In 2005, the Fragile States Group (FSG) developed a draft set of Principles for Good International Engagement in Fragile States. These Principles highlight the fact that successful development in a fragile environment depends, at least in part, on well-sequenced and coherent progress across the political, security, economic and administrative domains. Working effectively across these domains requires donor countries to adopt a ‘whole-of-government’ approach (WGA), involving departments responsible for security, and political and economic affairs, as well as those responsible for development aid and humanitarian assistance. An OECD DAC work stream on policy coherence and WGAs in fragile states was initiated1 to produce an agreed DAC framework or guidance on good practice for WGAs in fragile states that would inform international donor country practice. This study assesses the existing WGAs, drawing upon the recent experiences of a number of OECD countries in fragile states.