Early economic recovery in fragile states: Priority areas and operational challenges
On 14 December 2009, CRU published the report Early Economic Recovery in Fragile States: Priority Areas and Operational Challenges, by Hugo de Vries and Leontine Specker. This report is part of a larger research project on early economic recovery which CRU works on with the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The programme's objective is to support the MFA in identifying a number of economic priority areas as part of the broader Dutch policy on fragile states.
The Early Economic Recovery- report focuses on how economic activities can contribute to overall stability as part of an integrated reconstruction strategy in fragile states. This process is to be led by the country itself as soon as possible. The following research questions are addressed:
- What type of early economic activities should be prioritized after conflict?
- How can the impact of these projects be increased, and local partners put in the lead?
- What are the main challenges to the implementation of these projects?
- How can such projects be made more sustainable and embedded into longer-term economic recovery programmes, and national ownership be ensured?
The report attempts to answer these questions on the basis of three 'tracks' of economic interventions:
- Emergency employment for high- risk and needs groups, such as labour -intensive construction works by former combatants and IDP's;
- Income generating activities (such agriculture and infrastructure), private sector development and micro- finance for communities;
- Creating an enabling national environment: helping to put in place the national policies to make economic growth durable and self-propelling.
Where the international community needs to 'come in', and what activities to emphasize, will be dependent on the fragile state in question. However, it's fundamental that all three tracks are taken into account, and worked on from the start.