Measuring fragility: indicators and methods for rating state performance

This document, from USAID, provides recommendations for the development and implementation of performance and outcome indicators to measure state performance to correspond to USAID's Fragile States Strategy.

Excerpt

"The key difference between fragile states and states that are more capable is the nature of the relationship between the government and the governed. In fragile states, this relationship is poor. The government acts in ways that create conditions (or outcomes) that are broadly seen as ineffective, illegitimate, or both. The perceived lack of effectiveness and/or legitimacy undermines the ability and willingness of citizens to engage with the government—and often, with one another—in constructive or productive ways. Such reserve makes it all the more difficult for the government to produce effective and/or legitimate outcomes, even if the will to do so is present.

To assist in the analysis of fragility, USAID identifies four categories of outcomes, or domains, that are particularly salient: political, security, economic, and social. Considering each of these domains in terms of effectiveness and legitimacy produces the State Performance Outcomes Matrix." (USAID, 2005)

Contents

• Explaining fragility and state performance outcomes 1
• Proposed outcome indicators 5
  • Political outcomes 6
    • Effectiveness 6
    • Legitimacy 9
  • Security outcomes 14
    • Effectiveness 14
    • Legitimacy 17
  • Economic outcomes 20
    • Effectiveness 20
    • Legitimacy 24
  • Social outcomes 26
    • Effectiveness 26
    • Legitimacy 30
• Recommended methods for constructing composite indices 36