The Balkans received huge amounts of international aid in the last twenty-two years. Much of this aid was directed towards projects aiming at rebuilding infrastructure, improving education and social care services, increasing the capacity of state institutions in crucial sectors and reintegrating refugees. However, many reports underline that aid was often badly managed and thus wasted. Bureaucracy, inaccurate organization and corruption contributed to the shortcomings of internatioal aid experienced during these twenty years. In many cases aid money lined the pockets of crooks, cronies and dodgy officials. Humanitarian and post-conflict aid has nowadays been reduced and replaced by pre-accession stfunds from the European Union.
Academics and practictioners from aid organizations, NGos from the region and the international community are invited to participate to this workshop and share their views on the record of international aid to Southeast Europe. The workshop aims at discussing the causes of successes and failures in international development assistance to the region and formulate suggestions that could improve its efficacy.

Keynote speaker: Prof. Stefano Bianchini, University of Bologna

Papers could focus either on donor-recipient relationships, or on specific projects. Issue to be addressed include:

Interested participants should send abstract of around 400 words and short CVs should be sent to seeconference@uop.gr by October 20, 2012. All abstracts will be evaluated by an academic committee. The authors of accepted proposals will be informed by mid-November 2012. Full papers should be submitted by 31 January 2013 to be circulated among conference participants. Selected papers will be published in a special issue of the Journal Southeastern Europe (JSEE, Brill) and in an edited volume. A registration fee of 100 € (to cover meals and dinner) is required upon arrival.

e-mail: seeconference@uop.gr

Source: http://www.pecob.eu/22-years-international-development-assistance-southeast-europe-lessons-donors-recipients