The Role of Foreign Aid in Post-Conflict Countries

This paper discusses the role that international development assistance can play in helping post-conflict countries address their structural constraints and avoid or at least minimize the risk of new conflict. The paper argues that the success of the post-conflict reconstruction agenda is contingent on the existence of a capable state that is able to deliver on its core functions, especially security, law and order, provision of public services, and revenue mobilization. The paper singles out revenue mobilization as important not only for the performance of other core functions of the state, but also for building the required policy space needed to genuinely own the national development agenda.