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What you find on this page as you scroll down: > Introduction > Editors Choice > Good Practice / Case Materials > Useful Web-sites and partners > Opinion pieces / discussion platforms > Other knowledge resources: tools, reports, books, ... PLEASE NOTE: This resource corner is work in progress. What you find here is a first mock-up of an eventual web-based and interactive resource corner and includes a preliminary selection of documents and resources. This resource corner is currently being peer reviewed with the intention of becoming fully functional by end of September. You are also invited to scan over the current resource corner. Should you have any comments or suggestions on how to improve the resource corners, please add a comment on the bottom of this page or send an email to contact@lenCD.org Fragile situations present particular challenges for capacity development. Country stakeholders as well as donors acknowledge the need to use a tailored and phased approach, and to find a balance between keeping an eye on the long term need to develop sustainable capacity, while responding to short-term pressures to provide basic services including health, education and security. Crisis has many faces that can aggravate capacity development dilemmas. While operational responses vary, CD principles should be upheld whenever possible, despite difficulties encountered along the way. There is one major difference in the environment of fragile states which affects capacity development efforts. In societies that have been fragmented by deteriorating or conflict conditions, people’s trust and tolerance levels tend to be lower and their suspicion levels are heightened. They are likely to be less willing to cooperate across societal groups and to give others the ‘benefit of the doubt’. Thus capacity development efforts that fail to yield quick results or that deliver benefits to one societal group and not another risk being perceived as intentionally unfair or as demonstrating favouritism. Participants at the Accra High Level Forum acknowledged the challenge of CD in fragile situations as an issue warranting special attention. Some of the key ideas emerging from the debate leading to Accra include: · Safeguarding existing capacity; · engaging quickly to support capacity development; · sustaining support when the immediate crisis is over; · establishing temporary mechanisms for coordination and accountability for capacity development; · investing in knowledge acquisition by country agents; · integrating refugees and displaced people as well as involving the diaspora. This resource corner highlights a range of resources on the special challenges of capacity development in the context of fragile situations. Considerable debate and research is taking place on this subject, as reflected in the broad range of knowledge resources that have been compiled. > Editor’s Choice Building Post Crisis Capacity in the Solomon Islands, By Laura Bailey, Operations Policy and Country Services The World Bank, May 2009, Issue No. 32 This Capacity Development Brief summarizes the results of a multi-donor team review of four examples of post-crisis capacity development interventions in the Solomon Islands in 2005–08 whose performance was frequently cited as successful by local stakeholders. Although not based on post-project evaluations, the review found a number of patterns and potential lessons: (1) responding to immediate needs fosters national ownership, (2) “quick wins” can lay the basis for wider system impact, (3) being clear on “capacity for what” is key to project success, (4) critical mass in capacity means taking a team approach, (5) training must be grounded in time-relevant and actively operational tasks, (6) a coaching and partnering style is essential and, certainly, not optional, (7) leadership becomes catalytic in capacity development when a broader coalition is engaged, and in some cases supports a “heroic individual” as its leader.
The applicability of the Paris Declaration in fragile and conflict-affected situations The DAC High Level Forum (HLF) in Accra in September 2008 provides an opportunity for a wide range of countries to consider the challenges of applying both the Paris Declaration and the Fragile States Principles in fragile situations and conflict-affected countries. This thematic study is intended as a contribution to the Accra discussions, as well as to the ongoing work of the DAC Fragile States Group and the DAC Network on Conflict, Peace and Development Cooperation (CPDC). It is also the first phase of the development of a framework for evaluating aid effectiveness in fragile and conflict-affected situations
Service Delivery in Fragile Situations: Key Concepts, Findings and Lessons OECD 2008 Access full text: This publication, based on the work of the DAC Fragile States Group, identifies the challenges and dilemmas the international community and its partners face in delivering services in fragile situations and offers practical guidance on how to overcome such challenges.
State Capacity and Non-state Service Provision in Fragile and Conflict-affected States R Batley and C Mcloughlin 2009 Access full text: This paper set out to identify how states with weak capacity can effectively fulfil the „indirect‟ service provider roles of co-ordinating, financing, and setting and applying standards for the provision of basic services by non-state providers (NSPs). Four categories of indirect role are identified: 1) setting the policy environment and engaging in policy dialogue, 2) regulating and facilitating, 3) contracting, and 4) entering into mutual and informal agreements. Through these indirect roles, the state can in principle assume responsibility for the provision of basic services without necessarily being involved in direct provision.
Fragile States Frances Stewart and Graham Brown 2009 Access full text: What constitutes a fragile state and how can the concept be operationalised for development policy? This working paper from the Centre for Research on Inequality, Human Security, and Ethnicity proposes a three-pronged definition of fragility: states may be fragile because they lack authority, fail to provide services or lack legitimacy. Reversing these interrelated dimensions of fragility requires a tailored, comprehensive and long-term approach based on careful contextual analysis.
Principles for Good International Engagement in Fragile States Development Ministers and Agency Heads agreed at the Senior Level Forum on Development Effectiveness in Fragile States, held in London, 13-14 January 2005, to pilot draft a short list of principles for good international engagement in fragile states to be field tested.
Concepts and Dilemmas of State Building in Fragile Situations: Form Fragility to Resilience Successful state building will almost always be the product of domestic action, though it can be significantly enabled by well-targeted, responsive international assistance. Deeper, context-specific analysis of the historical and contemporary dynamics of social contract negotiations must be the basis for state-building efforts. This paper elaborates a series of policy implications related to interventions around various facets of fragility, including weak capacity, illegitimacy and political division
Building capacity in post-conflict countries This brief looks at the challenge of building capacity in post-conflict countries, reviews options for creating capacity, and identifies trade-offs between a rapid result and longer-term impacts of capacity strategies. Six lessons for more sustainable approaches to capacity building are identified: (a) leadership matters, (b) incentives also matter, (c) build on what exists, (d) arrange learning activities within a country wherever possible, (e) training needs to be defined in its strategic capacity, and (f) training should build on the comparative advantage of international partners.
How can donors and their partners support sustainable capacity development in fragile states? This article addresses key issues and dilemmas that members of the international community confront in answering this question.
Signposts to more effective States This paper highlights findings from a five-year research programme undertaken by the Center for the Future State, based at the Institute of Development Studies (IDS), University of Sussex. The research addresses the question: how to get more effective, accountable states and public institutions? What processes are involved? What are the obstacles to buildiong effective institutions, and what are the underlying causes of bad governance in so many countries? > Good Practice / Case Materials
Health Service Delivery in Early Recovery Fragile States: Lessons from Afghanistan, Cambodia, Mozambique, and Timor Leste Access full text: This case study explores some key themes in the emerging literature on service delivery in fragile states in light of the health sector experience in four early recovery countries—Afghanistan, Cambodia, Mozambique, and Timor Leste. The analysis considers the various impacts of foreign assistance on state stewardship of the health sector and the programming implications. The investigation starts with state effectiveness and legitimacy.
Community Driven Development in Conflict and Post-conflict Conditions: the Northern Uganda Social Action Fund How appropriate is it to work through local governments and communities as a response to endemic poverty, weak capacity and the legacy of violent conflict? This study by the Institute of Development Studies reviews the lessons arising from the design and implementation of the Northern Uganda Social Action Fund Project (NUSAF) in conditions of ongoing conflict and post-conflict recovery. It argues that considerable demand from communities for project resources and rapid implementation of infrastructure and income generation projects confirms the validity of working through local communities.
Education in Fragile States: Capturing Lessons and Identifying Good Practice (URL Problem) This paper examines how in fragile situations development assistance can enhance access to quality basic education for the poor and vulnerable, at the same time improving governance and thereby mitigating the risks of fragility, and increasing the effectiveness of future aid.
Reconstructing a Fragile State; Pacific Choice This report seeks to enhance understanding and dialogue on capacity development and its potential for contributing to poverty reduction and improvements in the quality of life of all Pacific islanders.
Bridging State Capacity Gaps in Situations of Fragility http://www.oecd.org/document/42/0,3343,en_39406396_39406575_42426026_1_1_1_1,00.html This first volume of the PDG Experts’ Series investigates whether using technical assistance in core government functions and services has been conducive to capacity development. Each case study (Afghanistan, Haiti, South Sudan and Timor-Leste) identifies specific bottlenecks and successes and aims to find new ways of thinking about the use of interim personnel for service delivery in core government functions.
> Useful Web-sites and partners GSDRC Topic Guide on Fragile States http://www.gsdrc.org/go/topic-guides/fragile-states This topic guide provides links to some of the most recent donor, practitioner and academic literature in this area. The central questions explored in the guide are 'what do we know about fragile states?' and 'how can this knowledge be used so that the international community can best engage in fragile states?'
Capacity.Org Resource Corner on Fragile Environments http://www.capacity.org/en/resource_corners/fragile_environments How can the international community support sustainable capacity development in fragile state contexts? Stabilising the governance infrastructure in post-conflict situations sometimes requires the outsourcing of nearly all government roles in the early stages of recovery. It is nonetheless critical for external interventions to support the transition to country-owned and country-led development by strengthening emerging capacity where it crystallises. This resource corner builds on Issue 32 of Capacity.Org journal to highlight the latest debates and emerging best practice in this area.
WBI: Stimulating Good Governance in Fragile States Capacity development is fundamental to the broader objective of transforming fragile states into stable nations. A growing body of research on these issues is emerging, pointing to the lessons that have been learned in recent years. In general, these lessons are outlined in a series of papers and documents produced by the Bank, bilateral donors such as DFID and a working group at the level of the OECD's Development Assistance Committee.
Development Gateway Communities – CD and Fragile States http://capacitydevelopment.developmentgateway.org/Community-Content.8175+M5cd9fa71a11.0.html A listing or articles on capacity development and fragile states
Partnership for Democratic Governance http://www.oecd.org/document/14/0,3343,en_39406396_39407430_39407310_1_1_1_1,00.html Partnership for Democratic Governance (PDG) is a multilateral group of like-minded countries and organisations whose goal is to assist states in fragile situations, post-conflict nations and emerging democracies in building their governance capacity and in improving service delivery to their citizens. A hub for knowledge and a clearing house for good practice, the PDG assists developing countries to get a “governance kick start” in key sectors where the provision of interim international and regional personnel makes good sense.
OECD/DAC Conflict and Fragility: Publications and Documents http://www.oecd.org/findDocument/0,3354,en_2649_33693550_1_1_1_1_1,00.html A listing of knowledge resources on conflict and fragility > Opinion pieces / discussion platforms Fixing Fragile States: a new paradigm for development? How to engage more effectively in fragile states is now a key concern in the international development community, and several new books outline different diagnoses and recommendations. Seth Kaplan presented his book: Fixing Fragile States: A New Paradigm for Development, at a recent ODI public event, with ODI’s David Booth as the discussant.
Challenges for New Leadership Teams in Fragile States By Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, President of the Republic of Liberia March 2007, Issue No. 21 Fragile states pose a challenge for good leadership—for renewal and reform. States in the grip of poverty, with broken socioeconomic infrastructure and a political culture of impunity, require courageous leadership, one that is unafraid of risks and able to challenge itself to be innovative and look toward the future.
Interview with Liberia’s Minister of Planning and Economic Affairs http://www.capacity.org/en/content/view/full/107/(issue)/14335 The Liberian government faces the challenge of stabilising and rebuilding the nation after two civil wars. Capacity.org interviewed Dr Toga McIntosh, Liberia’s Minister of Planning and Economic Affairs.
> Other knowledge resources: tools, reports, books, ... Leader, N. and Colenso, P., 2005, 'Aid Instruments in Fragile States', PRDE working paper no. 5, Department for International Development, London
This paper by the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) explores the relevance of harmonisation and alignment for assistance in fragile states. The report concludes that the agenda is of even more relevance in difficult partnerships or fragile states and highlights the main obstacles. It goes on to outline specific policy recommendations for external actors and donors.
Why we need to work more effectively in fragile states This policy paper brings together the latest analysis by DFID and others on how to make development more effective in fragile states. It sets out some objectives and makes commitments about how DFID will work differently in future.
Establishing Human Resource Systems for Health during Post-conflict Reconstruction Health services are severely fragmented in countries emerging from a prolonged period of conflict. Developing the health workforce and restoring health services are essential components of any major nation rebuilding, helping to reduce morbidity and mortality and providing an important entry point for engagement between the government and civil society. From Poverty to Power is essential reading for anyone involved in change processes around the world. A new take on development for the 21st century, Oxfam International's new book provides critical insights into the massive human and economic costs of inequality and poverty and proposes realistic solutions. The best way to tackle them is through a combination of active citizens and effective nation states.
Greater Than the Sum Of Its Parts? Assessing "Whole of Government" Approaches to Fragile States http://www.cgdev.org/content/publications/detail/13893 The authors look at how seven governments -- the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Germany, France and Sweden -- are seeking to rise to this challenge. They find that "whole of government" approaches remain a work in progress. Despite a few promising innovations and pilot projects, individual governments continue to struggle in their efforts to define the purposes of policy integration. As part of its wider mandate to support the implementation of capacity development themes raised in the Accra Agenda for Action, LenCD has begun developing a set of seven web-based resource corners. Each resource corner consists of six sections: i) a narrative orientation text ii) top ten web-based publications iii) good practice/ case materials iii) list of useful web-sites and partners, iv) opinion pieces/ viewpoints v) list of additional knowledge resources. Eventually these resource corners will be accessed via a knowledge platform offering a range of functionalities that will facilitate interactive sharing and dissemination of knowledge and experiences related to the capacity development themes. Content of each resource corner will be regularly updated with the support of a resource corner adviser, while various interactive events/ facilities such as blogs, ediscussions and working group are also envisaged. |
CD in fragile situations |