How can international actors maximise the positive impact of engagement in fragile situations and minimise unintentional harm? These updated Principles from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development suggest ways in which international actors can foster constructive engagement between national and international stakeholders. The long-term vision for international engagement is to help national reformers build state institutions capable of engaging productively with their people to promote sustained development. Core principles are to take context as the starting point and to base interventions on sound political analysis so as to ‘do no harm’.
A durable exit from poverty and insecurity for the world’s most fragile states will need to be driven by their own leadership and people. International interventions can have positive or negative effects. Interventions need to be based on strong conflict and governance analysis and designed with appropriate safeguards so that they do not inadvertently create societal divisions and worsen corruption and abuse.
It is essential for international actors to understand the specific context in each country, and develop a shared view of the strategic response required. It is particularly important to recognise the different constraints of capacity, political will and legitimacy, and the differences between: (i) post-conflict/crisis or political transition situations; (ii) deteriorating governance environments, (iii) gradual improvement, and; (iv) prolonged crisis or impasse.
State-building and peacebuilding should be central objectives. Supporting the relationship between state and society involves strengthening: (i) state legitimacy and accountability by addressing issues of democratic governance, human rights, civil society engagement and peacebuilding; and (ii) the capability of states to fulfil their core functions in order to reduce poverty. Such support will in turn strengthen citizens’ confidence, trust and engagement with state institutions. Related principles are to:
- Prioritise prevention: This will include sharing risk analyses; looking beyond quick-fix solutions to address the root causes of state fragility; strengthening indigenous capacities to prevent and resolve conflicts; supporting the peacebuilding capabilities of regional organisations, and undertaking joint missions to consider measures to help avert crises.
- Recognise the links between political, security and development objectives: Policy coherence and joined-up strategies are needed.
- Promote non-discrimination as a basis for inclusive and stable societies: Real or perceived discrimination is associated with fragility and conflict, and can lead to service delivery failures.
International actors should align with local priorities in different ways in different contexts. Where alignment behind government-led strategies is not possible due to particularly weak governance or violent conflict, for example, international actors should consult with a range of national stakeholders in the partner country, and seek partial alignment at the sectoral or regional level. Further principles are to:
- Agree on practical coordination mechanisms between international actors: Where possible, it is important to work together on: upstream analysis; joint assessments; shared strategies; and coordination of political engagement.
- Act fast … but stay engaged long enough to give success a chance: Assistance to fragile states must be flexible enough to take advantage of windows of opportunity and respond to changing conditions on the ground, but capacity development in core institutions will normally require at least ten years.
- Avoid pockets of exclusion: International actors need to address the problem of “aid orphans” – states where there are no significant political barriers to engagement, but few international actors are engaged and aid volumes are low. This also applies to neglected geographical regions within a country, plus neglected sectors and groups within societies.
