The Shift from Development to Emergency Assistance and its Imp

Increasing amounts of bilateral and multilateral aid are being used to respond to macroeconomic shocks, political instability and natural disasters. This paper sets out a conceptual framework for considering the consequences of this trend. There are three levels of analysis: provision; coverage; and assessment of impact. In developing this framework, the paper argues that differences in their mode of delivery and time scale of their operation point to a prima facie case for believing that this shift is likely to be inimical to long term poverty reduction. Second, responses to shocks are not always pro-poor. Third, the assessment of impact is dependent on the specific objectives that have been set and the magnitudes of the linkages between an intervention and outcomes of interest.