NEPAD PLANNING AND COORDINATING AGENCY_____________________________________

Investing in Capacities for Africa’s Transformation

Change and Integrative Agenda

Florence Nazare, NEPAD AgencyArusha , July 2011

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AU Vision and Policy Approach to CD: Capacity Development Strategic Framework (CDSF)

“A process of enabling individuals, groups, organizations, institutions and societies to sustainably define, articulate, engage and actualize their vision or developmental goals building on their own resources in the context of the Pan-African agenda.”

AU NEPAD Capacity Development Strategic Framework 2009

Linked to the CD objective as articulated in the AUC 2009 – 2012 Pillar 4, on Institution and Capacity Building

Based on NEPAD principles - African solutions to African problems underpinned by - African leadership and ownership of developmental agenda for national and regional development

Fundamentally - Shifting to CD away from just CB - the enhancement of human, institutional and knowledge-based capacity of African institution (building, harnessing, nurturing of capacities)

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At a practical level:The Achievement of the AU’s Development Objectives & Priorities incl. MDGs is dependant on sustained CD targeted at changing mindsets, creating capable and

robust institutions supported by evidence and enabling environments

Underlying principles of the AU vision on CD makes this a transformation and empowerment agenda – driven from within (endogenous process)

Change Agenda – change readiness focusing on Capacities for Change incl. Change of Mindsets AND Mindsets of change as key

• CD in Africa is about social capital formation building on existing capacities aimed at capable individuals, institutions, networks , states & overall enabling envts. Largely the social energy required to drive own development with governance issues as

central

• Transformative partnership agenda with key relational, synergy & linkage issues

The CDSF as defined through engagement with countries and RECs sets CD priorities for Africa:

1.Policy-setting - common framework and instrument focusing on enhancing national and regional capacities for better policy design, alignment, implementation and M & E to;•Guide CD interventions on the Continent for ease of monitoring & evaluation incl. KE, lesson learning across spheres of governance;•Foster multi-level connections in approaches to CD for coherence & impact;•Assist in addressing deep systemic capacity constraints at all levels & strategically places knowledge as “capacity for effective action”; •Foster the transformation of development practice through integration of CD into dvpt processes & practice i.e. in sector/thematic interventions; •Advance the development of implementation capacities for regional programs/projects; •Aid in State and institution-building incl. building, nurturing etc capable (resilient & adaptive) drivers of development

CDSF as Africa’s Common Approach to CD

Africa’s Capacity Development priorities1.Leadership transformation; 2.Citizen transformation; 3.Utilising African potentials, Skills and resources;4.Capacity of capacity developers; 5.Evidence-based knowledge and innovation; and6.Integrated planning and implementation for results.

Change agenda requiring readiness for that change -core elements incl: Enabling environment - effectiveness & adequacy of legal/regulatory/broader policy framework; organizational culture and values incl. sync with practice etcAppealing and inspiring vision – clarity of vision/guidance & consistency with practice etc with corresponding incentive systems to inspire & sustain changeCapacity to manage change – priority to change, dedicated resources, consistency and commitment incl accountability for change

NEPAD CDSF Cornerstones for Change

Six Cornerstones to Make Capacity Work

CDSF Cornerstones and Africa’s CD priorities;

Africa’s Development and CD Response

More evident capacity elements

a. Institutional and structural capacity, including organizational structure, hierarchies, mandates, procedures, rules and regulations.

b. Financial and material capacity.

c. Human resources capacity – number of employees and skill levels.

d. Capacity to design and develop policy and other related instruments.

e. Capacity to monitor and evaluate input.

Less evident capacity elementsCapacity to: a. Provide visionary, strategic & collaborative leadership.b.Learn, re-focus and strategize.c.Harness, hire, retain, enhance and effectively deploy existing skills/capabilities.d.Strategy on requisite multi-skills sets (not just nos)e.Capitalize on underutilized potential within organizations.f.Predict, adapt & respond to the volatile/ever-changing environment.g.Harness creativity and innovation.h.Nurture technical leaders to provide space for innovation and effective delivery.i.Motivate and inspire personnel (incentives -equity, equality, standards, rules etc).j.Instill a greater sense of ownership among personnel/stakeholders to achieve organizational goals.

Focusing on the Cornerstones - Hard and Soft Skills

More evident capacity elements Less evident capacity elementsa. Ensure accountability and responsibility.b. Continuous stakeholder engagement for

vision buy-in and shared responsibilityc. Communicate effectively with internal

and external audiences/stakeholders.d. Effective leveraging of partnership

(technical & financial) resources to implement programmes and projects.

e. Exchange knowledge, learn and apply lessons to improve performance for effective service delivery.

f. Monitor and evaluate CD outcomes in the context of development results.

g. Nurture future leadership

Cornerstone 1: LEADERSHIP TRANSFORMATION

Aim: To develop results-driven leaders at political and technical levels committed to collective transformation and to fostering development of African potentials.

- Enhanced commitment & accountability of both political and technical African leadership to development results. - Inclusive and consultative leadership that seeks solutions from within, rather than relying on external resources and initiatives.- Collaborative and engaged leadership focusing on people as a critical asset, through provision of adequate participatory ‘space’ for African citizens, Parliaments, judiciary, CSOs, private sector to grow and excel.- Visionary, dynamic and strategic leadership fostering the capacity to organize for development effectiveness.-Enterprising leadership for system-wide innovation and learning incl. organizing for capacity at individual, institutional and environment levels.- Inspiring, evidence –based vision and guidance- A feedback culture for continuous improvement as an integral part of leadership and management.

Cornerstone 2: CITIZEN EMPOWERMENT

Aim:. Well-informed and engaged citizenry to foster and claim accountability for quality services & results - ownership of the development agenda and processes

- Embedded value of ownership of the development agenda and processes among all citizens.- Engaged citizenry through structured interface with accountability institutions incl. Parliaments.- Articulation of demands through strong and consistent voice for quality public goods- Confidence and pride in African potentials toward self-responsibility and organization for action.-Strategic outlook and participation by citizens in generating and capturing indigenous knowledge-Creation of local spaces for adequate exchange and learning as input into development processes incl. overall vision

Cornerstone 3: UTILIZING AFRICAN POTENTIAL, SKILLS & RESOURCES

Aim: Successful unleashing of African potentials by tapping onto domestic capacities & Diaspora drawing on promising practices & mechanisms through horizontal learning and exchange across Africa

- Mobilization, diversification and efficient utilization of own resources for growth.- Incentives, rewards & management systems that effectively attract, utilize & retain African skills & resources.- Concerted effort & planning for human resources development in particular technical & implementation capacity.- Harnessing & utilizing existing capabilities, especially underutilized potential of youth, women and Africans incl. the Diaspora.- Structured exchange of capacities at national, regional and continental levels for cross learning.- Conducive investment climate to attract the requisite skills, knowledge (technical know-how) and financial resources for growth and development.

Cornerstone 4: EVIDENCE-BASED KNOWLEDGE AND INNOVATION

Aim: Evidence-based innovation systems to enhance decision-making and practice thru increased investment in knowledge, focusing particularly on policy, science and technology institutions for change.

- Innovation as a driver for transformation and enhancement of the productivity of people, organization, and the economy.- Access and application of appropriate knowledge, information and technologies to support the implementation of key national and regional development programmes; - Effective management and communication of knowledge appropriate to Africa’s context;- Transformation of knowledge and development institutions in addressing existing and emerging challenges; - Continuous learning and feedback in applying knowledge for innovation in development.

Cornerstone 5: CAPACITY OF CAPACITY DEVELOPERS

Aim: Effective & multi-skilled capacity developers & institutions are necessary in driving a progressive CD agenda as part of a chain leading to the development of sustained capacity in the delivery of sector and thematic programmes.

- Integrated approach to CD practice - building, nurturing, harnessing, re-orienting, deployment & retaining capacities at individual, institution and enabling environment. - Performance-enhancing learning approaches as the standard way of operating by CD institutions.- Developing requisite capacities through alignment of qualification programs to new realities and African transformation needs.- Alignment and strengthening of the capacity of those tasked with developing the capacity of others.- Organizational reforms and collective action of CD institutions to provide the required specialist knowledge in training and skills development.- A strong focus on soft skills particularly, strategic leadership and management competencies essential to the new African agenda.- Creation of African CD expert pools to support integrated CD agenda with peer learning as core away from TC, with training as one component of CD

Cornerstone 6: INTEGRATED PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION FOR RESULTS

Aim: An intelligent mix of integrated & coordinated approaches for planning and implementation of development programs/projects within and across levels to advance development effectiveness thru transformational partnerships.

- Integration and coordination through a holistic approach addressing ‘system failure’ and blockages for desired change.- Coordinated and integrated planning by public and private institutions across sectoral boundaries.- Continuous monitoring and evaluation of performance of development institutions through accountability systems embracing parliaments and non-state actors.- Resource allocation and performance systems which foster integration and interdependency.-Sustainability of commitment by leaders and actors in the set up, operationalization and growth of development initiatives and institutions.- Forging creative and results-based partnerships- Inter-sectoral and multi-level connections to leverage important resources for meaningful and linked outcomes.

Fostering Capable Individuals, Networks, Institutions and States for Sustainable Development Results

Based on the overall centrality of CD, AUC and NEPAD are spearheading a process to develop RECs and Country CD Support Programs all linked to the Africa Platform on Development Effectiveness: •Commitment to CD of key African countries and institutions as a priority in the quest for capable national and regional institutions;

•Bold shift to transformational capacities (CD) away from conventional training (Capacity Building) balancing soft/hard capacities – focusing on building, nurturing, harnessing and retaining capacities;

•Aligning Development Partners’ CD practice & approaches with CDSF;

•Developing and nurturing capacities for AE and SSC in the pursuit of intra-African cooperation and overall regional integration.

•Establishing Africa-wide mechanisms/platforms for CD practice and tools KE – mutual learning and continuous improvement.

Established a global CD partnership working group with AUC, NEPAD, UNDP Reg Project, WBI, GTZ, ACBF etc towards a mechanism that pulls resources for strategic CD interventions aligned to African priorities - APDev

AU CD Support Interventions

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