Delivery is not a new idea, but it is a powerful one.
At its heart, delivery refers to a set of approaches, tools, and guidelines used to help governments improve services for citizens. It’s about moving from strategy to outcomes faster, smarter, and with greater accountability.
Too often, reforms focus heavily on what needs to change, but neglect how to make it happen. Delivery closes that gap. It allows leaders to tackle challenges head-on, with frequent data, clear priorities, and a culture of learning. When done well, it becomes a way of working that fosters continuous improvement, rather than one-off successes.
Most delivery initiatives rely on five core elements:
1. Prioritisation
Governments can’t do everything at once. Delivery starts with identifying a small number of high-impact goals. These are selected based on urgency, feasibility, and political importance, before being broken down into specific targets that can be tracked over time.
2. Frequent, Reliable Data
Delivery efforts rely on real-time data to track performance and adapt strategy. Instead of annual reviews or lagging indicators, ministries are equipped with critical monthly or weekly metrics about schools or health clinics, covering the likes of class sizes and labour room functionality. These insights enable swift decision-making and actions.
3. Learning What Works
Having data is not enough. Delivery teams create feedback loops, through field visits, coaching, and structured reflection, to help frontline staff and managers learn how to solve problems. This “learning-led” ethos is especially important in low-capacity settings, where innovative thinking can overcome limited resources.
4. Regular Routines
Delivery is not a one-time fix. It thrives on momentum. Successful teams hold regular performance reviews, often on a monthly or quarterly basis, to sustain focus, resolve issues, and recalibrate where needed. These meetings include everyone from ministers to mid-level managers, and create a culture of shared accountability.
5. Engaging Political Leaders
Delivery works best when leaders back the project. Political support provides authority and visibility. More importantly, it builds belief, within the system and beyond, that progress is possible. When leaders engage directly, it sends a message that something matters.
A Proven Approach
Delivery is more than a technical toolkit. It is a philosophy of action, grounded in discipline, data, and learning. When embedded in the right context, it can help governments deliver visible results for citizens, quickly and sustainably.
To learn more about delivery, read Syed Akber’s piece on how learning from mistakes is often the best way forward.
