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Poverty Reduction and the Politics of Bilateral Donor Assistance

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Developmental Pathways to Poverty Reduction

Part of the book series: Developmental Pathways to Poverty Reduction ((POD))

Abstract

The last 15 years have seen a reorientation of the international development industry, resulting in a change from economic growth as the principal objective of development towards a focus on poverty reduction, as embodied by the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). At the same time, recognition of the failings of the policy conditionality associated with structural adjustment has seen donors place an increased emphasis on “national ownership” of policies by developing countries as a key determinant of development success. This chapter assesses the implications of these changes by analysing the role now played by donors in policy-making processes in recipient countries, the mechanisms through which they exert influence and changes in the sectoral allocation of development aid. The analysis draws on statistical data on aid allocations as well as examining the politics of bilateral donor assistance in two illustrative case studies.

Comments and advice received from Yusuf Bangura, Shea McClanahan, Paolo de Renzio and two anonymous reviewers are gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors
  1. Tom Lavers
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Sierra Leone, Sierra Leone

    Yusuf Bangura (Senior Research Associate) (Senior Research Associate)

  2. United Nations Research Institute for Social Development, Switzerland

    Yusuf Bangura (Senior Research Associate) (Senior Research Associate)

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© 2015 United Nations Research Institute for Social Development

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Lavers, T. (2015). Poverty Reduction and the Politics of Bilateral Donor Assistance. In: Bangura, Y. (eds) Developmental Pathways to Poverty Reduction. Developmental Pathways to Poverty Reduction. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137482549_5

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