NHSSP: Nepal Health Sector Support Programme
Strengthening Health Systems-Improving Services

NHSSP is a programme of technical assistance designed to support the SECOND NEPAL HEALTH SECTOR PROGRAMME (NHSP-2). Funded and managed by DFID, the programme began in January 2011 and runs through July 2015.

NHSSP works to enhance government capacity to achieve the NHSP-2 objectives which are to:

• Increase access to and utilisation of quality essential health care services
• Reduce cultural and economic barriers to accessing health care services and harmful cultural practices
• Improve health systems to achieve universal coverage of essential health care services.

Enhancing capacity is defined as changes in organisational behaviour, skills and relationships that lead to the improved abilities of organisations and groups to carry out functions and achieve desired outcomes.

The concept behind providing technical assistance is to strengthen Nepal’s health system by building sustainable local capacity to deliver essential services and improve governance and leadership. It also includes improving the effectiveness of aid to the health sector. Long term technical assistance is provided in key strategic areas, supported by short term technical assistance, as needed.

The technical assistance is placed in the Ministry of Health and Population and the Department of Health Services. Under phase 1 of the NHSSP (2010-2013), TA supported government counterparts in the areas of:

• Health Policy and Planning - Health Systems Governance
• Health Financing
• Human Resources
• Essential Health Care Services, including Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health
• Gender Equality and Social Inclusion
• Procurement and Infrastructure
• Monitoring and Evaluation

It also provided TA support to each of Nepal’s five Regional Health Directorates with three staff members working in the following areas: Essential Health Care Services, Gender Equality and Social Inclusion, and Health Systems (focused on planning, monitoring and evaluation).

Under phase 2 of NHSSP (2013-2015) a smaller and more focused and embedded TA team is supporting MoHP and DoHS in the key areas of:

• Health Policy Planning, including preparation for NHSP-3
• Health Financing
• Public Financial Management
• Procurement
• Infrastructure
• Essential Health Care Services
• Gender Equality and Social Inclusion
• Monitoring and Evaluation
• Monitoring and Measuring Value for Money

In addition, provision has been made for flexible technical support through a Technical Assistance Response Fund (TARF) and for enhanced collaborative working with other external development partners in Nepal’s health sector.

• NHSSP Brochure 2014
• NHSSP Brochure 2011 (November, 2011)
• Nepal Health Sector Programme - II (2010 - 2015) (2010)