Abstract

Intersectoral collaboration between health and the social welfare, education or labour sectors can help to influence social determinants of health. Funding of such collaborations can be problematic as these sectors may be subject to very different regulatory structures, incentives and goals. This review found 51 documents on the use of different financial mechanisms to facilitate intersectoral collaboration for health promotion, involving at least two of these sectors. A systematic search of the evidence identified approaches used, including discretionary earmarked funding, recurring delegated financing allocated to independent bodies and mechanisms for joint budgeting between two or more sectors. Many of these examples are implemented at a regional or local, rather than national, level and their success is influenced by factors including organizational structures, management, culture and trust. Potential facilitators include regulatory and legislative frameworks providing incentives, clear accountability for actions and the identification of specific benefits to all participating sectors.

Contents

• ABBREVIATIONS
• GLOSSARY
• CONTRIBUTORS
• SUMMARY
• 1. INTRODUCTION
  • 1.1. Background
  • 1.2. Methodology
• 2. RESULTS
  • 2.1. Overview of funding mechanisms
  • 2.2. Dedicated earmarked funding
  • 2.3. Delegated financing
  • 2.4. Joint budgeting
  • 2.5. Other financing mechanisms
• 3. DISCUSSION
  • 3.1. Strengths and limitations of the review
  • 3.2. Policy options and implications
• 4. CONCLUSIONS
• REFERENCES
• ANNEX 1. SEARCH STRATEGY
• ANNEX 2. EXAMPLES OF THE USE OF FINANCING MECHANISMS TO FACILITATE INTERSECTORAL ACTIVITIES

Suggested citation:

McDaid D, Park A-L. Evidence on financing and budgeting mechanisms to support intersectoral actions between health, education, social welfare and labour sectors. Copenhagen: WHO Regional Office for Europe; 2016 (Health Evidence Network (HEN) synthesis report 48).

This HEN – the Health Evidence Network – synthesis report is the result of a cross-divisional work in the Regional Office between the Division of Policy and Governance for Health and Well-being and the Division of Information, Evidence, Research and Innovation.

The Health Evidence Network

HEN is an information service for public health decision-makers in the WHO European Region, in action since 2003 and initiated and coordinated by the WHO Regional Office for Europe under the umbrella of the European Health Information Initiative (a multipartner network coordinating all health information activities in the European Region).

HEN supports public health decision-makers to use the best available evidence in their own decision-making and aims to ensure links between evidence, health policies and improvements in public health. The HEN synthesis report series provides summaries of what is known about the policy issue, the gaps in the evidence and the areas of debate. Based on the synthesized evidence, HEN proposes policy options, not recommendations, for further consideration of policy-makers to formulate their own recommendations and policies within their national context.

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ISSN 2227-4316

ISBN 978 92 890 5192 7

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