Business Environment Reforms in Fragile and Conflict-Affected Situations

Abstract

This report presents the results of a study into how donor and development agencies can support business environment reform (BER) in fragile and conflict-affected situations (FCAS). It focuses on the way humanitarian and transitional development assistance lays the foundations for private sector development (PSD) programmes and the introduction of BER measures. It is specifically concerned with how PSD programmes build on humanitarian assistance activities and introduce BER, while answering four research questions, which are presented below. This report is directed towards reformers. This includes governments (who introduce and manage business environment reforms), business representative organisations (who advocate for reforms and can work with government to help bring about reforms), development partners (the donor and development agencies that support reform efforts), as well as other civil society actors. To guide the work of these reformers, this report is presented as a discussion paper, rather than a formal research report. Practical recommendations and ‘dos and don’ts’ are presented as guiding advice to donor and development agencies, drawing from the research findings.