ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the common factors and common problems, and to explore their implications for development assistance policy. A nation’s historical experience clearly influences its development program at many levels, but the most important historical factor appears to be the presence or absence of a previous colonial relationship with third world nations. In addition to the influence of colonial relationships, a second important factor has been the interrelationship between a donor’s development assistance policy and its foreign policy goals. A common complaint among all of the European development assistance agencies, with the possible exception of the French, has been the difficulties of operating effectively within the constraint of present staff size. In general, the major choices facing these European donors appear to be similar to those described study of Development Assistance Committee nations, which highlighted three main objectives of aid management: maximizing long-term development impact; prompt disbursement of funds; and maintenance of domestic support.
