How can security, governance and economics be synthesised so as to secure the development of fragile states? This journal article by the President of the World Bank Group argues that in order to address fragile situations effectively, a new framework is required that goes beyond the development model. This new framework involves building security, legitimacy, governance and economy. It is about securing development – bringing security and development together to smooth the transition from conflict to peace and to embed stability so that development can take hold. Of course, no ‘one size’ solution fits all situations.
Academic analyses of how to measure, categorise or rank fragility vary but three main characteristics stand out: ineffective government, poverty and conflict. It is important to understand that:
- There is a need to look beyond the state to the state of society. Political, social, military or economic networks fill ‘sovereignty gaps’ and may operate at local, regional or global levels, challenging the capacity of the fragile state, and hence its legitimacy.
- The connections between weak governance, poverty and conflict help to explain how states can remain fragile over decades.
- The most critical challenges are concentrated where governance, economy and security intersect. A variety of tools and actors need to be used in integrated ways.
Understanding of how best to secure development is still modest, and increasing it requires cross-disciplinary cooperation. Ten priorities in fragile situations can, however, be identified. These are to:
- Focus on building the legitimacy of the state: To achieve legitimacy it is not only the services that matter, but who performs them; they should be undertaken by government and local people. Transparent management of resources is vital.
- Establish a relatively safe and secure environment: Security and development need to go hand in hand. This means more interaction on the ground between security and development staff.
- Build an effective rule of law: This is a fundamental prerequisite for sustainable development.
- Bolster local and national ownership: Community-driven development programmes have proven successful. At the national level donors need to help governments develop the capacity to employ the national budget as a transparent tool for coherent planning and accountability.
- Ensure macroeconomic stability: The international financial institutions need tools to provide help quickly.
- Pay attention to the political economy: Establishing economic incentives for stability and peace may not be enough if donors do not understand who wins and who loses from peace settlements.
- Crowd in, not out, the private sector: Early efforts signalling the value the government places on investing in the future are important. Fragile states need a combination of public and private support.
- Coordinate across institutions and actors: Without greater coordination – and integration – of the international community’s activities, governments may be overwhelmed rather than assisted.
- Consider the regional context: Cross-border ties may underpin hostility, or may be the key to easing it. Resolving conflict requires a regional approach that provides positive incentives to neighbours and seeks to dissuade spoilers.
- Recognise the long-term commitment: Funding mechanisms need to ensure continuity and stability of resources over a decade or more.
