‘Community of Practice Meeting: Capacity Development in Europe & the CIS’

1. Capacity Development in Kvemo Kartli Region From Theory to Practice ‘Community of Practice Meeting: Capacity Development in Europe & the CIS’ 29 – 30 September 2008Sofia, Bulgaria Sophia Svanadze Project Manager Bikash Ranjan Dash Capacity Development Advisor

2. Outline of presentation • Georgia Context • Brief description of the Kvemo Kartli project • Steps undertaken for Capacity Development activities • Engage with stakeholders • Assessment of capacities • Capacity Development Response Strategy • Implementation of capacity development activities • Monitoring capacity development activities • Lessons Learned

3. Georgia - Context • Population: 4.6 million • Government type: • Presidential republic • Legal system: • Civil law system • GDP per capita: • $ 2,315 (2007); • GDP growth rate (real): • 12.4% (2007); • Population below poverty line: 25.3% (2005)

4. Regional/Local Governance: Context • Reform of the local government system: as of 2005 • LSG units consolidated:from 1,000+ into 69 municipalities • Broad legal framework in place • Challenges: • No overall guiding document • Lack of vision on regional development • Sectoral legislation yet to be ameded • Councillors and Mayors with limited experience and skills • No transitional period; yet new organisations to be created/functional • Need to develop organization, procedures, leadership, skills

5. Strengthening Local and Regional Governance in Kvemo Kartli Region • Budget: $1.3 mln; duration: 3 years • Donor: Sida • Team: PM, CDA, 2 POs • Delivery: 36 %, (September 1, 2008) • Objectives: • Strengthen regional/local governance in addressing challenges • Offer model of functioning governance structure • By: Capacity Development of regional and local authorities: • Support regional/local development planning • Design and set new organizational structures, processes • Develop needed skills at both levels • Pilot models for better citizens’ access • First in RBEC to apply the CD Framework

6. Outline:Steps of Capacity Development activities • Engage with stakeholders • Assessment of capacities • Adapted Framework • Methodology • Assets and Gaps • Challenges • Capacity Development Response Strategy • Implementation of capacity development activities • Monitoring capacity development activities

7. Step 1: Engage with stakeholders • Mapping of key partners • Awareness raising and consensus building on CD • CD training and pilot testing of capacity assessment methodology in 2 municipalities • Targeted discussions with partners • Discussion on development priorities • Regional Development Strategy: drafted • Municipal development strategies: process initiated

8. Step 2: Capacity Assessment- Adapted Framework • Points of entry • Enabling Environment • Organizational • Individual

9. Step 2: Capacity Assessment- Methodology • Adaptation of methodology • Collecting information through: • Interviews • Self-assessment questionnaires • Focused group discussions • Elaboration of Institutional baseline mapping report • Identification of capacity assets and gaps

10. Step 2: Capacity Assessment- Main findings

11. Step 2: Capacity Assessment: Challenges • Enabling Environment • Lack of initial rapport with the local self government • Confusion regarding coverage of the assessment • Organizational • Frequent change of government staff • Individual • Limited understanding of the CD concept within local authorities. • Lack of experiences of using UNDP CD framework

12. Step 3: Capacity Development Response Strategy • Prioritization/clustering of capacity gaps: • Human resources • Organizational development • External accountability • Strategy and planning • Define Capacity Development Response Strategies and Activities: • Short, medium and long term • 3 levels of capacity • Establish monitoring indicators • Prioritize activities for support (short term) • Costing of activities

13. Step 3: Capacity Development Response Strategy Capacity Development Response Strategy Matrix

14. Step 4: Implementation: Example • Capacity gap: Lack of ability of regional and municipal administration to formulate long term strategy • Activities at three levels: • Enabling environment: Support to the regional and municipal administration to formulate long term strategies and yearly action plans • Organization: Functional analysis of regional development unit and dept. of infrastructure and eco. Dev ( part of the analysis of whole administration). Strengthening the existing data collection, storing and analysis mechanism. • Individual: Trainings for civil servant on strategic, participatory planning, organize exposure visit to countries having similar experience and design a manual on “ How to prepare regional and municipal strategies”

15. Step 4: Implementation -Short- Term CD Activities • Functional analyses and Business process reengineering • Review current Human Resources Management Practicesand provide recommendations for improvement • Review current data collection, storing and analysis practices and provide recommendations for improvement • Review current planning methodologies in use and suggest a improved one for consideration by national government. • Improve existing coordination and citizen feedback mechanism • Define appropriate organizational structure for strategic planning

16. Step 5: Monitoring of Capacity Development Activities • Baseline indicators have been set during the capacity assessment (Institutional Baseline Mapping) exercise • All the output indicators linked to corresponding country program outcomes

17. Lessons Learned • CD should be mainstreamed at country program level • Capacity Assessment to be done at both program and project level • Quick capacity assessment during formulation of a project will help • Requirement of more awareness raising on CD among stakeholders, including UNDP staff • National ownership core for success • Potential for cooperation with other donors/UN agencies • CD activities are process oriented; hence plan for longer term • But, to be simplified, adapted to local context, practical tools • CD as no stand alone activity