Editing Sector-Wide Approach (section)

== 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:<ref name=ODI1/>
# narrow ownership;
# a failure to coordinate all relevant sector players;
# excessive emphasis on systems, processes and institutional capacity-building initiatives has made service delivery a secondary concern while turning SWAps into expensive experiments.
These problems are argued by researchers at the [[Overseas Development Institute]] to be caused by a variety of political, institutional and operational factors.<ref name=ODI1/> 
* Political factors: SWAps sought to address aid management concerns (e.g. aid fragmentation and donor harmonisation), but this has created a donor-centred processes which often fails to involve the recipients. Furthermore, even if all parties are involved, ideological differences of policy priorities complicate the ability to create a combined approach based on consensus.<ref name=ODI1/>
* Institutional factors: typically SWAps in the agricultural sector are managed by Ministries of Agriculture. However, in most countries, the ministries fail to mobilise other actors relevant to the agricultural sector and hence to a sector-wide approach. There is also a tendency for ministries of agriculture to adopt an interventionist approach to policy and resist influence from outside the ministry.<ref name=ODI1/> 
* Operational factors: processes and systems are implemented without reference to 'local realities'. This leads to a focus on systems development and institutional capacity-building and less on the actual services delivered.<ref name=ODI1/>