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2008 Michael Heppell / ADB
Pacific Island governments and the donor community are confronted with some challenging choices over the question of improving government effectiveness and particularly the quality of policy and its implementation and the quality of services delivered to the public. For Pacific Island governments, a choice is between continuing with the present status quo where some governments might improve their effectiveness slowly while others might not be prepared to experience the political pain and loss of influence associated with changing the way the government conduct its business or to establish...
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2002 S Browne and M Hilderbrand / United Nations Development Programme
Financial aid was originally intended to close resource gaps, whilst technical cooperation (TC) was intended to compensate for skills. However the real target of TC is broader: the development of the capacity to manage. This book by the United Nations Development Programme outlines trends and issues in capacity development, and the role that TC has played in achieving it in six country studies. It argues that national priorities should be given centre stage and capacity development mainstreamed in partner country institutions.
Capacity building will be vital to achieve the MDGs. How resources...
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2004 B Levy / World Bank Institute
Enhancing the capacity of political and bureaucratic institutions is crucial for Africa's development prospects. How can this be achieved? This paper from the World Bank Institute argues that reformers must find a middle ground. In only a few countries are there likely to be major gains in the short-term. However, some way forward for building state capacity is always likely. The process of cumulative causation points to the possibility that small beginnings can set in motion progressively more profound consequences.
Africa's governance landscape in the 21st century offers a mixed...
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2009 Clare Castillejo / Fundación para las Relaciones Internacionales y el Diálogo Exterior (FRIDE)
What are the main challenges and opportunities in building more accountable justice institutions in Sierra Leone? This Working Paper from the Fundación para las Relaciones Internacionales y el Diálogo Exterior is based on field research conducted in June 2008 and analyses five key components of accountability – access, equality, information, oversight and participation. The primary challenge for the justice system in Sierra Leone is capacity. Across all the justice institutions there is a serious lack of funds, skilled personnel and infrastructure. Capacity building is crucial and (re-)...
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2011 Claire Mcloughlin / Governance and Social Development Resource Centre
Lack of an enabling legal framework, poor quality of secondary-school education, an absence of research leaders and role models, and the relatively low priority attached to research are all frequently cited as barriers to research capacity development in developing countries as a whole, and Africa in particular (Whitworth et al 2008). Studies have noted that previous research capacity strengthening interventions have largely focused on knowledge generation, and less attention has been paid to the dissemination and communication of research (Jones et al 2007).
Recommendations for future...
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2011 Oliver Walton / Governance and Social Development Resource Centre
A ‘Trust Fund’ or ‘Multi Donor Trust Fund’ (MDTF) is a multi-agency funding mechanism, designed to receive contributions from more than one donor (and often also the recipient government), that is held in trust by an appointed administrative agent. There are many different types of trust fund, operating at a sector-wide, national, regional and global level. This query will focus on national-level trust funds and on those that are focused on delivering long-term development rather than short-term humanitarian issues. Trust Funds are commonly used in fragile states, and...
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2010 Sumedh Rao / Governance and Social Development Resource Centre
There are a range of tools and methods available to measure, assess and monitor local governance, based on assessment by citizens (single stakeholders), by local government institutions, or by multiple stakeholders. In terms of specifically assessing capacity there are tools which produce capacity assessments for the purposes of Capacity Development (CD). For example Brinkerhoff provides a series of assessment frameworks which could be used to assess local government capacity and provide comparisons between local governments.
There does not currently seem to be a readily available tool to...
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2009 R Batley and C Mcloughlin / University of Birmingham
How can governments effectively engage with non-state providers (NSPs) of basic services where capacity is weak? This paper examines whether and how fragile and conflict affected states can co-ordinate, finance, and set and apply standards for the provision of basic services by NSPs. It explores ways of incrementally engaging the state, beginning with activities that are least likely to do harm to non-state provision.
Through the ‘indirect’ roles of setting the policy environment and engaging in policy dialogue, regulating and facilitating, contracting, and entering into mutual...
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2006 UNDP Capacity Development Group / UNDP Capacity Development Group
How can one increase the responsiveness and accountability of development agents, decision makers and service providers to the concerns of the poor? This paper examines the building of accountability mechanisms as part of developing capacity. The capacity of any system requires appropriate feedback loops to self-regulate, adapt and effectively achieve its objectives. For any accountability strategy it is important to have a communication strategy.
Accountability relations often do not work properly. Public institutions are captured by the powerful and resourceful, with the poor lacking...
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2010 Lindsey Jones et al / Overseas Development Institute (ODI)
How can other humanitarian and development approaches help enhance communities’ capacity to adapt to a changing climate? This paper examines which aspects of disaster risk reduction, social protection and livelihoods approaches can contribute to adaptive capacity and how these approaches can better respond to climate change and facilitate adaptation. While recognising that each approach has its distinct niche and strength, it argues that, as a collective, the three together can help in promoting certain features of adaptive capacity.
Adaptation actions refer to actual adjustments, or...
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2007 Browne, S. / World Institute for Development Economics Research, United Nations University
Does donor aid to fragile and poorly-performing states do more harm than good? This paper, from the World Institute for Development Economics Research at the United Nations University (UNU-WIDER) examines the aid relationship with respect to Burma, Rwanda and Zambia. It offers eight principles for donors to observe in engaging more productively with fragile states. Influencing political will and supporting development capacity are two of the most important ways in which donors can help move a state from fragility towards stability.
There are several factors which help to explain why some...
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2004 Mathauer, I. / World Bank
In the wake of the economic crisis in the late 1990s, safety nets that mitigate the effects of poverty and other risks on vulnerable households have experienced renewed interest. What are the institutional challenges relating to safety net interventions? How can institutional analysis propose solutions to enable better outcomes? This paper from the World Bank provides a toolkit on the institutional capacity of the major components of formal safety net interventions and provides guidelines on key performance issues.
Often, those countries most in need of safety nets are the ones that can least...
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2006 R Wrigley / INTRAC
There is growing recognition of the need to take a multi-stakeholder approach to evaluation, which promotes local ownership and builds capacity for reflection, learning, improved performance and self-determination. This paper from the International NGO Training and Research Centre (INTRAC) reflects on the use of the ‘Most Significant Change’ (MSC) methodology to evaluate the capacity building services of CABUNGO, a local capacity building support provider in Malawi.
As a story based technique, the MSC approach can help to identify and give value to unintended or unexpected changes...
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2008 Rahul Chandran, Bruce Jones, Natasha Smith / Center on International Cooperation, New York University
How can international support for early recovery following conflict be improved? This report from the New York University Center on International Cooperation recommends measures to bridge three key gaps in the international response in the early recovery phase: gaps in strategy, financing and capacity. Work across all three areas is needed, and must start with an assessment of national capacity, or ‘the state of the state’. The deeply political nature of post-conflict recovery cannot be overemphasised.
‘Early recovery’ is defined as early efforts to: secure stability;...
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2011 Inspectie Ontwikkelingssamenwerking en Beleidsevaluatie (IOB) / Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Capacity development has a prominent place in international as well as in Dutch development cooperation. In order to be able to choose and follow their own development paths, developing countries need appropriate and adequate capacities. The substantial amount of support provided by the international donor community, however, has not yet resulted in sufficient capacity. This is particularly the case for capacity geared to poverty reduction. To gain a better understanding of how and under what circum-stances capacity development support can be effective, this evaluation focuses on learning,...
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2005 Commission for Africa / Commission for Africa
Effective states that can deliver services, promote human rights and encourage growth are the foundation of development. Whilst some progress towards good governance is evident in many African countries, weakness in governance remains a key barrier to development. Without progress on governance all other reforms will have limited impact. What actions can outsiders take to support good governance? This report from the Commission for Africa proposes policies to improve the capacity and accountability of governments in Africa.
Research shows a strong link between improvements in the way states...
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2005 Tayler L / HLSP Institute
The political imperative to address fragile states is mounting, but the absorptive capacity of increases in aid is constrained by a number of factors. How can donors improve their procedures and practices to effectively address the needs of the health sector in fragile states? Compiled by the HLSP Institute, this paper examines the multiple challenges faced by donors in fragile states and outlines some principles and approaches that can help to address absorptive capacity constraints in health systems.
Donors can invest in health for immediate gains in mortality and morbidity, in the hope of...
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2007 Getachew Hailemariam Mengesha, Richard Common / Public Administration and Development
How successful has Public Sector Capacity reform been in Ethiopia? This article from Public Administration and Development assesses the outcomes of the Public Sector Capacity reform in the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MOTI) and the Ministry of Education (MoE). It finds a remarkable transformation of service delivery in both organisations. The introduction of business process reengineering (BPR) brought high levels of user satisfaction and spectacular improvements in performance. However, the government will need to maintain the momentum of reform and extend it. Incentive schemes and a...
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2005 United Nations Capital Development Fund / United Nations Capital Development Fund
How can local development programmes (LDPs) build the capacity of local governments and local organisations in order to improve their performance? This guide from the United Nations Capital Development Fund presents lessons and guidelines for local government capacity-building in development programmes. It addresses LDP strategy, financing strategy, local public investment expenditure management, and accountability, communications and information. This summary focuses on chapter five of the guide, 'Capacity Building'.
The aim of capacity-building within LDPs is to improve the...
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2010 Derick W. Brinkerhoff with Peter J. Morgan / Public Administration and Development
What has been learned about capacity and capacity development (CD), and their relationship to achieving sustainable results? What are the implications for analysis and practice? This introductory article to a symposium on capacity and CD highlights: the benefits of viewing capacity and CD through systems lenses; the salience of politics; and the need for new approaches to the practice of CD. Outsiders may be able to assist in developing capacity, but sustained capacity results when endogenous actor-led processes stimulate the creation and strengthening of five core capabilities.
Capacity is...
