Topic 2:

Whose
Objectives
& Why?
Sophal Ear, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Naval Postgraduate School
CSRS Workshop:
Agriculture: Promoting Livelihoods
in Conflict-Affected Environments
23 March 2010
Agenda
Donors Objectives
Farmers Objectives
Governments
Objectives
Implications to
Donors
Why should the objectives
of conflict-affected
governments, farmers and
donors be the same?
Why might they differ?
Stylized Donors Objectives
Build support for central
government
Why is developing
government institutions
critical to stability in
conflict-affected countries?
Rural opinion makers critical
Small commercial farmer is key
Why are non-poor farmers
of special importance to
stability as compared to the
poorest rural people?
of rural population
80% of farm land
Farmers Objectives
Roads
Irrigation
Electricity
Where is power?
Schools
Electricity!!!
Girls Education
Technology
Credit
Aside from these objectives,
what might farmers need in
conflict-affected
environments?
They might need trust among
each other: social capital
Men fight; but women suffer
the most. -Dr. J aidev Singh
Women are the ones who plant and
harvest in Africa, for example
They become easy targets
Immediate impact: cessation of
growing and harvesting
Governments Objectives
May be same as farmers
or not.
May be to maximize foreign aid
or personal flows
May be to build coalitions to
keep power
or to lose it trying
Implications for Donors
Monitor expenditure very tightly
Technical assistance to build
government capacity
Thank You and Questions