Fragility, conflict, and violence (FCV) threaten to reverse development gains in many IDA countries. As of 2022, 100 million refugees, internally displaced persons, and asylum seekers had fled their homes to escape violence, conflict, and persecution. By 2030, up to two-thirds of the world's extreme poor will live in FCV-affected areas. Furthermore, the war in Ukraine is disrupting livelihoods in many IDA countries, affecting food, energy and commodity markets, and placing further stress on fragile areas, such as Yemen and the Sahel.
Despite overwhelming challenges, IDA's support has been unwavering in helping countries transition from crisis and fragility to a path of recovery and sustainable development. Since IDA15, when FCV was introduced as a Special Theme, IDA’s assistance and operational engagement has evolved and increased in ambition, including substantial increases in financing, decentralization of staff, enhanced partnerships, and the introduction of more targeted mechanisms and tools. The share of IDA resources going to countries facing FCV challenges has increased fivefold over the past decade, reaching about 40 percent of total IDA resources, and comprising more than half of all grants.
IDA engagement is strongly aligned with the
WBG FCV Strategy (2020–2025). Implementation of the FCV strategy is supported by the IDA’s policy commitments and financing toolkit. The Policy Commitments under FCV theme as well as FCS sub-targets under all other Policy Commitments are a recognition that addressing FCV would be essential for progress on the SDGs, and to help countries address higher poverty rates and lagging progress in reducing extreme poverty.
IDA20 is scaling up support, addressing transboundary drivers of FCV, and strengthening regional crisis risk preparedness in the Sahel, Lake Chad, the Horn of Africa, and Central Asia. Underpinning this support are IDA’s fit-for-purpose financing mechanisms and tools such as the
FCV Envelope, to offer targeted and tailored support for specific situations; and the
Window for Host Communities and Refugees (WHR) to strengthen support for durable solutions and socio-economic opportunities for refugee and host populations. Support from
IDA’s Regional Window,
Crisis-Response Window, and
Private Sector Window are also making significant contributions and complementing efforts in countries facing FCV challenges.
Partnerships are central to IDA's work but more so in countries affected by fragility and conflict. IDA is strengthening partnerships with UN agencies, IMF, development banks, the European Commission, bilateral partners, regional institutions, and civil society organizations.
- In Burkina Faso, IDA helped the national government improve citizen engagement and public sector accountability, strengthening municipal capacities in 13 regions. At the onset of multiple crises, including a security crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic, IDA partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to build national capacity to purchase and distribute essential household items to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
- In the Central African Republic (CAR), a cash-for-work program called is a peace-building project that uses labor-intensive public works to promote social cohesion and economic activity. More than 41,400 vulnerable individuals (38% women) secured temporary employment across 83 districts generating 1.61 million workdays. More than 2,460 km of rural roads were rehabilitated, creating access to markets and essential services.
- In Rwanda, IDA supported two projects that demobilized and reintegrated demobilized and reintegrated 70,000 ex-combatants into society. The project screened for mental illness at the beginning for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other mental health issues among combatants, providing necessary psychotherapy or psychiatric treatment. IDA's support of this project lasted more than a decade, consolidating IDA's long-term commitment to the country.
Last Updated: Mar 30, 2023