CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT
The Earth Summit in 1992 recognized capacity building as one of the means of implementation for its action agenda for sustainable development, Agenda 21, and gave particular focus to national mechanisms and international cooperation for capacity building in developing countries. Importance was given to defining country needs and priorities in sustainable development through an ongoing participatory process and, in so doing, to strengthening human resource and institutional capabilities. Developing the capacity of institutions is a key objective of most international development cooperation activities and essential for achieving sustainable development outcomes and lasting impact. One of the targets under Sustainable Development Goal 17 is to enhance international support for implementing effective and targeted capacity-development in developing countries, in support of national plans to implement all the SDGs. This includes North-South, South-South and triangular cooperation.Results-oriented capacity development must be demand-driven, building upon strengths and weaknesses in the current structure, and based upon ownership by the stakeholders.Through many years of advising a variety of clients, PEM has become highly skilled in identifying drivers of transformational change, governance analysis, and institutional and functional analysis. Our expertise ranges from organisational and human resource development, to change management, and strategic and financial planning.
PEMconsult’s work emphasises the need for a clear vision of the purposes (capacity to what end: policy making, regulation, service delivery, advocacy, etc.) and effective modalities for capacity development. With the increasing focus on the role of the private sector, the development of the enabling environment is increasingly a key concern. We take a broad view of relevant modalities for capacity development, including traditional technical assistance and learning, institutional twinning/peer-to-peer exchanges, networking and study visits, and the use of innovative ICT solutions.
OUR WORK - EXAMPLES:
WATER SECTOR LEGISLATION REVIEW: ESTABLISHMENT OF A LEGAL BASE FOR INTEGRATED CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT
Lesotho is considered the water tower of Southern Africa but is facing problems like land degradation in the catchment areas. This in turn will impact important wetlands that provide essential ecosystem services to rural communities. Most communities are also vulnerable to climate change, partially due to a lack of adaptation capacity. Thus, the water and food security as well as the livelihoods of the rural population in the catchments of Lesotho are at stake. Therefore, the Kingdom of Lesotho started the national programme for integrated catchment management named ReNOKA. The programme aims to introduce and institutionalise integrated planning approaches, a science base and multi-stakeholder approach together with communities and the private sector on various political scales. However, the policy and legal landscape prove complex and ineffective. Thus, the objective of the project is to support the Ministry of Water in reviewing the water sector legislation with a particular focus on the water act (2008) with the aim of establishing a solid legal base for the implementation of an integrated catchment management approach in Lesotho. Outputs are the inception report, the draft technical issue paper and draft water act, a short policy brief on agreed changes, a draft water bill, a draft key subsidiary legislation and/or amend policy and the consultation and the validation of these drafts.
- Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) (2022 – 2023), contract value: EUR 99,840
CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT OF STAFF WORKING WITH INTEGRATED WATER MANAGEMENT IN ALBANIA
PEM has been commissioned to strengthen the capacities of water-related staff at the line ministries, related agencies and the structures at local /basin level to improve response to requirements of the EU Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC (WFD). To achieve this objective, PEM will assist the national authorities in Albania in the establishment and strengthening of national organisational structures responsible for developing and implementing the River Basin Management Plans, in accordance with the EU water acquis. Moreover, PEM will carry out a performance assessment of the existing institutional and administrative set-up, prepare a Capacity Development Plan which includes a short-term training plan for strengthening the administrative capacity for water management and develop a proposal for the establishment of a permanent learning and training platform.
- Austrian Development Agency (2019-2020) contract value EUR 96,130
CONSULTANCY SERVICES FOR NATIONAL PLANNING, DESIGN AND SUPERVISION OF THE SLCDD II (GIETRENK) PROJECT IN SIERRA LEONE
PEM and the association consulting companies are responsible for the overall coordination and management of the GIETRENK project in Sierra Leone. The programme addresses the social and economic situation of poor communities by empowering them and addressing the major constraints that is hindering their development through enhancing opportunities for livelihood. A major part of the programme is to create business opportunities for youth and women in the rural areas in seven Chiefdoms. The services include the preparation of a Master Plan for each of the 7 Chiefdoms for investments in water supply, solar PV electricity networks and commercial resource centres in the Chiefdom Headquarter towns and other economic and social infrastructures in the surrounding communities. The services include the development of a comprehensive M&E System based on data collection using mobile phones on all project activities and establishment of GIS for planning.
- National Commission for Social Action (NAcSA) (2018 – 2022) contract value USD 2,299,096
TECHNICAL SUPPORT TO THE WATER SECTOR ON M&E SYSTEMS AND GIS IN LESOTHO
PEM is providing technical assistance to development of water sector M&E and GIS systems in Lesotho. The assignment includes operationalising the GIS planning and M&E systems for water supply and sanitation in Department of Rural Water Supply (DRWS) Head Office and districts. The aim is to establish capacity at DRWS National Office and the Districts RWS Offices for effectively utilising GIS and M&E. This includes development of reporting systems that cover the whole communication process from community to the national level. The capacity building plan includes the immediate training needs to fully utilise the data management and GIS systems as well as a longer-term plan for the IT, GIS and data management capacities needed at National and District level.
- Ministry of Water/ African Development Bank (2017/19) contract value EUR 270,000
POLICY ADVICE FOR SUPPORTING CAADP IMPLEMENTATION
PEM is carrying out a major assignment to support the implementation of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) which is Africa’s policy framework for agricultural transformation, wealth creation, food security and nutrition, economic growth and prosperity for all. PEM is providing two international advisers and up to eight local experts who will be supporting the creation and updating of National Agricultural Investment Plans (NAIPs).
- GIZ (2018/19) contract value EUR 500,000
SIDA SUPPORT TO UNDP WATER AND OCEAN GOVERNANCE PROGRAMME (WOGP)
PEM undertook a review of Sida Support to UNDP’s Water and Ocean Governance Programme (WOGP) a capacity development programme comprising the Water Governance Facility (WGF), the UNDP International Network for Capacity Development in Sustainable Water Management (Cap-Net); the Governance, Advocacy and Leadership for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Programme (GoAL WaSH), and the Shared Waters Partnership Programme (SWP).
- Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) (2016/17) contract value USD 23,300
TECHNICAL SUPPORT TO LIBERIA`S WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION SECTOR INVESTMENT PLAN
PEM has provided technical assistance to the Government of Liberia to develop a Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Investment Plan (WSS-SIP) and Model (WSS-SIM). The Urban WSS sector investment plan 2012-2017 is a ground-up, facility-based investment plan of urban WSS infrastructure (2012-2017) to reach Liberia’s WSS targets set in the PRS2 for the required rehabilitation, replacement and new facilities including both liquid and solid waste management. The Rural WSS sector investment plan 2012-2017 is based on the water point mapping data and is a ground-up, facility-based investment plan setting out rehabilitation, replacement and new facilities required for the period 2012 to 2017. The WSS Sector Investment Model 2012-2030 (WSS-SIM) will support the appraisal and investment decision making process over the longer-term 2012-2030 period. The assignment included costing of technical assistance to WSS sector capacity building and a proposed appraisal mechanism for sector investments as well as user guidelines and training in the use and update of the WSS-SIM.
- Ministry of Public Works/ World Bank (2011/12) contract value EUR 230,000
OTHER ASSIGNMENTS:
Institutional and governance studies: Evaluation of Swedish Support for capacity development for Private Sector Development and Evaluation of Sida’s capacity development programme for Risk Management in Banking.
Development of tools: Tools for capacity development programmes for basket funding, targeted budget support and direct budget support in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
Knowledge management and generation: Joint Donor Review of UNDP Capacity Development in Sustainable Water Management (Cap-Net) Phase III.
Evaluation of SIDAs International Training Programme on Quality Infrastructure, Sida, 2018.
Process support and formulation of the Danish Energy Agency Energy Partnership Programme, Danida, 2017
Training and facilitation: Delivering of training courses for EU and partner staff including regional knowledge and experience exchange seminars