Priorities for 2012

Dear colleagues,

Let me kick start the conversation that Mark launched with his message posted here.

With Busan behind us, the time has come to discuss where to focus the network’s energies in 2012 and beyond.

Following is a summary of what we see as areas where LenCD could make a difference. Please, share with us your thoughts and let us know what you think about our suggestions, and where you think LenCD should focus its energies.

Your inputs and comments on what we have proposed as priority areas for the network are very important; they will help us shape the network’s work plan and coordinate its activities in the months to come.

Ongoing LENCD initiatives: - these are activities that follow on from last year's activities

1. The network continues to perform and strengthen its function as knowledge connector through its work on rationalising the knowledge architecture
2. LenCD & Train4Dev have developed a proposal for phase II of the CD Learning Package, which is here enclosed for your comments
3.  LenCD has recently launched a new learning initiative: Learning from practice, stories from countries (see: http://lencd.org/group/managing-capacity-results). We will welcome your participation.

Opportunities for new areas of LENCD engagement: - the areas outlined here below have emerged as strategic for LenCD, however, we are interested in knowing from you, what you would prioritise, whether you think that there are other areas that are more strategic for LenCD to pursue, and what are the opportunities and challengies for each of these.

1. Results agenda

The debate around capacity development and results frameworks was high in the Busan agenda and is still a prominent one after Busan.  LenCD could build on the work that has already done by:

• Expanding the evidence base and supporting knowledge sharing:
  • Capture experiences from countries – how do countries capture results from investments in CD in their own results frameworks? Where do we find good practices?
  • Building on Heather’s paper, review conceptual work on measuring CD results.
• Supporting a dialogue on results frameworks that accommodate CD
• Work in partnership with partners in Africa, Asia and/or Latin America interested in leading a dialogue on results frameworks that accommodate CD. The dialogue would aim at building consensus around results frameworks that are more flexible and that accommodate mid-term results from CD investments.
• Effective institutions & ‘LenCD @’

The session on effective institutions in Busan underlined the importance and the need to strengthen countries’ institutional capacity, to deliver sustainable resultssee: http://lencd.org/event/2011/busan-hlf4-effective-institutions-plenary

LenCD is well positioned to support this post-Busan work through the following initiatives:

• Collect country experiences on effective institutions through a thematic or sectoral lens
• Under the ‘LenCD @’ initiative, LenCD will organise short learning sessions on CD in the context of large sectoral or thematic events, such as Rio+20, etc....

These learning sessions will sensitise non-CD development practitioners on the critical role that CD plays in strengthening institutions that drive results at sectoral and thematic level.

1. Technical Cooperation Reform

A partnership between LenCD, UNDP, IBON and AusAid organised the conference "A Country-Led Approach Towards Reform of Technical Cooperation", in Bangkok, on 15 September 2011.

The conference recognised the role that TC has been playing in developing capacity of partner countries and took stock of the reforms needed to increase its potentials and impact in supporting capacities.

A proposal for supporting reforms in TC has been developed. ‘X-TC: A Solution Exchange for Technical Cooperation’ supports the establishment of a platform providing knowledge and other critical services for supporting TC reforms.

LenCD would be well position to:

• Temporarily host the platform, while the initiative takes off (depending on needs).
• Linking it to regional and thematic knowledge platforms on CD and TC.
• Contribute with quality content, by collecting country experiences on TC good for CD.
• Capacity Development Compact

In the lead up to Busan, LenCD developed a building block for country-driven, results-focused CD. The initiative would provide catalytic support for countries to: 1) adopt approaches to the strategic planning, design, implementation and monitoring of CD programs, partnering as relevant with external partners; 2) access innovative tools for supporting CD and 3) access and exchange knowledge on what works.

Against this, LenCD could:

1. Keeping a thematic/sectoral focus, support access to knowledge on what works, by expanding the evidence base, providing content to regional knowledge platforms and supporting country-level or regional thematic/sectoral learning events;
2. Facilitate access to innovative tools for supporting capacity development, provide expert referral, connect partners and facilitate South-South/triangular collaboration.
3. Other areas for considerations

Monitoring CD practice- From the CD thematic session and other Busan related events, the need to monitor CD practice compared to agreed actions emerges as a need.  Should LenCD play a role in the establishment or strengthening of monitoring mechanisms, which are acceptable by the community of development actors? Could the Africa Peer Review Mechanism – for example – be a feasible entry point?

CD in the post 2015 agenda - One more thought goes to milestone events where LenCD could ensure CD is considered and featured prominently. With Busan behind us, ahead of us is the MDG Review Summit in 2013, including the post 2015 debate. Most likely, a stronger link, in policy and practice, between the environmental, the economic and the social development pillars will emerge from country and regional level consultations, with the security sector and governance underpinning the three. This is a place where the CD agenda may easily get lost.  Against this, the CD community may wish to see the effective institutions and CD argument play a more prominent role in the shaping up of a new development framework for 2015 and beyond. LenCD has a role to play here.