MENTAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT: - libdoc.who.int - World ...

• The European Commission, which although technically is a multilateral organization,
has been included here because its funding and operating procedures
most closely resemble those of bilateral organizations;
• Global public-private partnerships, such as the Global Fund for AIDS, TB and
Malaria;
• Private foundations, such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Most members of this group are proponents of or have signed up to the use of a
rights based approach to development and the need for improved aid effectiveness.
They are well-placed to advocate for change at country level that will lead to
improved mental health and development outcomes. Most organizations in this
group use a mix of support methods, including sectoral budget support, direct
budget support, and direct funding of projects and interventions provided by government
or nongovernmental organizations.
Funders providing direct funding of national development and/or sectoral plans
are often involved in the elaboration of national development strategies and plans
including poverty reduction strategies, and can therefore advocate for priorities
that will impact on the planning and implementation of interventions and
allocation of resources, as well as for mental health to be included within these
broader development instruments. As key development partners of governments
in low- and middle-income countries, they are also well placed to advocate for the
recognition of people with mental health as a vulnerable group, the integration
of mental health interventions into primary care, the mainstreaming of mental
health issues into other sectors such as education and social services (e.g. for housing
and safety nets), or the identification of people with mental health conditions
as important recipients of poverty alleviation interventions (e.g. income generating
activities and sustainable livelihoods programs). Members of this group can
also advocate for and support legal and regulatory reform to protect the human
rights of people with mental health conditions.
Funders providing support through projects and specific interventions, should
also recognize that people with mental health conditions are a vulnerable group,
ensure that mental health status is used as an inclusion rather than an exclusion
criteria and that activities implemented to improve development outcomes are
addressing the needs of people with mental health conditions.
“Donors will support efforts to increase the capacity of all development
actors – parliaments, central and local governments, CSOs, research
institutes, media and the private sector – to take an active role in dialogue
on development policy and on the role of aid in contributing to countries’
development objectives.”
—Accra Agenda for Action 9
60 MentalHealthandDevelopment:Targetingpeoplewithmentalhealthconditionsasavulnerablegroup