Countries cannot simply grow out of fragility: economic growth is a necessary but insufficient condition. There are now more middle-income contexts classed as fragile than low-income. They face specific fragility-related challenges linked to debt sustainability, sub-national violence, and conflict spillovers. 

Conflict-affected contexts tend to be fragile, but the bulk of fragile contexts are not in a state of war. Fragility however increases the risks of conflict or crisis. Helping countries and communities to address its drivers is thus key to preventing conflict and supporting peace. 

Fragility makes it hard to adapt to climate change, manage related risks, and cope with the impacts of biodiversity loss and environmental degradation. Yet, fragile contexts – and the extremely fragile in particular – remain under-served by climate-related development finance. The OECD offers insights into ways to prioritise action on climate and environmental fragility and access the financing necessary to do so.

Forced displacement creates urgent humanitarian needs, but it often also becomes a long-term phenomenon: with little perspective of returning to their countries of origin, many forcibly displaced people find themselves caught in a hosting environment that is already fragile. Beyond humanitarian support, therefore, development partners must facilitate their social and economic integration by reinforcing the capacities of national social systems and institutions.