UNDP

September 2009 - a quarterly E-mail update - from the Bratislava Regional Centre Capacity Development Practice

http://europeandcis.undp.org/cd

 

Video
 

Interview with Noura Hamladji, Deputy Resident Representative UNDP Azerbaijan

BRATISLAVA – 3 July 2009 – Noura Hamladji, DRR UNDP Azerbaijan, on showing results for long term capacity development initiatives, and the importance of understanding national context >>Watch the video
 
 
 
 
Articles
 

Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia: UNDP to support IPA absorption at local level

SKOPJE, FYR Macedonia – 20-21 July 2009 – UNDP in FYR Macedonia will scale up support to capacity development of regional development centres and municipalities to make strategic choices; prioritize projects ideas; prepare project proposals; implement, monitor and evaluate projects; and report back to the EC Delegation. This follows consultations with the Ministry of Local Self-Government, the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, the Secretariat for European Affairs, as well as two Regional Development Centres (Vardar and North-East) and the Capacity Development Practice and Brussels Liaison Office on how to ensure effective absorption of EU pre accession (IPA) funds. The Capacity Development Practice team is working closely with the country office to integrate the capacity development approach in all projects and programmes, as well as the country programme action plan – currently under development. A training session on capacity development was conducted for UNDP programme staff.
 
 

Turkey: Preparations underway for capacity assessment of Turkish Development Cooperation

ANKARA, Turkey – 13-16 July 2009 – In anticipation of an upcoming capacity assessment of the Turkish Development Cooperation (TIKA), UNDP met with TIKA President Musa Kulaklikaya, senior management, as well as staff from field offices and country desks. Discussions covered TIKA’s development assistance strategy, its legal framework, as well as some reorganization already underway – TIKA is looking to further decentralize and provide more institutional flexibility particularly in terms of procurement. It will also include a revision of staff rules and incentives. While TIKA’s main geographical focus remains the Caucuses, Central Asia, the Balkans and the Middle East, it may scale up support to Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. TIKA development assistance reached $780 million in 2008. A team composed of members from the Capacity Development Practice, and the Emerging Donors and Aid Effectiveness teams conducted a training session on aid effectiveness for the UN Country Team, and another on capacity development for UNDP programme and project staff in Turkey.
 
 
 

Tajikistan: Capacity Development for Good Governance strategy

DUSHANBE, Tajikistan – 21-27 June 2009 – The Capacity Development Practice teamed up with UNDP Tajikistan and the Democratic Governance Practice to develop a capacity development strategy for good governance. The strategy is being incorporated into the new country programme action plan (CPAP) for Tajikistan (2010-2015) to support the central level governance reform agenda. The strategy addresses key human resources constraints in the civil service through proposed intiatives such as: a capacity development facility (short term) with a significant anti-corruption focus through business process reengineering and simplified administrative; a (medium term) brain gain initiative that maps key groups of the Tajik diaspora and then develops the mechanism to facilitate their return in key areas of the state; and a (long term) tertiary education programme that provides state-subsidized education for students on the condition that they serve within the state administration when they have completed their studies.
 
 

Turkmenistan: Institute for Strategic Planning and Economic Development assesses capacities

ASHKABAT, Turkmenistan – 7-13 June 2009 – Staff from the Institute for Strategic Planning and Economic Development (ISPED) teamed up with UNDP Turkmenistan and the Bratislava Regional Centre’s Poverty and Capacity Development Practices to identify the Institute’s capacity assets and needs as a research centre responsible for designing socio-economic development strategies for the country. A total of 46 staff members completed the self assessment questionnaire (designed by ISPED), the Director and two deputies were interviewed, and focus group discussions were held with six department heads and deputy-heads as well as senior specialists. The assessment team met with the Ministry of Economy (the Department for Foreign Economic Affairs and the Department for Property Relations and Business Development), the Ministry of Finance (Head of Consolidating Department of Government Finance), US Agency for International Development (USAID), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), and EU-TACIS (technical assistance between the EU and the Commonwealth of Independent States). Based on the assessment, forward looking recommendations to ensure effective performance of its competencies have been provided to ISPED.
 
 

Western Balkans: Conference reviews project findings for quality service delivery

RIJEKA, Croatia – 8-9 June 2009 – More than 85 representatives from municipalities, SNV, UNDP country offices, and other key development partners gathered to present and validate the findings and recommendations of the project Capacity Development for Quality Service Delivery at the Local Level in the Western Balkans (2007 to 2009). Managed by UNDP Croatia, the project worked closely with selected pilot municipalities in Western Balkans countries and Kosovo (UN Administered Territory under UNSCR 1244/99), helping to assess capacity assets and needs as they relate to delivering local public services and to develop municipal action plans. For more information, please contact the regional project manager Aida Liha aida.liha@undp.org or read the conference report (pdf).
 
 

Russian Federation: Investing in capacities for new development cooperation

MOSCOW, Russia – 2-4 June 2009 – As part of Russia’s growing role as a provider of official development assistance (ODA), representatives from the country’s new development cooperation, Rossotrudnichestvo (within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs), as well representatives from the Ministry of Finance, participated in a workshop on ODA management organized by UNDP. The workshop covered topics such as institutional and legal arrangements and structures for setting up a development agency, ODA budgets and consultative mechanisms. Follow up to the workshop will include an assessment of capacity assets and needs through the examination of the legal, regulatory and institutional framework that governs ODA policy and programming for the purpose of defining and implementing responses to identified capacity needs. >>Read more
 
 
 

Say hi to…

 
Ivane Shamugia
Capacity Assessment Specialist
UNDP Georgia
 

“What is important is that all stakeholders are given an opportunity to contribute their views and to do so in an open and honest dialogue. This increases the level of trust and credibility, so that ownership of the assessment results is shared by all and a strong foundation is built for the way forward.”

>>Read the interview
 
 

Resources

Case study examines how to best evaluate capacity development initiatives

June 2009 – From pilot to policy: Introducing community-based social services in Bulgaria (pdf) takes a look at an employment project in Bulgaria (2002 to 2008) that contributed to the development of a national system for providing social services at the local level. The case study is intended to generate ideas and discussion on how to best evaluate capacity development initiatives, and includes a list of questions to keep in mind when reading. The study has been developed as a learning tool for development practitioners, and is a result of collaboration between UNDP Bulgaria and the Capacity Development Practice.
 
 
 


Regional Study looks at common trends, challenges and opportunities in Western Balkans

June 2009 – Strengthening Decentralized Service Delivery in the Western Balkans - the Path to EU Integration (pdf) looks at common trends, challenges and opportunities related to capacity development for local service delivery in the Western Balkans – in the context of EU integration processes.

 
 
 

Coming up…

ZAGREB, Croatia – 6-7 October 2009
2nd Annual Capacity Development Community of Practice Meeting

Hosted by UNDP Croatia, this year’s meeting will provide participants with a sound background – both from a theoretical perspective and through practical examples – in how to develop the institutional capacity of national partners for managing change processes, coordinating development aid, implementing projects and delivering public goods and services (collectively known as 'National Implementation Capacities'). Participants will also set regional capacity development priorities and map the demand for services related to capacity development for 2010. >> Read more

ZAGREB, Croatia – 8,9 October 2009
Helping national partners access funds from the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance

Delivered by Welcome Europe, this training opportunity aims to strengthen the knowledge and skills of UNDP staff to assist their national and sub-national government counterparts to develop sound projects under the instrument for pre-accession assistance (IPA). Participants are expected to obtain a solid understanding of this funding instrument, including the priorities, measures and expected results of the specific components of IPA, and to learn the practical ‘tricks of the trade’ when it comes to supporting the planning and design of projects to be (co-) funded by IPA. >> Read more

 

Previous editions of Capacity Development in Action

May 2009
February 2009
November 2008


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