Integrating population, health, and environment (PHE) projects: a programming manual

Achieving environmentally-sustainable development in situations of surging population growth, declining biodiversity, and chronic poverty requires strategic planning, multi-disciplinary interventions and cross-sector linked approaches that mirror the livelihood strategies of poor households and communities. This manual, designed with such a need in mind, uses evidence from programs in Madagascar, the Philippines, and other countries where integrated approaches to development have been explored and brought to scale over the past decade.

The concept population-health-environment is a development approach that recognizes the interconnectedness between people and their environment, and supports multi-sector collaboration and coordination. Although historically PHE focuses on inter-linkages between reproductive health and biodiversity conservation, in this manual the scope has been expanded to include projects working on other types of natural resource management, such as sustainable agriculture or fisheries management, as well as other relevant health issues such as HIV/AIDS or water and sanitation.

The target audience for this manual are individuals interested in designing field-based projects that apply integrated approaches to promote balanced and sustainable development. Although the manual was developed primarily for program designers and planners, other audiences such as donor representatives and government decision makers may find its contents useful for understanding how PHE linkages work, both conceptually and operationally in the field, and how PHE might fit into a future where climate change, natural disasters, and ecosystem changes pose threats to human health and sustainable development.

With references for further reading, a questionnaire and appendices useful for donor agencies when reviewing PHE proposals.