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Shifting Priorities and Shrinking Space: Donor Politics and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) Aid in the Arab States

Rice, Clara Elizabeth LU (2025) MIDM19 20251
LUMID International Master programme in applied International Development and Management
Department of Human Geography
Abstract
This thesis explores the way donor ideologies influence the structure and allocation of foreign aid for sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) in the Arab States region. Drawing on postcolonial theory and the humanitarian–development nexus, it investigates how socio-political shifts within traditional donor countries, specifically rising conservatism, affect both the overall size of the SRHR funding landscape and the division of funds between humanitarian and development aid. Through an instrumental case study of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and using the Arab States region as the site of analysis, this study combines quantitative analysis of UNFPA’s financial data with qualitative insights from participant... (More)
This thesis explores the way donor ideologies influence the structure and allocation of foreign aid for sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) in the Arab States region. Drawing on postcolonial theory and the humanitarian–development nexus, it investigates how socio-political shifts within traditional donor countries, specifically rising conservatism, affect both the overall size of the SRHR funding landscape and the division of funds between humanitarian and development aid. Through an instrumental case study of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and using the Arab States region as the site of analysis, this study combines quantitative analysis of UNFPA’s financial data with qualitative insights from participant observation, semi-structured interviews, and document review. The findings demonstrate that donor ideologies hold significant power over what programs are prioritized, the boundaries of acceptable discourse, and how crises are framed. Embedded in UNFPA’s financial architecture and non-core funding system, these dynamics reinforce historical power asymmetries, sustain the divide between humanitarian and development programming, and often sideline long-term SRHR goals. This thesis concludes that such structural constraints continue to limit recipient agency and impede systemic change, raising broader questions about power, legitimacy, and the future of multilateral SRHR aid. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Rice, Clara Elizabeth LU
supervisor
organization
course
MIDM19 20251
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), foreign aid, donor politics, Arab States, UNFPA, multilateral aid, postcolonial theory, humanitarian–development nexus
language
English
id
9194187
date added to LUP
2025-06-11 13:14:16
date last changed
2025-06-11 13:14:16
@misc{9194187,
  abstract     = {{This thesis explores the way donor ideologies influence the structure and allocation of foreign aid for sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) in the Arab States region. Drawing on postcolonial theory and the humanitarian–development nexus, it investigates how socio-political shifts within traditional donor countries, specifically rising conservatism, affect both the overall size of the SRHR funding landscape and the division of funds between humanitarian and development aid. Through an instrumental case study of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and using the Arab States region as the site of analysis, this study combines quantitative analysis of UNFPA’s financial data with qualitative insights from participant observation, semi-structured interviews, and document review. The findings demonstrate that donor ideologies hold significant power over what programs are prioritized, the boundaries of acceptable discourse, and how crises are framed. Embedded in UNFPA’s financial architecture and non-core funding system, these dynamics reinforce historical power asymmetries, sustain the divide between humanitarian and development programming, and often sideline long-term SRHR goals. This thesis concludes that such structural constraints continue to limit recipient agency and impede systemic change, raising broader questions about power, legitimacy, and the future of multilateral SRHR aid.}},
  author       = {{Rice, Clara Elizabeth}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Shifting Priorities and Shrinking Space: Donor Politics and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) Aid in the Arab States}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}