Less is More? The Effectiveness of Spanish Health Aid and Cooperation

The debate on the effectiveness of international development aid has come to the forefront in recent years. The sentiment that the massive transfer of  financial resources from the richer to the poorer countries is not achieving the intended effect has been intensified by the global economic crisis and the realization that the current model of international cooperation has become obsolete.

This document provides a brief overview of this debate, focusing particularly on the area of health, including the opinions of Spanish experts who were asked how they would go about improving the results of cooperation despite the cutback in available resources. Based on this analysis and discussion, the report concludes with some reflections on the opportunities and challenges the new situation presents for Spain in terms of its global health policies.