Columbia International Affairs Online: Policy Briefs

CIAO DATE: 04/2011

The Challenge of Aid in Pakistan: Is Cash on Delivery Part of the Solution?

Wren Elhai

March 2011

Center for Global Development

Abstract

A thorny set of obstacles stands in the way of the United States and other donors as they try to scale up development spending in Pakistan. The sheer scale of the country's population and development challenges requires effective mobilization of local resources and local institutions. Incentives for politicians to push for reform are weak. Monitoring spending is difficult, especially when it is spent through Pakistan's own government. Donors and local stakeholders may disagree about which development projects are most needed.