LenCD Updates August 2011
Brian Lucas
LenCD Updates August 2011
Learning Network on Capacity Development
In this issue:
Requests for participation
Upcoming network events
CD Insights
New network member profiles
Please send announcements for next month’s updates to br...@lencd.org.
Requests for participation
Learning package progress
Development of the Capacity Development Learning Package is proceeding swiftly. Eleven “how-to” notes have now been published on the LenCD web site (http://www.lencd.org/group/learning-package) discussing topics such as how to use incentives, develop processes, establish partnerships, and more. Your views and comments are welcome. Please feel free to comment on the web site or contact Jenny Pearson directly (jennyc...@gmail.com). The “how-to” notes will be updated after pilot-testing in August and September.
Road to Busan: 10 initiatives
Ten key priorities have been identified for action before the Busan High Level Forum in December. These include promoting the Cairo consensus, convening regional dialogues, working towards systematic learning, and collecting evidence and case stories. Please visit the Road to Busan working group page (http://www.lencd.org/group/busan) for details and please get involved with initiatives where you can.
Call for photographs of capacity development
We would like collect photographs representing various aspects of capacity development for use on the LenCD web site and by other network members. We invite all network members to contribute photos showing capacity development activities in all their various forms. Please include a short description of the photograph, including where and when it was taken, and the name of the photographer. The photographer and the organisation involved will be given full credit. Please only send photographs that you own and have the right to use, and that you are willing to allow others to use freely without any restrictions (see for example http://creativecommons.org/licenses). Please email photos to br...@lencd.org.
Global South-South Development Expo calls for nominations of successful programmes
Seeking to showcase successful Southern solutions to the complex challenges facing the South today, the Global South-South Development (GSSD) Expo 2011 will focus on the urgent crisis of food insecurity in the South. The Special Unit for South-South Cooperation in UNDP invites you to nominate a project or program that has provided a successful solution in climate change/environment, food security and global health through effective leadership, innovation, or partnership. Any public or private institution, group or project that have made significant contributions to human development in the global south and that has provided solutions to address the challenges in these areas may participate. For more information, see: http://www.southsouthexpo.org/nomination-instructions-selection-process.asp
Upcoming network events
Asian network event: A country-led approach towards reform in technical cooperation
LenCD partners in Asia have been working towards organizing a workshop on country-led approaches top reform in technical cooperation on September 15th, 2011 in Bangkok, following the regional meeting on Aid Effectiveness and Climate Change (12-13 September) and the Asia-Pacific HLF4 Consultations on September 14th. The workshop aims to review challenges faced in making TC more effective for CD, discuss experiences and lessons learned, mobilise stronger Southern voices to call for reforms, and to review and validate key messages for a TC reform agenda. For more information, visit: http://www.lencd.org/event/2011/Bangkok
Latin American network event: Learning from South-South and Triangular Cooperation: Sharing Knowledge for Development
From 26 to 28 September in Bogotá, the Government of Colombia and the Task Team on South-South Cooperation will host a meeting on Capacity Development and South-South Cooperation with an emphasis on rural poverty reduction and food security. One of the main objectives will be to establish a regional network for capacity building involving governments, academia, and civil society. For more information, please see: http://www.lencd.org/event/2011/bogota
CD Insights
Engaging media in local governance processes: Tanzania
The mass media are an important channel for communication and delivery of information between authorities and the public and contribute to a more transparent and accountable society. In this project, implemented as part of a local governance capacity building programme, SNV supported capacity building of local radio stations and press clubs to undertake action research and investigative journalism, which led to better coverage of local government affairs and improvements in transparency and accountability in basic service delivery. Read more: http://www.snvworld.org/en/Documents/TZ%20Engaging%20Media%20in%20Local%20Governance%20Processes%20-%20the%20case%20of%20Radio%20Sibuka,%20Shiyanga%20Press%20Club%20and%20Kagera%20Pre.pdf
Indicators of sustainable capacity building for health
Despite substantial investment in health capacity building in developing countries, evaluations of capacity building effectiveness are scarce. This paper discusses four successful projects in Africa. Indicators of sustainable capacity building included: early engagement of stakeholders; explicit plans for scale up; strategies for influencing policies; quality assessments; improved resources; institutionalisation of activities; innovation; funding for core activities secured; management and decision-making led by southern partners. Projects became sustainable after a median of 66 months. The main challenges to achieving sustainability were high turnover of staff and stakeholders, and difficulties in embedding new activities into existing systems, securing funding and influencing policy development. Read more: http://www.health-policy-systems.com/content/9/1/14
Achieving results, enhancing ownership, and translating principles into action
How can country partners strengthen capacities and inclusive governance to pursue pro-poor, sustainable growth which adapts to and mitigates the effects of climate change? As a follow up to the Cairo Consensus on Capacity Development adopted in March 2011, LenCD and concerned partners wanted to put the recommendations of that consensus through a “stress-test” on the ground and learn from country experiences. This workshop was therefore planned to promote a common understanding of key aid effectiveness and capacity development issues in the sector especially sharing experiences, lessons learned and best practices. Draft reports from the workshop are now available at: http://www.lencd.org/event/2011/achieving-results-enhancing-ownership-translating-principles-action
Capacity Development: A UNDP Primer – now in Arabic, French, and Spanish
Arabic, French, and Spanish editions of this 2009 publication for development practitioners are now available. The primer addresses the basic elements of the UNDP approach to capacity development. It focuses on smart institutions, visionary leadership, access to knowledge and public accountability mechanisms as the drivers of capacity change, and draws from evidence and policies from across regions, synthesizing country-led experiences and institutional lessons with global research. http://www.beta.undp.org/undp/en/home/librarypage/capacity-building/capacity-development-a-undp-primer.html
New Learning Network members
The Institute for Capacity Development (ICD), based in Windhoek, Namibia, is a regional and continental provider of general and customized courses aimed at developing capacity and skills that enhance national development. The focus of ICD short courses is to develop the skills of staff and decision makers in development institutions, government, parastatals, NGOs, communities and civil society. Please view their profile on the LenCD web site at http://www.lencd.org/member-org/institute-capacity-development or visit their web site http://www.icdtraining.com/