Capacity Development: Policy and Applications Dafina Gercheva 14 February 2008 Senec, Slovakia

Supply DrivenDemand Driven Input-basedOutcome-based (Transformative) HD/MD/MDG Goals From Technical Assistance to a Capacity Development Approach: Human Capabilities Facilitating access to knowledge Capacity Development Technical Assistance Facilitating multi- stake-holder engagement Participatory policy dialogue & advocacy Creating space for learning by doing Facilitating coaching and mentoring

UNDP Definitions Related to Capacity Capacity: ability of individuals, organizations, and societies to perform functions, solve problems, and set and achieve objectives in a sustainable manner. Capacity Development : The process through which individuals, organizations and societies obtain, strengthen and maintain the capabilities to set and achieve their own development objectives over time

CD on the UN agenda CD emphasis in TCPR resolutions and Paris Declaration UN Reform – CD as a common UNCT platform for advocacy and action CD as core contribution in UN Agency, Funds and Programmes Strategic Plans CD criteria in UNDAF and CCA guidelines

CD in the Strategic Plan Basic prerequisites of the Strategic Plan: National leadership and ownership of development interventions Positioning of Capacity Development: Treats capacity development as the “overarching contribution” of UNDP Calls for a more rigorous and systematic approach to capacity development to enhance UNDP assistance to the efforts of programme countries to achieve the MDGs. Strategic Plan de-emphasizes: Infrastructure without capacity building Stand-alone procurement of goods & services

Basic Premises underlying CD approach CD is about endogenous transformations based on national priorities, policies and results CD is about the power and politics of who makes the development decisions – national ownership A systematic 3 tier approach to CD is more than training & the use of national expertise The spotlight is on the ‘How’: CD is sector, institution and location neutral and is about processes of change that works across them

Basic Premises underlying CD approach It involves trade-offs between shorter-term externally driven results and more sustainable locally driven ones To be effective it demands a link to education reform, wage reform and civil service reform It emphasizes the use of national systems, plans and expertise. It questions stand alone PIU It demands adaptation to local reality, reflecting specific capacity requirements of the sector or organization

Enabling environment (policies, legislation, power relations, social norms) Enabling environment (policies, legislation, power relations, social norms) Individual level (experience, knowledge & technical skills Organisational level (systems, procedures & rules, institutional framework) Successful capacity development requires not only skills & organizational procedures, but also incentives & democratic governance Deepening effective and accountable state-citizen engagement A Systems Approach: Three Layers of Capacity Development

What Have We Learnt? Capacity assessments provide a systematic starting point for a) dialogue and negotiation, and b) for defining and designing more robust CD responses Individual skills building is easy win. Organisational and societal capacity change happens incrementally Letting go is the hard part. Need to focus on incentives and disincentives (external and internal) It emphasizes gradual transferring of capacities and diminishing presence of development partners on the ground

Capacity Development Process UNDP Capacity Development Process

Core CD Strategies that work across sector/theme applications, adapted locally: Institutional Reform and Incentives: process facilitation for change management, functional reviews, salary reform, project management and procurement capacities Leadership Capacities: negotiation & visioning skills, coaching and mentoring for ethics and values, advocacy and media campaigns Education, Training and Learning: diversity of training methods, tertiary education curricula & investments, vocational education, on-the-job skills Accountability and Voice Mechanisms: peer review mechanisms, citizen watch, M&E, stakeholder feedback, public information campaigns CD Strategies into Programme Actions

Knowledge Services and Learning Kosovo Capacity Building Fund-Flexible and strategic instrument to support the PISG in implementing the “Standards for Kosovo” through: Leadership and change management CD Leadership and change management CD Hands on learning and mentoring to senior and mid-level civil servants in central and local government Hands on learning and mentoring to senior and mid-level civil servants in central and local government On-the-job coaching and advisory services On-the-job coaching and advisory services Transfer know-how, modern management techniques and technical expertise of the Diaspora Transfer know-how, modern management techniques and technical expertise of the Diaspora CD Strategies into Programme Actions

Knowledge Services and Learning Montenegro CD Program delivers a wide range of technical assistance, knowledge transfer and “soft” CD services: Coaching; mentoring and team building Coaching; mentoring and team building Facilitation of the overall transfer of know-how, learning and the integration of advice and other assistance outputs into ministries operations Facilitation of the overall transfer of know-how, learning and the integration of advice and other assistance outputs into ministries operations CD Strategies into Programme Actions

Incentive Systems Georgia: salary supplements scheme salary supplements scheme civil service reform civil service reform Tbilisi municipality- new conditions of service and management style, merit-based recruitment of staff and incentive systems Tbilisi municipality- new conditions of service and management style, merit-based recruitment of staff and incentive systems CD Strategies into Programme Actions

Leadership Development Fostering good leadership maximizes and protects investments in people and institutions, fosters ownership and generates commitment.Fostering good leadership maximizes and protects investments in people and institutions, fosters ownership and generates commitment. Leadership development is an important response to capacity challengesLeadership development is an important response to capacity challenges Central Asia leadership development programCentral Asia leadership development program CD Strategies into Programme Actions

Mutual Accountability Turkey Millennium Local Watch Civil society monitoring of the MDG progress Tajikistan “Citizen report card” assessment of citizens satisfaction with regard to municipal public service delivery, e.g. education, health services, electrification, water and sanitation CD Strategies into Programme Actions

CD Thematic areas in the region Strengthening accountable and responsive governing institutions –To design, deliver and oversee effective economic and social policies that promote HD and implement human rights, gender equality and anti-corruption standards –To plan, budget and manage public services that meet citizens’ expectations and needs –To effectively manage development aid and absorb foreign and domestic resources

CD Thematic areas in the region Fostering inclusive participation –Strengthening civic engagement through establishing mutual accountability and voice mechanisms –Promoting access to justice for all –E-governance –Facilitating access to information and networks –Supporting independent media

Implementation Challenges Linking capacity response strategies to public policy, PAR, wage reform and education reform Including and costing CA & CD responses within sector plans and institutional budgets Avoiding stand-alone PIUs and generic training regimes

Implementation Challenges Addressing the ‘distortions’ - brain gain/retention, competing conditionalities, parallel systems, no exit strategies, different accountability and transparency standards, salary supplement schemes… Developing internal capacities to support and monitor CD strategies

UNDP Offer of CD Support: CD Service Areas Advocate and Advice on CD Policy Assess Capacity Assets and Needs Formulate and Cost CD Response Strategies Support CD Programme Implementation Monitor and Evaluate CD Strategies and Results Refer Supporting CD: The UNDP Approach, March 2007

UNDP CA methodologies, adapted to needs Global & regional experts trained in CA/CD support CD Practice Notes and Action Briefs with analysis of evidence CD indicators for monitoring and evaluation CD learning workshops and modules Global and regional partnerships and networks