Fragile states

An estimated one billion people live in fragile situations, in countries or areas affected by wars and other disasters, where state structures have broken down to leave citizens vulnerable to a whole range of shocks. This is one of the toughest challenges for human development and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. It makes lives harder by reducing human security and threatens livelihoods.

In addition, weakened states are likely to have limited capacity, will or legitimacy to fulfill key functions such as providing security and protection from risks and violence, and ensuring rule of law, or the delivery of basic services. Fragility can spread easily, leading to cross-boundary conflict, smuggling, and criminal activity.

ODI develops research and policy advice across a number of issues relating to fragile states:

• On the crisis front, our work indentifies appropriate operational strategies related to crisis response, risk reduction and transitional programming.
• We investigate the growing convergence between work on pacification and peacebuilding and more long term processes of state-building and strengthening governance.
•  Our work also considers the deliveryof basic services, such as health and water, in fragile environments.
• Our work on aid considers the challenges and potential responses for donors.
• Finally, we consider the relationship between fragility and chronic poverty.