PowerPoint Presentation Economic Growth and development in Southeast Asia

Is it all about economic development, reducing poverty?

Huh. ODA is dominated by bilateral aid.

• It should surprise no one to find that ODA is also dominated by (bilateral) foreign policy objectives, political alliances
• Countries provide significant aid to their former colonies
• US aid (including ODA) reflects geo-political concerns
• Egypt and Israel historically
• More recently Afghanistan, Pakistan (also in 80s), South Sudan, Iraq (declining, shifting to Afghanistan)
• Development and poverty reduction matters, at least for some donors, also for multilateral institutions (e.g. IDA, UN agencies)
• Greater focus on harmonization of aid, sectoral programs
• Country size is relevant
• Some donors (and multilaterals) try to improve aid effectiveness through greater selectivity on countries (esp smaller countries) and sectors
• Strengthen fragile democracies, transition to democracy and democratic institutions
• Commercial interests, strengthening trade ties are increasingly important in rising middle income countries