Page contents Page contents OverviewToday, 1.5 billion people live in fragile and conflict-affected states (FCAS). The world’s poorest populations are increasingly concentrated in fragile countries, and these countries remain the farthest away from meeting the Millennium Development Goals.In fragile and conflict-affected states, state structures are weak or failing, and the social contract is broken because the state is unable or unwilling to perform its basic functions ofupholding the rule of lawprotecting human rights and basic freedomsensuring the security and safety of its populationreducing povertydelivering public services and managing resourcesensuring legitimate access to political power in a fair and transparent wayHowever, the overall global situation may change. Some countries which have been fragile in the past have become responsible and influential members of the international community with dynamic economies. Other countries, however, have slipped back deeper into poverty, conflict and insecurity. The transition out of fragility can take a long time, as basic governance transformations may take decades - about 20-40 years.Challenges for aid deliveryImplementing cooperation programmes and delivering aid in situations of fragility, conflict and crisis is very challenging. Nevertheless, the EU seeks to deliver speedy, flexible and effective assistance, building resilience and ensuring maximum impact for EU resources in a conflict-sensitive manner.
