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Background
While technical cooperation has undoubtedly contributed to very significant development successes around the world, it also continues to perpetuate many counter-productive practices. Is TC, as currently practised, part of the solution to underdevelopment or too often part of the problem? Globalisation, the information revolution, democratisation and increasing capacities in the South have profound implications for development at large and for the way in which technical cooperation can sensibly contribute to developing needed capacities.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in collaboration with the Dutch Government and other partners has launched an inquiry to examine, question and scrutinise the fundamentals of technical cooperation and capacity development.
THE OBJECTIVE of this review on Technical Cooperation for Capacity Development is to better understand:
Far reaching, concrete proposals for reform
>>> NEW MOMENTUM FOR FRANK DIALOGUE AND CHANGE
For more background see Are we ready for change?
Aims of the discussion:
This e-discussion is an integral part of the initiative to review technical cooperation and capacity development, which is to take place over the next year. The discussion is meant to be an open forum. Voices are invited from North to South, from among a global constituency of development researchers and practitioners, from all sectors of society, from academic circles to practitioners and end-users in the field.
The purpose of running this moderated e-discussion is to help us focus on key issues and to stimulate an interactive exchange. In so doing we will be able to feed experiences, viewpoints and arguments into the round table and the research. The ultimate goal is to shape policy recommendations that will be made to the OECD Development Assistance Committee and to facilitate a frank dialogue for change.
The first e-discussion will run for 6 weeks beginning 4th June 2001. It will address the question "Ready for Change?" and will focus on three sub-sets, namely the donor, the recipient and the "development industry" side. Each sub-theme will be discussed for two consecutive weeks, and will lead to the production of a synthesis report. This report will be posted on the project web-site and will also be presented at the first round-table meeting to take place in Geneva between 16/17 July 2001. Later in the year, a second round of e-discussion will be held once the various focus studies and issue papers being commissioned as part of this initiative have been further developed.
The e-discussion does require some time commitment. At the same time it is a major opportunity to shape the discussion and results of this project, to make sure that the insights are shared and tricky issues are discussed frankly. It also is a major opportunity to strengthen knowledge in public domain, to learn and to network with potential partners around the globe. We hope you all will find the time to contribute and to follow the discussions on a regular basis. We look forward to your active participation and will ensure that contributions are channelled to where they can make a difference.
How to register for updates and the e-discussion?
For further information on the progress of this initiative, please refer to www.undp.org/capacity.
Alternatively, you can register for regular updates and news on the project. Please send a message to: majordomo@listserv.capacity.org, with in the message body the text: subscribe undp
To register for the e-discussion, please fill in the registration form on this web-site.
Management:
This e-discussion will be hosted by Capacity.org, a website to advance the policy and practice of capacity development in international development cooperation. It is supported by the European Centre for Development Policy Management (ECDPM). The moderator will be responsible for receiving, reviewing and posting all contributions. The moderator will produce a weekly summary of proceedings as well as the final synthesis report to be presented to the first Round Table Conference, on 16/17 July 2001.
The e-discussion is coordinated and facilitated by ECDPM, in cooperation with Euforic and Antenna.
Moderation / facilitation: Dr. Anthony Land / Volker Hauck, ECDPM
Publication web-site / facilitation: Ava-Gail Gardiner, Euforic
Communication / facilitation: Huub Mudde, Euforic
Technical development: Mark Keaney / Michael Polman, Antenna
Technical support / facilitation: Tsjebbe de Vries, Antenna
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Reforming Technical Cooperation for Capacity Development