Situations of fragility and conflict: aid policies and beyond

Abstract

One third of the world's poorest live in fragile conditions where traditional approaches to development are not working. This raises policy challenges for development co-operation that reach ‘beyond-aid’. To help meet them, aid effectiveness principles have been complemented by the OECD DAC Principles for Good International Engagement in Fragile States and Situations. They emphasise state-building as the central objective of external engagement and highlight the ‘do no harm’ imperative. Preliminary findings from field tests of the Principles in six fragile states have demonstrated their relevance and generated practical lessons. They have also highlighted the need for tackling policy coherence challenges. Accordingly, the paper concludes with a call for whole-of-government approaches and closer ‘DAC member-non-DAC member’ collaboration. Recommendations focus on behavioural and operational changes and longer-term perspectives and commitments.