This report was commissioned by the Policy and Operations Evaluation Department (IOB) of the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The IOB graciously suggested we publish the work to inform the broader international dialogue on challenges and methods of aid implementation for programmes operating in conditions of conflict. We hope the report will make such a contribution. Naturally, the report’s contents remain the responsibility of its authors.

We are thankful to IOB for providing feedback that allowed the report to be further improved. In addition, we owe a debt of thanks to a number of interviewees, mostly representatives of non-governmental organisations and of governments, who wish to remain anonymous given the sensitive nature of the report. Thank you for sharing your insights in frank but confidential interviews. We hope we have done them justice.