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Donor preferences for recipient control of international development aid

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  • Hennessy, Jack
  • Mortimer, Duncan
  • Sweeney, Rohan
  • Woode, Maame Esi

Abstract

More than 90 % of health aid remains tied to projects that reflect donor rather than recipient priorities. This has a material impact on aid effectiveness and is inconsistent with the stated aims of development partners to ‘decolonise aid’ and prioritise ‘locally led development’. Relatively little attention has been given to constraints that might account for this divergence between donor rhetoric and action. The present study considers whether the preferences of donor country citizens (donors) are consistent with recipient control of aid programs.

Suggested Citation

  • Hennessy, Jack & Mortimer, Duncan & Sweeney, Rohan & Woode, Maame Esi, 2025. "Donor preferences for recipient control of international development aid," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 384(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:384:y:2025:i:c:s0277953625008664
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2025.118535
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