2
Project selection and composition of project portfolio
The Barents Health Programme has established a rather long list of objectives, activity areas, main guidelines, general project criteria as well as specific project criteria and subgoals.7 In the following, the project portfolio is described and the correspondence between the portfolio and the priorities and considerations in the programme is discussed
2.1
Areas of activity and general guidelines
Based on a general picture of the health-related situation in Northwestern Russia, five fields of activity were singled out in the programme: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Combating new and re-emerging infectious diseases Supporting reproductive health care and child health care Counteracting life-style-related health problems Improving services for indigenous people Quality improvement of medical services.
These five fields have since served as project categories. Three main guidelines or principles were also established: • • •
Special attention should be paid to joint actions that will lead to rapid improvements in the health situation Within all prioritised areas, special attention should be given to projects focusing on children The health programme must support existing and future bilateral and multilateral health projects under the umbrella of the Barents Euro-Arctic Council
These guidelines are formulated in a general way and must be understood as criteria steering the selection of projects in all the activity areas. The programme did not spell out any particular distribution of resources between the activity areas. But it would be reasonable to expect substantial efforts in all five areas. However, as depicted in chart 1, this did not turn out to be the case. The first two areas predominate – Combating new and re-emerging infectious diseases, and Supporting reproductive health care 7
Health Co-operation Programme in the Barents Euro-Arctic Region 1999–2002, Sixth Barents Euro-Arctic Council meeting, Bodø, 4–5 March 1999. Evaluation of the Barents Health Programme
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