Table 1 District Management Team core responsibilities in South Africa

• Identification of client and stakeholder needs

• Identification of critical health and systemic challenges and understand source of the challenges

• Take decisions and set priorities (public health interventions)

• Balance competing demands by taking decisions on key District Actions, which respond to key priorities, client and stakeholder needs and challenges

• Allocate resources (time from personnel, goods and services and capital costs). Ensure that capacities are matched with planned Actions. Refine the Actions until the allocated resources meet the Actions

• Monitor and reflect on progress against plans

• Strengthen processes where necessary (to implement the plan)