Effect of Domestic Politics on Aid’s Effectiveness in Improving Human Welfare in Sierra Leone (2000-2019)

Critics of foreign aid programs have long argued that poverty reflects government failure. In this paper, I test predictions for aid effectiveness based on an analytical framework that relates aid effectiveness to political regimes. Based on a systematic review of the impact of aid on both state capacity for, and elite commitment to sustainable development, this article concludes that a better understanding of the impact of aid has the potential to directly inform practices of international development. This requires better empirical insight into how donors interact with formal and informal institutions in Sierra Leone. Furthermore, it is critical to see aid as part of a spectrum of international exchange, rather than in isolation. This implies a significant research agenda, combining quantitative and in-depth qualitative analysis, as there are barriers to more informed political analysis to inform practice, and little analysis exists of how donors, even where they do start adopting a political perspective, do influence local institutions and the people they work with.