Aid effectiveness in global health: Progress, challenges, and solutions

Abstract

This chapter discusses the factors that have led the MDG agenda in global health not to be fully achieved and the opportunities to take effective action making use of effective aid in global health. It is clear: the job is not done yet. However, we can get it done by 2030 or sooner. We must stay on course and not change the health goals of the MDG agenda until the job is done. What we have to change is how we work and what we do to achieve these goals, that is, we must be more effective. We can add more goals and aim for a higher level of results in global health such as attaining continuous whole patient care goals so that a child that survives its fifth birthday due to effective child health programs does not die prematurely 10 years later due to TB or a teen pregnancy or gets infected with HIV due to unprotected sex. Let’s not change the agenda! It is time to get it done. The chapter will discuss the unfinished MDG agenda and what to do to finish it. Learning and sharing what works to achieve global health goals and what solutions already exist to address most of the challenges is the job of every global health professional. Being professional means being responsible for results; it means being effective and accountable. Global health is not a mission of good will of well-intentioned people whose job is helping their global neighbors in times of crisis. It is the job of trained professionals. We must bring professionalism to global health goals and learn from the lessons of the last 50 years to make effectiveness and sustainability the mark of excellence in global health. No excuses.