New report shows some of the world’s most fragile countries are missing out on aid designed to help conflict-affected states

A new report by the international development organisation Development Initiatives has found there are several fragile states that are not being prioritised for vital funds to help with conflict prevention and resolution, peace and security. The report, Investments in peace and security, found that Chad and the Central African Republic receive particularly low funds given their relatively high levels of fragility. They received US$11.5 million and US$19.8 million, respectively, in 2014 yet score higher on the 2014 Fund for Peace Fragile States Index than Afghanistan, which received US$486 million in the same year. The Ukraine also received considerably more despite being classed as 40% less fragile.

Sarah Dalrymple, Senior Policy Adviser at Development Initiatives, said, “Aid for peace and security is relatively low at just US$3.2 billion – dwarfed by US$165 billion of aid spent in total. In addition, we found that some very fragile countries are potentially being missed out when funds are allocated, leaving many vulnerable and crisis-affected people in ever more desperate need. It is crucial that funding is strengthened and better targeted on the basis of the needs of the most vulnerable people”.

The report also looks at the broader financing picture on conflict and fragility, including US$1.7 trillion on military expenditure and US$9.7 million on peacekeeping, and calls for urgent improvements to data and reporting on resource flows beyond aid.

Sarah Dalrymple said, “The Sustainable Development Goals have created a focus for development actors on ‘peaceful and inclusive societies’ and humanitarian actors are seeking solutions to the spiralling costs of protracted crises ahead of the World Humanitarian Summit this June. It is therefore crucial that we seize this momentum to look at resources beyond aid – including domestic, international, public and private – and ensure they are mobilised as a means of addressing the needs of vulnerable and conflict-affected people.

“Issues with data gaps and lack of transparency particularly on security resources make it difficult to get an accurate picture of how and where money is being spent. Without better reporting, it will be almost impossible for there to be coordinated efforts between different actors working in fragile contexts to ensure they are meeting the needs of people most affected by crisis”.

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Contact: Anna Abuhelal, Head of Communications at Development Initiatives

E: [email protected] T: +44(0)1179 272505 M: +44(0) 7894442055

Notes to editors

• The full report can be accessed at devinit.org/investments-in-peace-and-security
• ODA – Official development assistance (commonly referred to as aid)
• CPS – Conflict resolution and prevention, peace and security
• 2014 Fund for Peace Fragile States Index can be found at https://fundforpeace.org/

About Development Initiatives

Development Initiatives is an international development organisation that supports decision makers and others to make sense of existing data on poverty, vulnerability and crisis, and the resources available to address them. We create innovative technical solutions to improve data quality, make it more accessible and useable, and build the capacity of others on data collection, publishing and use. We also hold a number of strategic partnerships based on shared commitments that transparent, reliable, disaggregated and timely data has a vital role to play in contributing to the end of poverty. We have a global presence spanning the UK, the US, East Africa, South Asia and Brazil.

Photo credit: Albert Gonzalez Farran, UNAMID