Effective Management of International Aid Through Inter-Governmental Trust Funds

The past two decades have witnessed the proliferation of funding mechanisms by which to deliver international aid to distressed countries, albeit few aid initiatives paid particular attention to the delivery and management through the bypassing of state machineries. This article sets out to show that the use of intergovernmental trust funds has the potential of transforming the aid (broadly understood) landscape and, while being intrusive, harness local corruption and mismanagement. Effectively, such trust vehicles, would function as oversight, management, and disbursement mechanisms, on the basis of human rights-based approaches to development, and enhance local ownership and democratic values and principles. The Chadian model discussed in this paper is an excellent case study because, although it ultimately failed to live up to its developmental expectations, it was a significant attempt by which to efficiently deliver aid, enhance capacity and self-determination.