome levels, overall, the aid effectiveness principles have not been fully implemented. Thus expectations in terms of health outcomes should be realistic.