Compendium of Country Examples and Lessons Learned from ...

Box 11. Formulating Capacity Development Strategies, MalawiThe process in Malawi was divided into two overarching components: the actual assessment of Malawi’sprocurement system and the subsequent formulation of capacity development strategies based on theassessment findings.The assessment was conducted using the OECD/DAC Methodology for Assessment of National ProcurementSystems. To facilitate a smooth transformation of assessment findings into capacity development strategies, theUNDP Approach to Procurement Capacity Assessment was tested. While not directly linked to the Methodology,the UNDP tool offered a concrete guideline to identify and formulate capacity development strategies based onprocurement assessments. As the tools were found to complement each other well, both of them were applied inconjunction.Preparing the ground for capacity developmentOne of the measures taken was to focus not only on identifying the weaknesses of the procurement system, butalso on uncovering the root causes underlying these weaknesses. The root causes were later to form a startingpoint for formulating capacity development strategies. The assessment and strategy formulation process inMalawi roughly followed five steps: The 54 sub-indicators of the Methodology provided a useful framework forestablishing Malawi’s desired capacities in the field of procurement (Step 1). Using these indicators, Malawi’sactual capacity could be assessed (Step 2). In a gap analysis, actual capacities were measured against desiredcapacity (Step 3). Next, root causes for each gap were identified (Step 4). This was done by exploring possiblereasons for identified weaknesses among all relevant stakeholder groups, and by confronting stakeholders withcontrasting explanations in order to uncover as many contributing factors as possible. Often capacity gapsappeared to have several root causes, which pointed to a need for multi-pronged capacity development strategies(Step 5).Formulating capacity development strategiesThe strategy formulation was composed of three main stages:1. Identifying capacity development strategies2. Defining progress indicators3. Transforming strategies into a coherent planThe presentation of each strategy in the Plan included a detailed description of the strategy, the root causes andgaps it addresses, and a proposal for its implementation; a clearly assigned lead institution and list ofstakeholders to be involved in the implementation process; implementation timeframes; implementation priority(high, medium, low); progress indicators (output indicator, outcome indicator, baseline, and target).Lessons learned1. Expand the assessment focus from “what” to “why”2. Ensure active participation of the procurement authority3. Mobilise stakeholders from the outset of the process4. Internalise the process in existing fora5. Take a systematic approach to formulating capacity development strategies6. Co-ordinate strategies that go beyond the control of the procurement authority7. Maintain a strong focus on funding8. Acknowledge that capacity development is a process of changeCOMPENDIUM OF COUNTRY EXAMPLES AND LESSONS LEARNED […] - OECD 2008 53