The Political Economy of Aid in the Sahel

The chapter looks at the issue of aid dependence from donors in Sahelian countries. It argues that aid dependence is the result of a historical process whose roots are found in the colonial experience, and that has led over decades to the internationalization and co-production of public policies in the countries under study. It then shows that in reaction to the promotion of standardized policy measures, elites in the Sahel shape the political economy, strategies, and processes of appropriation in order to protect their interests. Finally, the chapter highlights four drivers through which the aid regime reproduces itself in pursuit of development and poverty reduction.