Conflict, state fragility and aid effectiveness: insights from Afghanistan

Aid is rarely an effective development tool in fragile states. This is particularly true of states that are at war, or have recently emerged from violent conflict. Based on research in Afghanistan, this paper examines three possible reasons for this ineffectiveness. First, in fragile states, the interests of donor-peace-builders and recipient governments are seldom aligned: recipients often lack the political will to implement reform, while donors lack the leverage necessary to promote fundamental change. Second, a lack of basic security is one of main impediments to aid effectiveness. At the same time, projects designed to increase security typically have little impact. Finally, aid is more likely to do harm in fragile states than in countries where a reasonably stable government is in place. This is because resource flows are difficult to track in fragile states, and because international actors frequently lack basic information about the host society. As a result, aid often fuels patronage and corruption.