Dissecting aid fragmentation: development goals and levels of analysis

Dissecting aid fragmentation: development goals and levels of analysis

Download PDF 1,47 MB

Carlitz, Ruth / Sebastian Ziaja
Discussion Paper 17/2021

Bonn: German Development Institute / Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE)

ISBN: 978-3-96021-154-9
DOI: https://doi.org/10.23661/dp17.2021
Preis: 6 €

Aid fragmentation is widely denounced, though recent studies suggest potential benefits. To reconcile these mixed findings, we make a case for studying differences across aid sectors and levels of analysis. Our cross-national time-series analysis of data from 141 countries suggests aid fragmentation promotes child survival and improves governance. However, just looking across countries has the potential to blur important within-country differences. We analyse subnational variation in Sierra Leone and Nigeria and find that the presence of more donors is associated with worse health outcomes, but better governance outcomes. This suggests that having more donors within a locality can be beneficial when they are working to improve the systems through which policies are implemented, but harmful when they target policy outcomes directly. A survey of Nigerian civil servants highlights potential mechanisms. Fragmentation in health aid may undermine civil servants’ morale, whereas diversity in governance aid can promote meritocratic behaviour.

Über den Autor

Ziaja, Sebastian

Politikwissenschaftler

Ziaja

Weitere Expert*innen zu diesem Thema

Baumann, Max-Otto

Politikwissenschaft 

Bergmann, Julian

Politikwissenschaft 

Dang, Vy

Politikwissenschaft 

Erforth, Benedikt

Politikwissenschaft 

Friesen, Ina

Politikwissenschaft 

Hackenesch, Christine

Politikwissenschaft 

Janus, Heiner

Politikwissenschaft 

Keijzer, Niels

Sozialwissenschaft 

Klingebiel, Stephan

Politikwissenschaft 

Koch, Svea

Sozialwissenschaft 

Löpelt, Sarah

Internationale Beziehungen und Nachhaltigkeitspolitik 

Olekseyuk, Zoryana

Ökonomie 

Röthel, Tim

Ökonomie 

Strupat, Christoph

Ökonom 

von Haaren, Paula

Entwicklungsökonomie