Rural Development and the ‘New Architecture of Aid’: Convergence and Constraints

In this article donor practice is examined in relation to a number of major issues — current and emerging — in rural development. The article focuses first on areas in which there appears to be growing convergence and then on those characterised by differences of approach. Practical problems likely to limit the effectiveness of donor strategy include those of managing sector‐wide approaches and of linking rural and urban policy. Constraints on the implementation of pro‐poor initiatives are pervasive, but have received little attention in poverty‐focused initiatives such as Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers. Finally, chronic political instability continues to limit development support (as distinct from relief) in many of the areas in which concentrations of the poor are greatest.