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Léautier, Frannie A. --- "Meeting the challenges of enhancing capacity for development" [2004] ELECD 152; in Liebscher, Klaus; Christl, Josef; Mooslechner, Peter; Ritzberger-Grünwald, Doris (eds), "The Economic Potential of a Larger Europe" (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2004)

Book Title: The Economic Potential of a Larger Europe

Editor(s): Liebscher, Klaus; Christl, Josef; Mooslechner, Peter; Ritzberger-Grünwald, Doris

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

ISBN (hard cover): 9781843769620

Section: Chapter 7

Section Title: Meeting the challenges of enhancing capacity for development

Author(s): Léautier, Frannie A.

Number of pages: 24

Extract:

7. Meeting the challenges of enhancing
capacity for development
Frannie A. Léautier1

1. A NEW CONSENSUS ON CAPACITY FOR
DEVELOPMENT

Despite substantial attention and financial support from the development
community over a long period of time, capacity remains a binding con-
straint to development, especially in Africa. Among the reasons for lack
of progress in capacity are (a) shifting definitions of the term `capacity'
and hence shifting attention on its components, leading to a lack of coher-
ence in results over time (see Appendix 1 on the multiple definitions of
capacity enhancement); and (b) poor coordination and lack of harmon-
ization of policies and practices among development partners in the pro-
vision of support for capacity development (see Appendix 2 for a summary
of donor perspectives on pooling technical assistance). For the purposes
of this chapter, we use an operational definition of capacity that allows us
to focus on the key issues that will lead to substantial results going
forward.
What is capacity for development? It is the ability of individuals, institu-
tions and whole societies to solve problems, make informed choices, order
their priorities and plan their futures ­ as well as to implement programmes
and projects, and sustain them.
With respect to individuals, this definition captures their educational
attainment levels, their access to information, and their inclusion in decision-
making. For institutions, this includes the incentives structure within the
planning and decision-making systems; effectiveness of public decision-
making, including transparency and accountability; institutional features
that offer information ...


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