Getting aid to fragile states
People living in failing or corrupt states tend to be among the most in need of support – so what can we do?
What’s the problem?
From Poverty to Powerargues that governments that put their citizens’ interests first and are able and willing to provide basic services like education and healthcare stand the most chance of helping their countries develop. But some governments are fragile or failing – they may lack the ability to even begin to provide what’s needed, or the will to do so. Afghanistan, Somalia and Zimbabwe fall into this category.
Think differently
It’s not enough to say we can’t provide aid because a government is corrupt. When people are starving or denied their rights, we have a responsibility to find a way of helping.
In Afghanistan, it seems that much of the $6-$10 billion provided in development aid may have been wasted. But worse than that, it seems that some of this aid may actually have undermined the reconstruction of Afghanistan. When aid agencies arrived, they offered higher wages than people could get as teachers, engineers and doctors working for the state, and professionals left their public sector jobs – not only leaving gaps in services but also creating high wage expectations long after aid organisations have left. Badly delivered aid can actually stop governments improving.
What needs to happen?
Aid needs to be used so it helps states become better, not worse. It’s entirely possible to do. Aid has helped massively in South Korea and Botswana, where it’s strengthened the state because it was delivered through existing institutions, not through private contractors and new organisations that competed with the government.
And, if governments really are felt to be beyond hope, aid can be used to invest in longer term improvements. This might be by funding citizens’ organisations to hold governments to account, or helping young people develop their leadership skills for the future. This type of work can be slow – but hugely worthwhile.
More analysis and debate on this topic on FP2P.org
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