Columbia International Affairs Online: Working Papers

CIAO DATE: 09/2011

Taking Development Activities to Scale in Fragile and Low Capacity Environments

Laurence Chandy, Fellow, Johannes F. Linn

September 2011

The Brookings Institution

Abstract

Fragile states present one of the greatest challenges to global development and poverty reduction. Despite much new learning that has emerged from within the development community in recent years, understanding of how to address fragility remains modest. There is growing recognition that donor engagement in fragile states must look beyond the confines of the traditional aid effectiveness agenda if it is to achieve its intended objectives, which include statebuilding, meeting the needs of citizens, and managing risk more effectively. Current approaches are constrained by relying heavily on small-scale interventions, are weakened by poor coordination and volatility, and struggle to promote an appropriate role for the recipient state.