The CGD has started the Engaging Fragile States initiative. The goal to improve the effectiveness of foreign assistance in countries that represent difficult, long-term development challenges. The initiative consists of new research to support the donor community's search for practical, effective ways of working in difficult, often badly governed, and sometimes conflict-prone environments. Engaging Fragile States focuses on 5 themes for development and poverty reduction in poorly performing states:

1. The Challenge of Corruption in Fragile States;
2. Managing Natural Resource Wealth;
3. Fragile States and Transnational Threats;
4. Aid Effectiveness in Fragile States; and
5. Donor Coherence in Fragile States