Managing externally‐assisted health projects for sustainability in developing countries

Abstract

Abstract One of the main problems related to donor‐supported health projects in the developing world is their lack of sustainability once external assistance has ended. Although ‘projectized development assistance’ is viewed by many as inappropriate to bring about development, projects are bound to remain for some time an important instrument of development assistance. Project managers, donor agencies and recipient countries need to be aware of the extent that their projects are likely to be sustained in the future and contribute to the viability of the whole health system. This article proposes a conceptual framework to monitor the performance of externally‐assisted health projects in building their own sustainability. Possible criteria and indicators are discussed.