This study looks at the Brazilian experience with Sector Wide Approaches (SWAps) and is aimed at providing a synthesis of lessons learned in key aspects of SWAps and offer recommendations on how to take the experience forward.

Although SWAps emerged originally in low-income and aid dependent countries to address problems of aid fragmentation and lack of coordination in development interventions they are currently also found in middle income countries with low aid dependency ratios. Brazil has currently three ongoing SWAp operations funded by Multilateral Development Banks’ loans (World Bank and IADB in one on them): a family health extension programme and a cash transfers programme at federal level, and a multi-sectoral development programme at sub-national level. But are these the same type of SWAps designed to address aid effectiveness concerns elsewhere? What is the usefulness of the SWAp approach in a country with relatively strong governance systems and low levels of aid dependency and fragmentation? This study looks at the Brazilian experience and analyses the

 underlying SWAp model, its rationale, achievements and the challenges faced. ODI is working with the International Development Department of the University of Birmingham and with a Brazilian researcher working at the Federal University of Bahia.