Supporting Fragile States: The Role of Inclusive Growth

Inclusive growth is increasingly recognized as a powerful way to shore up peace and stability by raising the value of the peace dividend and by expanding the coalition of stakeholders who stand to lose from a backslide into conflict. Inclusive growth is also a key driver of poverty reduction. These ideas are ingrained in the “New Deal” – an innovative framework for supporting peace, stabilization and development in fragile and conflict-affected states driven by the g7+ group of fragile states with the support of international partners.

On October 11, the Development Assistance and Governance Initiative at Brookings hosted a discussion on the politics and practicalities of harnessing new learning and ideas to realize inclusive growth in fragile and conflict affected states as well as the role international donors can play in this endeavor.  Panelists included: the co-chairs of the International Dialogue on Peacebuilding and Statebuilding— Christian Friis Bach, Denmark’s minister for development cooperation, and Emilia Pires, minister of finance for the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste; Amara Konneh, Liberia’s minister of finance; Sarah Cliffe, special adviser and assistant secretary-general of civilian capacities at the United Nations; Joel Hellman, director of the Global Center on Conflict, Security and Development at the World Bank; and Akihiko Tanaka, president of the Japan International Cooperation Agency.  Brookings Senior Fellow Homi Kharas moderated the discussion.