Publication

This paper discusses whether various bilateral and multilateral donors prioritize aid in line with the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs). The authors find that donors differ in the extent to which their sectoral aid allocation is conducive to achieving more specific MDGs. While some of the goals, e.g. the fight against HIV/AIDS, have shaped the allocation of aid, most notably with respect to primary education, there is a considerable gap between donor rhetoric and actual aid allocation. The authors conclude that unless the targeting of aid is improved, higher aid will not have the desired effects.