Journal of International Development
November 2015 Volume 27, Issue 8 Pages 1351–1545
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jid.v27.6/issuetoc
Special Issue: AID, SOCIAL POLICY, AND DEVELOPMENT

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Aid, Social Policy and Development (pages 1351–1365)
Tony Addison, Miguel Niño-Zarazúa and Finn Tarp
Article first published online: 10 NOV 2015 | DOI: 10.1002/jid.3187
Abstract
This paper discusses past and current social policy strategies in the international aid architecture as an introduction to the UNU-WIDER Special Issue. Beginning in the 1990s, aid strategy and policy shifted to put a stronger emphasis on human development. This accelerated with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and will continue under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which have even more ambitious targets. The paper also assesses some of the concerns associated with the ‘Paris-style’ aid modalities, and discusses major challenges for the future global development agenda.

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Donor Coordination for Effective Government Policies? (pages 1422–1445)
Stefan Leiderer
Article first published online: 10 NOV 2015 | DOI: 10.1002/jid.3184
Abstract
New aid approaches devised under the Paris/Accra agenda for more effective aid are expected to make a particular difference in health and education as, arguably, in these sectors aid fragmentation is particularly prevalent. This article reviews evidence from recent in-depth country work on the extent to which the harmonisation and alignment principles, implemented through new aid modalities, have contributed to health and education outcomes in Zambia. Evidence suggests that even in a ‘model’ case for adopting Paris-style aid instruments such as Zambia, implementation of good aid principles has been insufficient to overcome the negative side effects of uncoordinated and fragmented aid. © 2015 UNU-WIDER.

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How to Assess the Effectiveness of Development Aid Projects: Evaluation Ratings versus Project Indicators (pages 1496–1520)
Laura Metzger and Isabel Guenther
Article first published online: 10 NOV 2015 | DOI: 10.1002/jid.3189
Abstract
Most studies on project-based aid effectiveness rely on subjective evaluation ratings to measure projects’ performance. Using the example of drinking water projects, this study compares evaluation ratings to objective, quantitative project indicators based on water supply to better understand the drivers of evaluation ratings. We find that evaluation ratings are only weakly correlated with improvements in water supply. Whereas the water supply-based project indicators are best explained by project design variables, evaluation ratings put more weight on project management and implementation.