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Effect of currency exchange rate fluctuations on Aid Effectiveness in the Health Sector in Zambia

Chansa, Collins ; Sundewall, Jesper LU and Östlund, Numi (2018) In Health Policy and Planning 33(7). p.811-820
Abstract

Development assistance for health (DAH) remains a significant and important source of health financing in many low and lower middle-income countries. However, this assistance has not been fully effective. This study explores the effect of currency exchange rate fluctuations on volatility of DAH in Zambia using a mixed methods approach. Data covering the period 1997-2008 were collected from various financial and programmatic reports, while six key informant interviews were conducted to validate and translate findings from the quantitative analysis. Results show fluctuations in the volume of funds disbursed to the Ministry of Health by donors due to changes in the exchange rates between non-US$ currencies and the US$, ranging from -11.1%... (More)

Development assistance for health (DAH) remains a significant and important source of health financing in many low and lower middle-income countries. However, this assistance has not been fully effective. This study explores the effect of currency exchange rate fluctuations on volatility of DAH in Zambia using a mixed methods approach. Data covering the period 1997-2008 were collected from various financial and programmatic reports, while six key informant interviews were conducted to validate and translate findings from the quantitative analysis. Results show fluctuations in the volume of funds disbursed to the Ministry of Health by donors due to changes in the exchange rates between non-US$ currencies and the US$, ranging from -11.1% to +13.4% during the period 1997-2008. The overall effect was a loss of US$ 13.4 million over the period 1997-2008 which is equivalent to an annual average loss of US$ 1.1 million per annum. There were also fluctuations in the US$ amount that was converted to the Zambian Kwacha to fund districts ranging from -22% to +22% over the same period. The monthly average loss that was incurred was US$ 302 214 per month, but large gains and losses were observed when individual months were analysed. Information from key informants suggest that currency exchange rate losses contribute to reductions in the health workforce, quantity and quality of health services, while currency exchange rate gains can contribute to reduced absorption capacity and/or low utilization of financial resources. The study concludes that fluctuations in currency exchange rates contribute to volatility in DAH, reduces financial stability and leads to unpredictability of DAH which ultimately affects health service delivery. For DAH to be effective, governments and donors should increase awareness and work systematically to mitigate currency exchange risks.

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Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; and
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
keywords
Developing Countries/economics, Global Health/economics, Health Services/economics, Healthcare Financing, Humans, International Agencies/economics, International Cooperation, Zambia
in
Health Policy and Planning
volume
33
issue
7
pages
811 - 820
publisher
Oxford University Press
external identifiers
  • scopus:85053344109
  • pmid:29933429
ISSN
0268-1080
DOI
10.1093/heapol/czy046
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
f2a525a2-0a1f-4a0f-9f4e-a3c5b926b474
date added to LUP
2019-05-21 10:46:13
date last changed
2024-06-25 14:07:54
@article{f2a525a2-0a1f-4a0f-9f4e-a3c5b926b474,
  abstract     = {{<p>Development assistance for health (DAH) remains a significant and important source of health financing in many low and lower middle-income countries. However, this assistance has not been fully effective. This study explores the effect of currency exchange rate fluctuations on volatility of DAH in Zambia using a mixed methods approach. Data covering the period 1997-2008 were collected from various financial and programmatic reports, while six key informant interviews were conducted to validate and translate findings from the quantitative analysis. Results show fluctuations in the volume of funds disbursed to the Ministry of Health by donors due to changes in the exchange rates between non-US$ currencies and the US$, ranging from -11.1% to +13.4% during the period 1997-2008. The overall effect was a loss of US$ 13.4 million over the period 1997-2008 which is equivalent to an annual average loss of US$ 1.1 million per annum. There were also fluctuations in the US$ amount that was converted to the Zambian Kwacha to fund districts ranging from -22% to +22% over the same period. The monthly average loss that was incurred was US$ 302 214 per month, but large gains and losses were observed when individual months were analysed. Information from key informants suggest that currency exchange rate losses contribute to reductions in the health workforce, quantity and quality of health services, while currency exchange rate gains can contribute to reduced absorption capacity and/or low utilization of financial resources. The study concludes that fluctuations in currency exchange rates contribute to volatility in DAH, reduces financial stability and leads to unpredictability of DAH which ultimately affects health service delivery. For DAH to be effective, governments and donors should increase awareness and work systematically to mitigate currency exchange risks.</p>}},
  author       = {{Chansa, Collins and Sundewall, Jesper and Östlund, Numi}},
  issn         = {{0268-1080}},
  keywords     = {{Developing Countries/economics; Global Health/economics; Health Services/economics; Healthcare Financing; Humans; International Agencies/economics; International Cooperation; Zambia}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{09}},
  number       = {{7}},
  pages        = {{811--820}},
  publisher    = {{Oxford University Press}},
  series       = {{Health Policy and Planning}},
  title        = {{Effect of currency exchange rate fluctuations on Aid Effectiveness in the Health Sector in Zambia}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/heapol/czy046}},
  doi          = {{10.1093/heapol/czy046}},
  volume       = {{33}},
  year         = {{2018}},
}