When political instability, conflict, or weak governance wrack a country, aid donors often find themselves in a precarious position. Their desire to assist vulnerable populations is tempered by their reluctance to fund or enable corrupt or repressive regimes. Yet, walking away from these settings is not always an option. Aid agencies must navigate complex political dynamics, engage with local actors, and design effective programs that deliver results while minimizing harm. This policy brief examines the challenges of delivering aid in “politically estranged” settings and proposes strategies to help donors stay and deliver in fragile and conflict-affected states.
Over the past two decades, fragile and conflict-affected states (FCS) have become a priority for international development actors. The consequences of fragility have led to new multilateral and national approaches focused on upstream prevention, building institutions, generating security, justice and jobs, fostering inclusive national ownership, and strengthening international coordination. However, in a growing subset of FCS, these principles and practices cannot be applied.
In more than 49% of FCS, relations between major donors and national authorities are ‘politically estranged.’ These situations are no longer the exception as affected states are at the forefront of growing geopolitical contestation and fragmentation. Global and regional powerbrokers are vying for influence and access to resources, especially in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
To remain engaged without ignoring the sources of estrangement, donors can take advantage of a range of options. ‘Business as usual’ after coups or large-scale human rights abuses is not an option for international organizations committed to support constitutional norms and donors committed to aid effectiveness. Proven approaches and modalities can help donors deliver aid without legitimizing unlawful regimes, fuelling further conflict and human rights abuses, or ignoring corruption risks. However, aside from a few exceptions, these modalities have not been systematically considered. The reasons for this trend are both political and practical.
To address this problem, NYU’s Center on International Cooperation (CIC) and Chatham House undertook a joint study to examine the political and practical barriers to staying engaged in politically estranged situations. The study proposes options for donors and multilateral actors to use in overcoming those barriers. The resulting research paper draws together quantitative analysis, donor interviews, and diverse examples from countries where relations between donors and national authorities are or have been estranged. It identifies emerging best practice and strategic shifts in donor approaches that help to reflect this new reality.
The report will be available on April 3, 2023. Meanwhile, this study highlights the growing importance of political and practical considerations in conflict-affected and fragile states. It also shows that new and innovative approaches are needed to handle the challenges of aid delivery in such contexts.
The authors of this report include Sarah Cliffe, Executive Director; Renata Dwan, Senior Consulting Fellow, Chatham House; Senior Fellow, NYU CIC; Betty Wainaina, Associate Director, UN/IFIs; and Leah Zamore, Associate Director, Humanitarian Policy.
Ultimately, fragile and conflict-affected states present major challenges to actors seeking to promote stability and development in the world’s most vulnerable regions. Addressing these challenges requires creative and effective policies that can balance competing interests while promoting effective aid delivery, good governance, and respect for human rights. By focusing on the political and practical barriers to staying engaged in politically estranged situations, this report offers important insights into how these challenges can be overcome, paving the way for more effective and sustainable outcomes in conflict-affected communities around the world.
