2006年-世界发展银行全球_A_Revolution_in_Capacity_Development__Africans_Ask_Tough_Questions_4页_539kb

报告摘要

Summary of "Capacity Development: Africans Ask Tough Questions"

Core Content

This document discusses the evolving focus on capacity development (CD) by the donor community, particularly in the context of the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness (2005), and examines the African perspective on these developments. It highlights the cautious optimism of African development practitioners, who see the increased attention as a potential turning point but remain skeptical about whether it will translate into meaningful change.

Main Views and Key Information

Donor Attention and Commitments

Donors have shown unprecedented interest in capacity development, as seen in the World Bank Task Force on Capacity Development in Africa and the Paris Declaration.
The Paris Declaration outlines 12 areas to be monitored, with five directly related to capacity development or the use of country systems, indicating a commitment to minimum standards of country capacity.
The agreement is described as unprecedented in scope, specificity, and backing from both donors and partner countries, redefining the development partnership.

African Reactions and Concerns

Many African practitioners feel the commitments are not new but rather a repetition of past efforts labeled as "best practice."
They are cautious because they believe real changes in behavior on the ground are necessary to make these commitments effective.
The test lies in implementation, not just in declarations.

Consultations and Feedback

A series of consultations in Sub-Saharan Africa (2005–2006) were conducted using videoconferencing to gather African perspectives.
These consultations revealed that while there is increased attention to CD, the participatory aspect is often ceremonial rather than substantive.
African stakeholders emphasize the need for country ownership, local participation, and stronger accountability mechanisms.

Accountability and Civil Society

African participants called for greater accountability from both governments and donors.
They stressed the importance of civil society and media in holding governments accountable and ensuring that capacity development efforts align with local needs.
There is a need to involve a broader set of actors, including the private sector, in the development process.

Enabling Environment and Governance

Capacity development is closely linked to good governance and the fight against corruption.
Strengthening oversight institutions (e.g., parliaments, NGOs, media) is essential for effective capacity building.
Donors must shift from supply-driven to demand-driven approaches and support bottom-up initiatives.

Challenges and Contradictions

Donors often focus on inputs (e.g., number of personnel trained), which has limited success in building sustainable capacities.
There is a lack of common understanding on how to define, measure, and track capacity development.
The Paris Declaration emphasizes coordinated programs for CD, but many donors still rely heavily on technical cooperation, which accounts for over 25% of ODA.
Donors’ rhetoric about country leadership and flexibility is not always matched by action, leading to double talk and contradictions.

Call for Action

African stakeholders advocate for a "best-fit" approach, tailoring CD strategies to local contexts and leveraging existing national systems.
They urge donors to support local leadership, improve coordination, and move away from capacity-depleting practices.
A renewed social contract between governments and citizens is seen as essential for successful CD and stronger institutions.

Conclusion

The document underscores that while the donor community has made significant commitments to capacity development, African practitioners remain skeptical about the real impact of these efforts. They emphasize the need for consistent, participatory, and context-specific approaches, as well as greater accountability and country ownership, to ensure that capacity development leads to sustainable and effective development outcomes.

References

Berg, Eliot J. 1993. Rethinking Technical Cooperation: Reforms for Capacity Building in Africa.
OECD. 1968. Technical Assistance and the Needs of Developing Countries.
OECD. 1996. Shaping the 21st Century.
OECD. 1999. Criteria for Donor Agencies Self-Assessment in Capacity Development.
OECD. 2005. The Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness.
OECD. 2006c. The Challenge of Capacity Development: Working Towards Good Practice.
World Bank. 2005. Building Effective States—Forging Engaged Societies.

About the World Bank Institute (WBI)

WBI helps diagnose poverty, make informed choices, and share knowledge to enable sustainable development.
It delivers training and learning to policymakers, technical experts, business leaders, and civil society stakeholders.
WBI fosters analytical and networking skills to support effective policy design and socioeconomic development.