States, Markets, and Foreign Aid

Why do some donor governments pursue international development through recipient governments, while others bypass such local authorities? Weaving together scholarship in political economy, public administration and historical institutionalism, Simone Dietrich argues that the bureaucratic institutions of donor countries shape donor–recipient interactions differently despite similar international and recipient country conditions. Donor nations employ institutional constraints that authorize, enable and justify particular aid delivery tactics while precluding others. Offering quantitative and qualitative analyses of donor decision-making, the book illuminates how donors with neoliberally organized public sectors bypass recipient governments, while donors with more traditional public-sector-oriented institutions cooperate and engage recipient authorities on aid delivery. The book demonstrates how internal beliefs and practices about states and markets inform how donors see and set their objectives for foreign aid and international development itself. It informs debates about aid effectiveness and donor coordination and carries implications for the study of foreign policy, more broadly.

Boosting effective giving with bundling and donor coordination

We introduce a strategy to increase effective giving, combining three techniques: bundling, asymmetrical matching, and donor coordination. In a series of online studies, we experimentally demonstrate the effectiveness of the techniques. In an ongoing study, using a custom donation platform aimed at a mass audience (GivingMultiplier.org), we test them in the field.

European Union- South Asia Development Co-operation with special reference to India

The scope of the EU’s development agenda has undergone significant changes over the years and now, interalia, includes political objectives and sectoral priorities. In South Asia – a region long overlooked by the EU due to its marginal presence in global trade, internal bickering and varying political preferences – the EU is now focussed on improving infrastructure and social sectors, in addition to its longstanding liberal contributions of assistance in response to natural disasters in the region. The wider implications of donor coordination and EU development strategy are subject to much scrutiny and debate in South Asia, as this aid is inextricably linked to political preferences. This article evaluates the nature of the EU’s development programme in South Asia. It also points to the contradictions that exist within the EU’s larger ideological preferences and actions in its development agenda in South Asia.

Operational Challenges of Engaging Development Partners in District Health Planning in Tanzania

BackgroundDevelopment assistance for health represents an important source of health financing in many low and middle-income countries. However, there are few accounts on how priorities funded through Development assistance for health are integrated with district health priorities. This study aimed at understanding the operational challenges of engaging development partners in district health planning in Tanzania MethodsThis explanatory mixed methods study was conducted in Kinondoni and Bahi districts. A structured checklist to 35 participants collected quantitative data whereas a semi-structured guide collected qualitative from 20 key informants (the council health planning team members and the development partners) to obtain information related to engagement of development partners in the planning processes and subsequent implementation of the district plan. We used descriptive analysis for quantitative data and thematic analysis for qualitative data ResultsMajority (86%) of the development partners delivering aid in the studied districts were Non Governmental Organizations. We found high engagement of Development partners (DPs) (87.5%) in Bahi district and very low in Kinondoni district (37.5%). Guidance on district priorities to be included in Development partner’s plans as part of the Comprehensive Council Health Plan (CCHP) was given to 36% of the Development partners. Submission of written plans to be integrated in the District plans was done by only 56% of Development partners, with majority (77.7%) from Kinondoni district not submitting their plans. Only 8% of the submitted plans appeared in the final District plan document. Qualitative findings reported operational challenges to engagements such as differences in planning cycles between the government and donors, uncertainties in funding from the prime donors, lack of transparency, limited skills of district planning teams, technical practicalities on planning tools and processes, inadequate knowledge on planning guidelines among DPs and poor donor coordination at the district level. ConclusionsWe found low engagement of Development partners in planning. To be resolved are operational challenges related to differences in planning cycles, articulations and communication of local priorities, donor coordination, and technical skills on planning and stakeholder engagement.

Operational challenges of engaging development partners in district health planning in Tanzania

Background: Development assistance for health represents an important source of health financing in many low and middle-income countries. However, there are few accounts on how priorities funded through Development assistance for health are integrated with district health priorities. This study aimed at understanding the operational challenges of engaging development partners in district health planning in Tanzania Methods: This explanatory mixed methods study was conducted in Kinondoni and Bahi districts. A structured checklist to 35 participants collected quantitative data whereas a semi-structured guide collected qualitative from 20 key informants (the council health planning team members and the development partners) to obtain information related to engagement of development partners in the planning processes and subsequent implementation of the district plan. We used descriptive analysis for quantitative data and thematic analysis for qualitative data Results: Majority (86%) of the development partners delivering aid in the studied districts were Non Governmental Organizations. We found high engagement of Development partners (DPs) (87.5%) in Bahi district and very low in Kinondoni district (37.5%). Guidance on district priorities to be included in Development partner’s plans as part of the Comprehensive Council Health Plan (CCHP) was given to 36% of the Development partners. Submission of written plans to be integrated in the District plans was done by only 56% of Development partners, with majority (77.7%) from Kinondoni district not submitting their plans. Only 8% of the submitted plans appeared in the final District plan document. Qualitative findings reported operational challenges to engagements such as differences in planning cycles between the government and donors, uncertainties in funding from the prime donors, lack of transparency, limited skills of district planning teams, technical practicalities on planning tools and processes, inadequate knowledge on planning guidelines among DPs and poor donor coordination at the district level. Conclusions: We found low engagement of Development partners in planning. To be resolved are operational challenges related to differences in planning cycles, articulations and communication of local priorities, donor coordination, and technical skills on planning and stakeholder engagement.

Benchtop access to anhydrous actinide N-donor coordination complexes using ionic liquids

Actinide salts were dehydrated with an ionic liquid containing the same anion and subsequently coordinated by N-heterocyclic ligands challenging the concept of O- over N-donor preference.

Analysis of four-year management of the waiting list for liver transplantation in Rostov region: prospects for reducing mortality of candidates listed for liver transplantation

Purpose: analysis of various clinical results in patients registered in the liver transplantation waiting list (LTWL).Materials and methods: the study was carried at the Center of Surgery and Donor Coordination of the Rostov Regional Clinical Hospital using clinical, laboratory and instrumental data of 198 patients from the LTWL. 99 men and 99 women were enrolled into this study. The men age ranged from 21 to 70 years (47.8 ± 10.4 years), women age - from 18 to 66 years (49.2 ± 10.9 years). At the time of analysis of the LTWL, the average follow-up period was 14.8 ± 11.2 months. All patients were examined according to the list required for inclusion in the LTWL.Results: depending on the outcome, 198 patients from TLWL were grouped into 4 groups. The first group (delisting group) — 19 patients (9.6 %) with clinical and laboratory indicators that allowed them to be excluded from WL. The second group — 67 patients (33.8 %) who had positive clinical dynamics following therapy. The third group — 39 patients (19.7 %) who underwent liver transplantation. The fourth group — 73 patients (36.9 %) who had negative dynamics following therapy, including patients with a fatal outcome. While keeping LTWL for 4 years, 61 (30.81 %) of 198 listed patients died. The majority (40 patients) died of bleeding from varicose veins and OPPN, 17 patients died of hepatic coma and SPB. Each group represents the distribution of patients according to the MELD-Na scale, the severity of portal hypertension and hepatic encephalopathy.Conclusion: the following factors are indispensable for successful work of the transplant center: systematic work with the territories in order to expand the donor base; defining the patient priority criteria in the LTWL in order to reduce the death rate in the list; detailed examination of the patient before entering the list; forming the observation base; systematic patient observation during the pre- and postoperative period, at the rehabilitation stage, as well as at long-term periods in order to develop an effective algorithm of management of the recipient of a solid organ.