Shielded against risk? European donor co?ordination in Palestine

Motivation There is a wide-ranging consensus that co-ordination in development policy needed for aid effectiveness. However, our research reveals number of surprising and significant gaps existing scholarship. Development Palestine has not been researched the phenomenon as “shielding” against domestic contestation remains underexamined. Purpose This article aims to provide better understanding “risk shielding” dynamic European through four case studies. It envisages theoretical insights on “shield effect” specifically: (a) how cracks may entail collapse; (b) which conditions influence continuation such donor schemes. Approach methods The pragmatic inductive strategy based 74 expert interviews Jerusalem Ramallah 2017 2019, are triangulated with primary sources, evaluations, verification meetings secondary literature. We examine cases vary terms successfulness. Coincidental variation between within allows us infer insights. Findings While often pursued order shield contestation, an opposite can also emerge whereby one succumbs pressures thereby contaminates entire group. Our provides empirically grounded theorization schemes’ sustainability by identifying: five-stage script erode shield; three sustainable co-ordination. Finally, we make suggestions further research, instance from politicization perspective. Policy implications Before engaging far-reaching schemes, donors should consider possible impact fellow creation additional protective belts international organizations. consortia seem be useful shields attacks, they put heavy burden all involved. Donors confident about support therefore going it alone. constitutes unique context, expect will grow hence purpose become increasingly relevant.