There has been a push in recent years towards greater coordination and pooled financing mechanisms to promote sustainable post-conflict recovery. Donor coordination is facilitated through negotiated strategic frameworks, which articulate a shared vision, action plan and productive division of labour; and through common needs assessments. Pledging conferences have been criticised for non-delivery or late delivery of funds and a donor-driven agenda. Pooled funds can correct for these shortcomings and foster greater coordination. They come in the form of Post-Conflict Funds (small grants for flexible, smaller scale interventions), Multi-Donor Trust Funds (for large scale collaborative programmes) and the proposed Strategic Post-Conflict Recovery Facility (a flexible fund that would bridge the gap after emergency relief tapers). These un-earmarked funds would also allow financing to be channelled through the local government.
In terms of the sequencing of financing, some argue that aid should be concentrated early on when the demands for multiple recovery programmes are greatest. Others argue that the absence of absorptive capacity in the immediate post-conflict period means that aid should peak a few years after in order to be used effectively.
