Equitable Aid Distribution
Team: Amy Lee, Luzmila Lambrano, Makousse Kone, Elena Guzman, Yasmeen Hayes
Supervisor: Mark Johnson
Semester: Spring 2006
UNICEF Project: Children, Aid, and PRSP in Fragile States
Background
In recent years there has been an increase in attention to the impact of aid in general and in the poorest countries with worst governance in particular. While Poverty Reduction Strategies Papers (PRSPs) provide the most important framework pursued by the donor community to streamline and channel aid to low-income countries, traditional PRSPs may not be best suited for fragile states. Thus, a compelling policy-relevant research area is to analyze the situation of children in countries in the worst economic, governance, and social conditions. The analysis of this "extreme case", often cited as fragile states, could be helpful in generating alternatives to current PRSP practices and other national development plans.
Objective
The objectives of the proposal are twofold. First, it will provide evidence and analysis about the situation of children, women and gender equity in fragile states. This will be done tapping on the burgeoning and cutting edge literature on aid in fragile states. Second, it will highlight the need for PRSPs which are tailored to the particular circumstances of fragile states while subscribing to the HRBAP (Human Rights Based Approach to Programming).
Possible countries
The countries in the "worst" conditions (natural emergencies, civil violence, political crises, economic implosion, HIV/AIDS pandemic) will be the focus of the analysis. This will focus the attention of UNICEF in the cases where traditional ODA or World Bank loans play a minimum role, given the issue of selectivity in supporting countries with "good" governance and policies. This will also involve describing and assessing the various ways used to classify countries as "weak" or "fragile" states. Participants in the project will have the opportunity to be engaged in one of the most rapidly expanding areas of concern for the international community while assisting UNICEF staff.
For instance, according to the GRICS studies, which provide a ranking for 6 dimensions of governance (voice and accountability, political stability, government effectiveness, regulatory quality, rule of law, and control of corruption) there are 50 countries which appear among the bottom 20 countries for at least one of the indicators. Of these, 27 countries appear at least twice among the worst 20 performers. Among these 27 countries there are 8 PRSP countries. They are:
Burundi, Cameroon, Congo DR, Guinea Bissau, Laos, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Tajikistan.
This could provide a tentative list of possible countries on which top concentrate the research. However, using another classification a different set of countries could be included.
Draft Methodology
It must be stated that the questions the country case studies would address are very difficult to answer. Consequently, a review of the literature on fragile states and their economic performance is needed. UNICEF staff can provide the sources and articles to be reviewed and critically assessed. In particular, there is a need to highlight where and how to introduce the concerns of children in the analysis.
A second stage will involve a closer look at the actual conditions of children in some of these countries. This would involve searching for data and evidence. During both stages, it will be necessary to deal with quantitative evidence and data.
Possible Outputs
Desk review and report of the literature on fragile states. A critical analysis of the methodology and how much social impact, particularly on children, has been incorporated.
Desk review and report of PRSPs and the role/place of children therein in the 10 countries with the worst economic, governance, and social conditions.
Analysis of children's experience and needs in situations of crisis and recovery in fragile states.
A synthesis paper which outlines how to incorporate child rights issues both in the analysis of fragile states as well as in the content of PRSP in those countries.
Core Documents
Terms of Reference
Timeline
Final Presentation
Additional Documents
2006 Spring - UNICEF - Equitable Aid Distribution.pdf
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