- Policy unit gets boost to enhance the capacity of Government, the private sector and civil society for effective implementation of the Accelerated Growth Strategy, poverty reduction strategy and development in Mali.
The African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) will on 18 September 2010 sign a USD 3 million Phase II Grant with the Centre d'Etudes et de Renforcement des Capacités d'Analyse et de Plaidoyer (CERCAP). The four-year Grant will support CERCAP to contribute to enhancing the capacity of Government, the private sector and civil society for effective implementation of the Accelerated Growth Strategy (AGS), poverty reduction strategy and development in Mali.
As a second phase project three capacity constraints have been identified for CERCAP: the institutional and human capacity of CERCAP to provide timely technical support to Government for AGS and PRSP II in the areas of policy formulation, analysis, and policy evaluation; (ii) Lack of expertise in the public administration to coordinate macroeconomic analysis, sector-wide analysis and monitoring and evaluation of PRSP II and AGS; and (iii) Weak capacity of non-State actors to engage in policy dialogue. Expected outcomes of CERCAP II are enhancing skills in research and policy analysis to increased CERCAP's know-how to effectively coordinate the AGS and PRSP II implementation; improving knowledge in the line Ministries for the formulation of sound policies; implementing new reporting process on AGS and PRSP II by line Ministries; increasing involvement of Government and non-State actors in participatory dialogue processes to increase awareness of civil society and the private sector on AGS and PRSP II.
In 2006, the Government of Mali, with the support of ACBF, undertook a country capacity profiling exercise which outlined clear priorities for Mali's capacity development agenda. The National Policy of Capacity Building (NPCB) was approved in 2007 and outlined four clear strategic thrusts for the plan. The four strategic thrusts for the plan are sustaining of capacity development projects in Mali; establishing a policy dialogue framework between state and non-state actors at central ad decentralized levels; a holistic approach to capacity development interventions; and ensuring national ownership of the capacity development processes and implementation. CERCAP II will therefore need to strengthen the technical platform of the project to mainstream the interface and dialogue component for an effective enhancement of policy dialogue and at the same time to better respond to the growing demand from the stakeholders. CERCAP will also address new capacity development challenges in emerging development issues such as food security, climate and agricultural policy development.
The findings of the 2009 Survey to Assess the Demand for the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) Products, Services and Strategic Areas of Intervention in 12 African countries, expressed that the need for ACBF to increase its effectiveness in the reformer states, such as Mali through improving policy making and regulatory function of the State; improving service delivery capacity; and developing responsive programming of public resources. These findings give more relevance to ACBF policy units such as CERCAP as it requires they play a larger role in addressing the capacity development needs of their respective countries.
Since its inception, the ACBF portfolio has had a total of 27 policy institutes in 21 Africa countries. These include Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Namibia, Niger, Senegal, Sao Tome and Principe, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe. As ACBF celebrates its 20th anniversary on February 9, 2011, policy institutes will continue to remain of prime importance to ACBF's strategy. The increase in capacity for policy institutes to track trends, analyse and raise concerns for policymakers underpins the continued relevance of these development institutions. They play a pivotal role in determining Africa's immediate and future development agendas.
Total resources committed thus far by ACBF to various interventions in Mali amount to USD 19.215.574.
Beneficiaries include three national institutions: Centre d'Etudes et de Renforcement des Capacités d'Analyse et de Plaidoyer (CERCAP), Le projet de Renforcement des Capacités des Organisations Féminines du Mali (RECOFEM), le Comité National de Renforcement des Capacités (CNRC), Also, Mali hosts two ACBF supported regional projects: Le Projet de Renforcement des Capacités de l'Union des Journalistes d'Afrique de l'Ouest (PRC-UJAO), Le Programme de l'Initiative pour le Renforcement des Capacités de Programmation, de Mise en Œuvre, de suivi, et d'évaluation de la Stratégie de Réduction de la Pauvreté au Mali (PRIME-MALI). Mali also benefits from other regional projects in West Africa, namely, AFRITAC Ouest and Projet pour le Renforcement de l'Interface entre les Etats et Chambres d'Agriculture de l'Afrique de l'Ouest (PRIECA/AO).
About the African Capacity Building Foundation
ACBF was established in February 1991. It is the outcome of collaboration between African governments and the international donor community. Its mission is to build sustainable human and institutional capacity for sustainable growth, poverty reduction and good governance in Africa.
