See our List & Checklist of leading Multi- Component Approaches (MCAs) & Multi- Intervention Programs (MIPs)

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Good Whole of Government (WoG) Practices to Support & Align IPPFCs
Use Inter-Ministry Mechanisms or Agencies to Coordinate IPPCFs

  • Glossary Term
  • Examples, Evidence and Guidance on how this Wog Practice can Align, Support IPPCFs
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This page describes a good practices to align and support Intersectoral Policy-Program Coordination Frameworks (IPPCFs) that should be purposefully selected by each country to promote different aspects of the education and development of young people. The drop-down menu on the right hand side of this page lists several good practices in WoG approaches. Use that menu to find examples, evidence and guidance about such WoG practices.

There are a variety of inter-ministry mechanisms that can be used to support the coordination and cooperation between and among government ministries and departments. These can include assigned staff in First Ministers' offices, inter-ministry agencies,  multi-stakeholder councils, technical working groups, task forces, advisory bodies and coordinating committees. These mechanisms can be mandated by government or agreed to be bi-lateral agreements or even develop informally by ministry officials. It is important to make a distinction between "coordination" required by policy or written agreements and "cooperation" which is voluntary and can vary with different topics, different officials or different times.

The most authoritative of these inter-ministry mechanisms is one that is established in law or through joint policy of the ministries involved. However, the impact or influence of the inter-ministry mechanism will still be dependent on whether the mechanism has:
  • adequate staffing and resources to fulfill its mandate
  • true and sustained support from senior ministry, middle management and front-line management officials
  • identified and is working on timely and strategic aspects of their issue or mandate
  • developed practical, consensus-based and immediate solutions to barriers and bottlenecks in the inter-ministry processes
  • shared information effectively among the partner ministry officials at different levels
  • conducted or encouraged timely, policy or program relevant research, fact-gathering or other information
  • is linked with a broader alliance or coalition of stakeholders
  • operates with an annual plan in tune with partner ministry priorities while pursuing a shared, long-term vision.












See our List & Checklist of leading Multi- Component Approaches (MCAs) & Multi- Intervention Programs (MIPs)

Use the drop down menu below to access descriptions , examples and links on several good practices in Whole of Government (WoG) approaches.
Whole of Government (WoG):
List of Good practices
  - Macro-Policy on Children & Youth
  - Inter-Ministry WoG Plan of Action
  - Required Use of IPPCF Frameworks
  - Required Coordination of Programs
   - Several Data Sources/ Regularly Compiled
  - Defined National Priorities for Child/Youth
  - Focus Resources on 4-5 National Priorities
  - Regular Surveys of Policies & Programs
  - Reciprocal, Negotiated, Strategic Inter-Ministry Partnerships
  - Education Ministry as Host & Co-Lead
  - Anchor Other Ministry Roles in their Core Mandates & Programs
  - Defined Roles for Front-Line Staff and Local Agencies
  - Regular reports on IPPCF Capacities
  - Senior & Middle Manager Involvement
  - Negotiate Formal & Informal Boundaries
  - Use of Inter-Ministry Mechanisms/Agencies
  - Comprehensive Inter-Ministry Agreements
  - Support for Core Components (Core H&LS curriculum , integrated student services etc from each IPPCF and ministry
  - Use of Joint Sector Reviews & Planning
  - Jointly named Inter-Ministry Coordinators
  - Defined job descriptions, competencies and development for Inter-Ministry Coordinators
  - Donors & Internal Funding Enable "blended funding" at local or regional levels
This summary was first posted in December 2023 as a "first draft". We encourage readers to submit comments or suggested edits by posting a comment below or on the Mini-blog & Discussion Page for this section.
This tab on this page provides examples of, evidence for, and guidance about capacity building systems/organizational change practices that have been or can be used with this Intersectoral Policy-Program Coordination Framework (IPPCF).

These are several examples (Good & Bad) of how this WoG practice can align or support IPPCFs:
  • Manitoba, Canada has a long-standing agency, Healthy Child Manitoba, to coordinate ministry policies and programs from a whole child perspective. HCM is led by the Healthy Child Committee of Cabinet, authorized by a specific law,  supports a healthy child advisory committee, and facilitates holistic surveys on early child development and youth health. A recent Manitoba education review commission has confirmed that HCM should focus on working across ministries to “facilitate the development of coordinated policies, programs, and services” rather than implement any programs of its own (thereby creating confusion or potential competition with programs of various ministries.


Here are sources of evidence (research & fact-finding) on how this WoG practice can align or support IPPCFs:

Here are some of many guidance documents/reports on how this WoG practice can align or support IPPCFs:

​For updates and reader comments on this section of this web site, go to our
Mini-Blog on Common Topics &Terms

Here is our list of topics for this section:
- Introduction & Overview
- Education Equity, Inclusion & Success - Intersectoral Policy-Program Coordination Frameworks (IPPCFs) (published at global level)
- Multi-component Approaches (MCAs)
- Core Components         - School Culture & Climate
          - Staff Wellness
          - Student Conduct & Discipline
          - Engaging/Empowering Youth
          - Parent Participation
          - Community Involvement
  • Physical Environment & Resources
- Multi-Intervention Programs (MIPs)
  • How to Build a Multi-Intervention Program
- Single Interventions (Issue-Specific Programs, Policies, Services, Practices)

- Learning/Behaviour Models (LBMs)

- Behaviour & Learning Theories

- Government/Inter-sector Actions & Levers - Workforce Development
  • Workforce Planning in HPSD
  • Teacher Education & Development
    - Early Childhood Educators
    - Primary School Teachers
    - Secondary PSHE Specialists
    - Home Economics Specialists
    - Physical Education Specialists
    - School Counsellors
    - School Psychologists
    - School Principals
  • Preparing Other Professionals to Work with or within Schools
    - School Nurses
    - School Social Workers
    - School Resource (Police) Officers
    - Security/Civil Protection Guards
    - Teaching/Learning Assistants
    - School Administrative/Clerical Staff
    - School Maintenance Staff
    - Pastoral Counsellors
    - Community Volunteers & Elders
    - Emergency Relief Aid Workers
    - Development Aid Workers
- Systems Approaches
  • A Systems Focused Paradigm
  • Contextualizing Approaches & Programs
  • Implement, Maintain, Scale Up & Sustain Programs & Approaches
  • System & Organizational Capacities
  • Integrate Within Education System Mandates, Concerns & Constraints
  • Better Use of Systems Science & Organizational Development Tools