LenCD Updates 7 March 2011
Brian Lucas
LenCD Updates: 7 March 2011 In this issue: Network news CD Insights: South-South joint learning promotes public sector management Requests for comments and input Publications and resources Training NETWORK NEWS LenCD Partners Meeting in Kigali Sixty people representing a broad cross-section of LenCD members met in Kigali from 10-12 February to discuss the future of the network. The meeting adopted a new charter, selected a new and more inclusive steering group, and made significant progress on developing messages for the High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in Busan, developing a knowledge management workplan, designing a learning package on capacity development, and discussing regional networking initiatives. African Capacity Building Foundation 20th anniversary The African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF), celebrated its 20th anniversary with an event in Kigali, Rwanda, on 8 and 9 February. The meeting adopted a resolution signalling the importance of coordinating and integrating capacity development initiatives (to be presented to the AU) and welcomed the launch of the ACBF's first African Capacity Indicators Report, aiming to provide a common denominator for measuring capacity development progress. CD INSIGHTS South-South joint learning promotes public sector management PALAMA (Public Administration Leadership and Management Academy) in South Africa is working with public sector training institutes in three post-conflict countries – Burundi, Rwanda and Southern Sudan – to revamp civil service training curricula as a contribution to governance and service delivery enhancement. The programme works on the basis of peer-to-peer learning bringing groups to South Africa as well as between the participating countries. The experience highlights both the opportunities and challenges associated with south-south/ triangular cooperation. Recently a case study on the experience has been prepared. Related experiences can be obtained from the south-south opportunity website. Read more: Developing the Capacity of Post-Conflict Countries through South-South Partnerships Palama – Building public sector capacities in post-conflict countries Triangular Co-operation and Aid Effectiveness - Can triangular Co-operation make aid more effective? The South-South Opportunity Home Page REQUESTS FOR COMMENTS Managing for capacity results: Comments are sought on a paper on managing for capacity results which will be presented at a workshop in Cairo on 28-29 March as part of the process leading to the High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in Busan in November. Comments received before 12 March will be taken into account in the next version of the paper. Call for case stories on South-South Cooperation: The Task Team on South-South Cooperation is collecting case stories of South-South knowledge exchange in preparation for the High-level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in Busan PUBLICATIONS AND RESOURCES The Challenge of Capacity Development: Working Towards Good Practice: This OECD report aims to help policy makers and practitioners think through effective approaches to capacity development and which challenges remain. The analysis is underpinned by a conceptual framework which guides practitioners to view capacity development at three interrelated levels: individual, organisational and enabling environment levels. It provides insights into what capacity development is, why it matters and, more importantly, what can be done to support it. National Capacity Self-assessments: Results and Lessons Learned for Global Environmental Sustainability / Monitoring Guidelines of Capacity Development in GEF Projects: This pair of reports from UNDP, UNEP, and the Global Environment Facility report results, lessons and best practices from a national capacity assessment exercise and present guidelines for capacity assessment developed across an array of development and environmental interventions. Scaling up in Development Cooperation: Practical Guidelines: This new publication from GIZ (the new agency formed from the merger of the former German agencies GTZ, DED, and Inwent) proposes guidelines for scaling up cooperation that include early planning, ensuring ownership by key stakeholders, a multilevel approach, substantiating results achieved by pilot projects, developing clear standards and manuals, following professional practices and developing suitable incentives, supporting communication and networking, and long-term financing and patience on all sides. From Aid to Development Effectiveness: This working paper from the North-South Institute assesses the implications of conceptualising development effectiveness in terms of organizational effectiveness, coherence or coordination, outcomes from aid, and overall development outcomes. Procurement Capacity Development Discussion Forum: This online forum provides a discussion space for procurement specialists and development partners to strengthen national procurement capacities. It was launched in 2008 by UNDP and Danida. Capacity Development in Aid Business Processes: Getting it right!: This is a brief report on an OECD/DAC consultation which brought together aid agencies, partner countries, multilateral organizations, civil society, and other experts in November 2010 to discuss how development partners address capacity development in practice. What Future for Aid Effectiveness Agenda? The case for 'inclusive development effectiveness': The aid effectiveness agenda is usually conceived within a donor-driven approach seeking for more value for aid investments, but it can also trigger a broader view of development as a process of change and a radical reshaping of traditional donor-recipient relationships. TRAINING Introductory course to Capacity Development: The UN System Staff College has launched a free introductory course in Arabic, English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish providing a basic overview of the UNDG approach to supporting capacity development: UNITAR e-learning calendar 2011: This year's calendar of e-learning opportunities from UNITAR, including topics such as financial governance, leadership and management, public financial management, and more, is available: Partnership Brokering: The Partnership Brokering Project announces upcoming dates for their courses on partnership brokering: |