From compliant to capable: balanced capacity development for local organisations

Abstract

How to strengthen local capacity through donor-funded projects remains opaque. Using the European Centre for Development Policy Management's core capabilities model to examine a project engaging local organisations, we identify capabilities differentiating performance and gains from project participation. The studied organisations were often weak in capabilities important for successfully working with local governments. Some strengthened capacity, but improvements were concentrated in capabilities related to complying with donors' requirements rather than capabilities enhancing performance. We question assumptions underlying programme designs based on Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's donor-country cooperation principles, and offer suggestions for balancing capacity gains to sustain independent local organisations.La manière de renforcer les capacités locales grâce à des projets financés par des bailleurs de fonds reste opaque. En utilisant le modèle des capabilités essentielles du Centre européen de gestion des politiques de développement pour examiner un projet faisant intervenir des organisations locales, nous identifions les capabilités qui font la distinction entre les performances et les gains d'une part et la participation aux projets de l'autre. Les organisations se sont souvent révélées faibles sur le plan des capabilités importantes pour travailler efficacement avec les autorités gouvernementales locales. Certaines ont renforcé leurs capacités, mais les améliorations se sont concentré sur les capabilités liées à la conformité aux exigences des bailleurs de fonds et non sur celles liées à l'amélioration des performances. Nous mettons en question des suppositions sous-jacentes aux conceptions de programme basées sur les principes de coopération des pays donateurs de l'Organisation de coopération et de développement économiques, et proposons des suggestions pour équilibrer les gains sur le plan des capacités afin de soutenir les organisations locales indépendantes.La incógnita relativa a cómo fortalecer la capacidad local a través de proyectos financiados por donantes continúa siendo opaca. Haciendo uso del modelo de capacidades básicas elaborado por el Centre for Development Policy Management [Centro para la Gestión de la Política de Desarrollo], los autores identificaron ciertas competencias discerniendo entre desempeño y logros a partir de la participación en proyectos. A menudo, las organizaciones estudiadas acusaban debilidades en competencias consideradas importantes para trabajar con el gobierno local. Si bien algunas organizaciones fortalecieron sus capacidades, los avances se dieron principalmente en aquellas capacidades vinculadas al cumplimiento de los requisitos establecidos por los donantes y en menor medida en aquellas orientadas a mejorar el desempeño. Los autores cuestionan los supuestos que subyacen al diseño de programas, basados en los principios de cooperación para países donantes elaborados por la Organización para la Cooperación y el Desarrollo Económico (OCDE)...

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