Institute of Development Studies

Aid Relationships

The quality of relationships within and between organisations in the web of aid is crucial for organisational performance. Until recently and with some notable exceptions surprisingly little attention has been paid to the workings of the relationships within this web nor to the contradictions that play out in every day practice, leading to questions such as:

• What relationships should international aid agencies prioritise in their work and what criteria should they use to guide that choice.
• How can and should aid agency staff respond to conflict and contestation within a recipient country? Whose voice and knowledge count in the decisions they make?
• How should financial management and reporting procedures be revised to optimise a concern for quality relationships in aid?

IDS researchers have been collaborating with a network of practitioners and academics to explore the key dimensions of aid relationships in order to promote organisational learning.

• IDS key contact: Rosalind Eyben
• Project dates: February 2005 - November 2009
• Project status: Open

Researchers

• Rosalind Eyben

Selected Outputs

• Eyben, R. (2008) 'Power, Mutual Accountability and Responsibility in the Practice of International Aid: A Relational Approach', IDS Working Paper 305, Brighton: IDS
• Eyben, R. (2006) Relationships for Aid, London: Earthscan
• Eyben, R. (2004) 'Relationships Matter for Supporting Change in Favour of Poor People', Lessons for Change in Policy and Organisations 8, Brighton: IDS