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The Effectiveness of Foreign Aid to Education: What Can Be Learned?

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  • Abby Rubin Riddell

Abstract

This paper reviews what has been learned over many decades of foreign aid to education. It discusses what works and what does not and in this discussion draws attention to the fact that even a simple assessment requires more than providing a uniform check-list of inputs. It shows the positive contribution that aid has made to education in aid-recipient countries, the most tangible outcome of which is the contribution that aid makes to expanding enrolments especially of basic education.

Suggested Citation

  • Abby Rubin Riddell, 2012. "The Effectiveness of Foreign Aid to Education: What Can Be Learned?," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2012-075, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    • Handle: RePEc:unu:wpaper:wp-2012-075
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    File URL: https://www.wider.unu.edu/sites/default/files/wp2012-075.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Tony Addison & Miguel Niño‐Zarazúa & Finn Tarp, 2015. "Aid, Social Policy and Development," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 27(8), pages 1351-1365, November.
    2. Douzounet Mallaye & Urbain Thierry Yogo, 2015. "How Aid Helps Achieving MDGs in Africa: the Case of Primary Education," CERDI Working papers halshs-01100836, HAL.
    3. Yogo, Urbain Thierry & Mallaye, Douzounet, 2014. "How Aid Helps Achieving MDGs in Africa: the Case of Primary Education," MPRA Paper 60212, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    4. Tony Addison & Finn Tarp, 2015. "Lessons for Japanese foreign aid from research on aid's impact," WIDER Working Paper Series 058, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    5. repec:unu:wpaper:wp201558 is not listed on IDEAS
    6. Jun Li, 2013. "Foreign Aid, Urbanization and Green Cities," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2013-051, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    7. Douzounet Mallaye & Thierry Urbain Yogo, 2013. "Foreign Aid and Mobilization of Growth Factors in Sub-Saharan Africa," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2013-103, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    8. Yogo, Thierry Urbain & Mallaye, Douzounet, 2013. "Foreign Aid and Mobilization of Growth Factors in Sub-Saharan Africa," WIDER Working Paper Series 103, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    9. repec:unu:wpaper:wp2015-58 is not listed on IDEAS
    10. Tony Addison & Miguel Niño‐Zarazúa & Finn Tarp, 2015. "Aid, Social Policy and Development," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 27(8), pages 1351-1365, November.
    11. Tony Addison & Finn Tarp, 2015. "Lessons for Japanese Foreign Aid from Research on Aid's Impact," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2015-058, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    12. Caren Grown & Tony Addison & Finn Tarp, 2016. "Aid for Gender Equality and Development: Lessons and Challenges," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 28(3), pages 311-319, April.
    13. Li, Jun, 2013. "Foreign Aid, Urbanization and Green Cities," WIDER Working Paper Series 051, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    14. Heyneman, Stephen P. & Lee, Bommi, 2016. "International organizations and the future of education assistance," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 9-22.

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    Keywords

    Economic assistance and foreign aid; Economic policy; Education; Public welfare;
    All these keywords.

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