The Last 10 Per Cent: Why the World Needs a Leaner, More Innovative and Pragmatic Development Sector, Today

208 Pages·2023·1.913 MB·English

by  Erica Harper

Carefully written and lucidly presented, Harper takes readers on
a deep dive into the geopolitics of aid provision, making an irref-
utable case for why everyone has a stake in human development
outcomes.
Helen Clark, Administrator of the United Nations
Development Programme (2009–2017)
A pathbreaking examination of how political economy in aid provi-
sion is obstructing progress towards a safer, more equal and socially
cohesive world. Strongly recommended for practitioners, donors
and policy makers alike.
Ertharin Cousin, Executive Director of the United Nations
World Food Programme (2012–2017)
A major contribution to the scholarship on development effective-
ness. Harper takes the frustration held by many and packages it
in a solution-oriented account of how development cooperation
can be transformed and strengthened in a pragmatic way but
always keeping a people centered approach where their rights are
respected, protected and promoted.
Najat Maalla M’jid, Special Representative of the
Secretary-General on Violence against Children
In this highly readable exploration of development processes,
Harper sets out a constructive argument for how better outcomes
can be achieved by understanding the political economy of aid
flows, making better use evidence and fostering innovation.
Gillian Triggs, UN Assistant Secretary-General and
Assistant High Commissioner for Protection with UNHCR

THE LAST 10 PER CENT
Criticism that the development sector has not delivered in terms of eliminat-
ing extreme poverty, fast-tracking growth and preventing conflict, is neither
new nor surprising. In fact, it may be the one thing that scholars, donors
and practitioners agree on. While many of these concerns are valid, this
book makes a case that the sector is closer to unlocking the gates to more
effective and efficient development outcomes than is popularly believed.
Specifically, it argues that by overturning a few myths, making better use of
evidence and employing some different rules, practitioners, policy special-
ists and donors can foster the changes in the development architecture that
are needed to reach the 10 percent of the world’s population still living in
extreme poverty.
Engaging, provocative and clear sighted, the book provides insight into
interventions around democratic governance, refugee response, counterter-
rorism, gender mainstreaming, environmental protection and private sector
engagement. It is instructive reading for professionals across the develop-
ment sector, think tanks and NGOs.
Erica Harper is the Head of Research and Policy Studies at the Geneva
Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights. She also
serves as an affiliate researcher at the Van Vollenhoven Institute, Leiden
University, Netherlands.

THE LAST 10 PER CENT
Why the World Needs a Leaner,
More Innovative and
Pragmatic Development Sector, Today
Erica Harper
Designed cover image: Gettyimages
First published 2023
by Routledge
4 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
and by Routledge
605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2023 Erica Harper
The right of Erica Harper to be identified as author of this work has been asserted in accordance
with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form
or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including
photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without
permission in writing from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and
are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe.
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Harper, Erica, author.
Title: The last 10 per cent : why the world needs a leaner, more innovative and pragmatic
development sector, today / Erica Harper.
Other titles: Last ten per cent
Description: Abingdon, Oxon ; New York, NY : Routledge, 2023. | Includes bibliographical
references and index. | Summary: “This book studies the role of the development sector in
eliminating extreme poverty, fast-tracking growth, and preventing conflict in a post-pandemic
world. It sets out 5 changes that are needed in the development architecture to reach that
last 10 per cent of the world’s population living in extreme poverty. Challenging traditional
ideas of development programming, the book argues for a more evidence-based approach
to designing engagement strategies and creating an enabling environment that will allow
the sector to move towards innovation-centric development approaches. It also makes a
case for securing small but firm wins by focusing on the development challenges that can be
overcome easily and cost-effectively, and waging peace with the corporate sector to enable
greater reach and synchronicities Engaging, provocative and clear-sighted, the volume draws
on topical case studies in democratic governance, refugee response, counterterrorism, gender
mainstreaming, environmental protection and private sector engagement. It will be essential
for professionals in the development sector, thinktanks and NGOs”-- Provided by publisher.
Identifiers: LCCN 2022048528 (print) | LCCN 2022048529 (ebook) | ISBN 9781032152783
(hardback) | ISBN 9781032152783 (paperback) | ISBN 9781003376996 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Economic assistance--Developing countries. | Poverty--Developing countries. |
Nonprofit organizations. | Development economics.
Classification: LCC HC60 .H323145 2023 (print) | LCC HC60 (ebook) | DDC
338.91/1724--dc23/eng/20221013
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2022048528
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2022048529
ISBN: 978-1-032-15278-3 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-032-45434-4 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-003-37699-6 (ebk)
DOI: 10.4324/9781003376996
Typeset in Sabon
by SPi Technologies India Pvt Ltd (Straive)
In memory of David Snider (1969–2020), exactly the brand of
committed, curious and pragmatic humanitarian that the system needs
but lost too soon.

CONTENTS
Acknowledgments x
Introduction: is a little bit of sunlight the disinfectant
the aid sector needs? 1
1 How the West got rich, and other curious questions
around human development 8
2 Broken, by design 21
3 Towards the aid sector we need 39
4 The Samaritan dilemma: promoting good governance
in fragile and poverty-affected states 54
5 Innovating humanitarian response 75
6 Exploiting the sweet spots 110
7 Playing politics to win 135
8 Development beyond the development sector 162
9 Charting a pathway towards enhanced aid effectiveness 181
Index 188
ix