" [1]The NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency (NPCA) recognises the need for enabling individuals, institutions and societies on the African continent to sustainably develop its people and institutions.
The Agency, through its Capacity Development Programme (CDP), has developed an Africanowned and driven Capacity Development Strategic Framework (CDSF) to address the capacity needs of the continent's most important resource: the people. The CDSF, developed in 2006, through a consultative process, was designed to create a common understanding of capacity gaps and challenges. The strategy identifies at all levels short-, medium- and long-term goals, and is an integrated tool in offering a shared approach to capacity development in Africa. The strategy is aimed primarily at the actualisation of the vision and priorities of the African Union (AU) and NEPAD.
Ms Florence Nazare, the Head of CDP, points out that this continental approach to tackle the challenges of capacity development is unique and transformative. "The Framework addresses Africa's capacity gaps and deep systemic constraints, beyond the continued application of quick fixes and fragmented interventions," she says. The CDSF is based on the need for a fundamental transformation, re-orientation and re-alignment towards strengthening of African individuals, institutions and society at large. Nazare continues: "the desired impact of the CDSF as a guiding tool is to enhance capacities for both effective private sector delivery and public policy design and implementation at all levels of governance in Africa."
The CDSF is built around six essential, interlinked cornerstones, which are Africa's capacity development priorities.
Leadership Transformation:
With the need to enhance and expand the quality of leadership towards attaining development goals, the CDSF highlights the importance of leaders at all levels of society to be dynamic and strategic thinkers. Such leaders should be capable of inspiring the continent through a dedication to the transformation agenda and driven to achieve results. "In addition, accountability is a prime motivator for ensuring that systems run smoothly, as towards ensuring capable states and empowered citizens. Good governance is achieved through systems and processes, which are all part of capacity development."
Citizenship Transformation:
To foster a culture of responsibility, mutual accountability and unwavering commitment to performance excellence across the public and private sectors as well as civil society is key. The CDSF hopes to empower the citizenry of Africa in their own development processes by demanding complete accountability and more transparency from state institutions, businesses and other non-state organisations. The CDSF seeks to address the question of: "how to transform and empower the people to drive the development agenda?" Nazare explains.
Knowledge and Innovation, based on evidence:
The linkage between research and learning institutions and the policy-making community is fundamental and requires capacity. "Currently, there is minimal utilisation of knowledge that is coming out of university studies. Through the CDSF, NEPAD is putting in place capacity development processes to create a culture of using science to affect policy making in public and private sectors for better development results," Nazare explains. Policies will then be based on real issues on the continent and will be backed by adequate evidence-based information. This has a far reaching effect, influencing not only political issues, but also environmental and social challenges. "Without knowledge and evidence, it is impossible to innovate, Nazare stresses." In essence, NEPAD emphasises that 'knowledge is the capacity for action'.
Utilising Skills and Resources, unlocking African potential:
The CDSF underscores that the resources of Africa must be fully utilised, retained and mobilised for development on the continent, at local, continental and global levels. Central to this priority is the significance of appropriate incentives, reward and management systems that effectively utilise African potential and attract the requisite capacities. Through concerted efforts and targeted planning of human resources development, African skills are better harnessed and utilised in closing development gaps, particularly within the youth and gender groups.
Developing the Capacity of Capacity Developers:
An important part of the system towards self-reliance is the need for active and capable players in the capacity development arena. Whether it is through training, re-positioning or leadership, the continent's progressive agenda requires adapted capacity developers and institutions to enhance the performance of all concerned.
Integrated Planning and Implementation for Results:
Integration at all levels of planning and implementation and across sectors is the key to getting sustainable development results. Fostering the development of requisite capabilities means a better coordinated system with the ability to remove these 'structural blockages' for continuous improvement processes. These are some of the NEPAD CDSF's strategic actions on implementation that are currently underway, following the endorsement of the CDSF by African leaders at the 14th AU (African Union) Assembly in Addis Adaba during 2010:
- Functioning of the Capacity Development Continental Steering Group (CSG) as a technical advisory body to the NEPAD Agency
- Regional and global advocacy for CDSF implementation to ensure buy-in by stakeholders
- Capacity Development mainstreaming into the NEPAD sector and cross-sectoral programmes and processes
- Roll-out of the Africa Platform on Development Effectiveness focusing on Aid Effectiveness, South-South Cooperation and Capacity Development
- Linking the CDSF with global development processes including policy issues related to the Africa Platform
- Regional level interventions including capacity enhancement of African institutions, particularly regional economic bodies
- Promotion of value-adding partnerships for CDSF implementation with leading African and global institutions, for collective action, targeted at harnessing technical and financial resources along African-defined priorities.
These interventions aim to strengthen an effective implementation of the NEPAD agenda, thus accelerating the execution of key African programmes. The uniqueness of the Framework is its emphasis on adaptability – the ability to be applied to varying contexts and experiences. Most importantly, the overall success of the CDSF will depend on integrating capacity development at all levels in Africa to galvanise the effective implementation of Africa’s priority programmes and projects. This will help the continent to attain the Millennium Development Goals and the African Union’s reform agenda, thus fostering wealth creation through growth enhancing institutions. Hence, capacity development is the power to change Africa.
