The Development Dimension The Development Effectiveness of Food Aid Does Tying Matter?.

This publication focuses on two key issues relating to food aid development activities: options for ensuring the effectiveness of food aid in seeking to promote food security and poverty alleviation; and the use of local purchases or regionally sourced imports as relatively efficient ways of providing food aid. The study finds that in most circumstances financial aid (in terms of cash) is the preferable way to fund direct distribution of food or to provide budgetary support for general development or project assistance. A context-specific rationale should be required, therefore, for providing imported commodity aid rather than financial aid.