The Age of Choice: Developing Countries in the New Aid Landscape

Abstract

The proliferation of new sources of finance and actors mean that developing countries now have a much larger range of financing options and choices but their implications for partner countries’ approaches to aid management are less clear. The chapter fills this gap by analysing the new challenges and opportunities for the cases of Cambodia, Ethiopia and Zambia. The analysis found that flows from non-traditional providers (NTPs) have increased significantly over the past decade; partner countries welcome more choice and more finance; ownership, alignment and speed of project delivery have been identified as key priorities; and countries such as Cambodia and Ethiopia are taking a strategic approach to the division of labour between traditional (DAC donors) and non-traditional providers (emerging donors and philanthropic organisations).