Sector-Wide Approach
Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) is an approach to international development that "brings together governments, donors and other stakeholders within any sector. It is characterized by a set of operating principles rather than a specific package of policies or activities. The approach involves movement over time under government leadership towards: broadening policy dialogue; developing a single sector policy (that addresses private and public sector issues) and a common realistic expenditure program; common monitoring arrangements; and more coordinated procedures for funding and procurement." (World Health Organization, World Health Report 2000). SWAp's are represented in the basic principles of  programme-based approaches (PBAs), which must form 66% of aid from signatories to the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness. While research in sectors, such as in agriculture, demonstrate improvements in process and dialogue there is a debate over whether these results are substantial enough to justify the investment. This concern has created a fatigue amongst certain policymakers. SWAp principles are also threatened by shifts in the source of international aid, with the growing importance of Brazil, China and NGOs such as the Gates Foundation. Criticisms. The problem of implementing the sector wide approaches (SWAPs) is the top down policy, which  is the most common cause of the aid ineffectiveness (aiding democracy abroad - Thomas Carothers) SWAps in Agriculture. Specifically in agriculture SWAp has produced very limited increases in aid effectiveness. Problems include: These problems are argued by researchers at the Overseas Development Institute to be caused by a variety of political, institutional and operational factors.