While there has been an increase in development assistance for health in general, this aid is volatile — often driven by profits and politics. Donor governments are susceptible to the political agendas of their parliaments, plac- ing a focus on short term results. Sustained health development does not fit this profile. Part of the solution lies in the harmonization or pooling of funds, focused around a single country plan, that is flexible and includes funding for both recurrent and capital expenditures. But this alone does not guarantee that the funds will be used for strengthening local health systems or for improving women’s health. Ministries of Health have to.
