Designing a List of “Priority” Countries for Bilateral Aid

Overview & Synopsis

The aim of this note is to provide an analytical framework for a bilateral donor, in this case France, wishing to draw up a list of priority countries for its aid in a rational way, based on transparent political choices. Drawing up a list of priority countries for French aid, intended to complement in a coherent way the 44 least developed countries (LDCs) which have already been officially selected, is based on choices that are both technical and political. The principle is to add a certain number of vulnerable countries, with the aim of eventually obtaining a round number such as 16 or 26, among the small and medium-sized countries that are particularly vulnerable. It is proposed that the simulations be carried out using the structural vulnerability index (FSVI) developed by FERDI’s Observatory of Vulnerability and Resilience.