In 2013, the EU developed statebuilding contracts, a new, relatively flexible, financing modality to provide tailored budget support to fragile and conflict-affected states. Budget support is complemented by a package of technical assistance, and includes a combination of regular and performance-related payments. In Mali, the statebuilding contract played a key role in maintaining fiscal stability during a period of democratic transition following the 2013 political crisis, a crisis that had led to the suspension of a large proportion of other bilateral donor financing.