Health, Nutrition & Population

This Sector Strategy paper presents the World Bank's strategy in the health, nutrition, and population (HNP) area. The objectives of this paper are to: (a) review major trends in the HNP sector, key development changes, and the emerging consensus on reform strategies; (b) assess past and current Bank involvement in the HNP sector in low- and middle-income countries; and (c) define a clear strategy to guide the Bank's future work in the HNP sector. In developing the Bank's strategy for the HNP sector, the following principles have been influential: a focus on the human dimension of development; responsiveness to clients, especially the poor; sound technical analysis and attention to outcomes; recognition of the political dimensions of reforms; respect for diversity in values and social choices; and the need for local ownership and partnerships. The Bank's objectives in the HNP sector are to: (a) improve the health, nutrition, and population outcomes of the poor; (b) enhance the performance of health care systems; and (c) secure sustainable health care financing.