The OECD’s Development Co-operation Directorate (DCD) has produced Fragile States reports since 2005. These reports explore trends and financial resource flows in fragile and conflict-affected states and economies. They respond to increasing concerns about the implications of fragility for international stability and development progress. Also, they recognise aid as being only one component of international support to fragile environments, and put it into context. The OECD remains one of only a handful of sources of aggregate data and analysis for fragile states and economies as a group. In line with the new, broader concept of fragility presented in this 2015 report, the OECD’s annual publication will now be referred to as States of Fragility.

This year has the potential to be a turning point in the history of poverty reduction. As the end of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) draws closer, we are witnessing progress given that extreme poverty has been halved worldwide, although the majority of fragile states and conflict-affected countries have not met the MDG targets. It is worthy to note that the MDG framework did not address the challenges faced by fragile and conflict-affected countries nor the context within which the MDGs were being implemented in fragile situations. It is evident that 15 years on, fragile and conflict-affected countries have been left behind. In the run-up to the Special Summit on Sustainable Development in September 2015, the UN Secretary-General’s synthesis report puts forward justice – promoting safe and peaceful societies, and strong institutions, as one of the six essential elements for delivering the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for post-2015. The proposed goal on justice and peace will be an important step in tackling the challenges faced in fragile environments.

States of Fragility 2015 is published at an important time for international development co-operation. In 2015, the world’s governments will agree on a successor framework to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). This framework will be more ambitious than ever, requiring in turn more urgent efforts to reduce the persistent poverty in fragile situations and strengthen the institutions that can deliver economic and social development.

This report is published at an important time for international development co‑operation. The post-2015 development framework is likely to be much more ambitious than the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). This introductory chapter outlines the progress of fragile states and economies in meeting the MDGs and the challenges that fragility poses to meeting global development ambitions in the post-2015 era. It summarises the development finances available for addressing fragility, and the steps that can be taken to better allocate and monitor finances for reducing fragility and achieving global development aspirations in the future.

This chapter addresses the first three questions:

Question 1: How have fragile states fared in meeting the Millennium Development Goals?

Question 2: How should fragility be assessed post-2015?

Question 3: What obstacles does fragility pose to delivering the post-2015 agenda?

This chapter considers where and how aid is spent and assesses global trends in supporting fragile states and economies. It discusses the following questions:

Question 4: What sources of development finance are available to fragile countries?

Question 5: How is aid allocated in fragile states and to reducing fragility?

Question 6: Is security spending aligned to the security challenges, risks and vulnerabilities that contribute to fragility?

This chapter addresses the following questions:

Question 7: What opportunities exist to address fragility?

Question 8: What should international support look like in the future in order to be fit for purpose?