Effective, sustainable programmes have a home within the institutional structure of a given country. Finding the best home for the institutional structure often requires designating a group of actors responsible for the programme's design and implementation at a number of different institutional levels (either centrally or at sub-national levels).

Choosing an institutional home for HGSF is not always straight forward but is generally the responsibility of a specific government institution or ministry.In some cases, where the programme is housed depends to a large extent on political considerations rather than technical ones. For example, in cases where policy is decentralized, the Ministry of Interior or the Ministry of Local Government plays a predominant role.

Building on existing structures

Whatever the institutional structure is, governments find ways to implement programmes building on their existing sectoral infrastructures and there should be a clear idea on the level of involvement and capacity of each line ministry and degree of partnership with the private sector to strengthen civil society organisations. In summary, the programme must rely on the strongest part of the system while mitigating or compensating for particular weaknesses in capacity. 

Good practice suggests that HGSF programmes are better implemented if there is an institution that is mandated and accountable for the implementation of such a programme. It also has to have adequate resources, managerial skills, staff, knowledge, and technology at the central and sub-national levels to correctly implement the programme.

Resources 

• The enabling environment for transitioning to sustainable programs
• For protection and promotion the design and implementation of effective safety nets  
• Challenges of Institutional Collaboration: An Assessment of the GSFP