ACBF BROWN BAG SEMINAR: CAPACITY BUILDING FOR PROMOTING TRADE AND INVESTMENT IN AFRICA

Dr. Gibson Guvheya presenting at the Brown Bag Seminar.

On October 24, 2008, the Knowledge Management Department of ACBF held its third Brown Bag Seminar. Dr. Gibson Guvheya, Knowledge Management Officer, made a presentation on the topic - Capacity Building for Promoting Trade and Investment in Africa. The seminar was chaired by Ms. Rutendo Kambarami and attended by ACBF staff members and invited guests.

In his presentation, Dr. Gibson Guvheya, focused on trade-related capacity building issues; issues of the relationship between trade, growth and poverty reduction; and the required capacity needs for development and management of trade policies to enable trade to be an engine of growth. He identified key factors explaining the poor trade performance of the African continent, including the weak productive capacity; the poor access to export markets and the high level of non-tariff barriers on African exports. He also highlighted the importance of organizing frameworks for developing sound trade capacity projects through the effective building of systems and networks across institutions and regions in Africa. These frameworks will promote competitiveness of strategic commodities through a comprehensive supply- or chain-value analysis to determine the competitive sectors. He also advocates for regional trade hubs to support regional networks for trade developing.

In relation to institutions like ACBF that are already in trade related capacity building, Dr. Guvheya pointed out the need to target capacity building at key national and regional institutions so as to create platforms for engagement and knowledge networks for trade and investment promotion in Africa. He concluded his presentation by challenging capacity building institutions to sustain the emergence of specialized centers of excellence in research, analysis and advocacy for trade and investment promotion, particularly at regional level, and to continue to support local think tanks and networks, which he highlighted are crucial in providing intellectual bases to the national and regional trade policy processes, including multilateral negotiations.

Parliaments, Good Governance and Poverty Reduction: The Case for Parliamentary Capacity Building in Africa

The 2008 edition of the ACBF Brown Bag Series was launched on May 30, 2008 with a presentation by Mr. Dickson Antwi, Program Officer in Operations Department (OPD) III on the theme: “Parliaments, Good Governance and Poverty Reduction: The Case for Parliamentary Capacity Building in Africa”. The seminar was chaired by Dr. Gibson Guvheya, Coordinator of the Brown Bag Seminar Series, and attended by ACBF staff members.

Mr. Dickson Antwi, Program Officer, OPD III, presenting his paper at the Brown Bag Seminar

In his presentation, Mr. Antwi highlighted the importance of effective parliaments for the promotion of good governance and poverty reduction efforts in Africa. However, most African parliaments have remained weak and inefficient due to various capacity constraints. In recent years, African parliaments have attracted support from donors, as they are considered as key vehicles for democracy and development on the continent. So far, the various donor interventions failed to improve the effectiveness of parliaments as a result of poor planning and lack of understanding of the parliamentary institution.

Dr. Adeboye Adeyemo, Program Officer, Operations Monitoring and Evaluation Department (OED), making a point during the seminar

Cross section of ACBF staff participating in the Brown Bag seminar

Although the paper focused primarily on parliaments’ functions, roles and capacity challenges, the presenter sought to provide insights on the nexus between parliaments and issues of good governance and poverty reduction. He also makes the case for ACBF targeted capacity building interventions in support of African Parliaments.

From Project Implementation Units (PIUs) to Budget Support: a Reflection on Project Implementation Practice

On 11 October 2007, the Foundation held its second Brown Bag Seminar for the year 2007 on the theme: ‘From Project Implementation Units (PIUs) to Budget Support: A Reflection on Project Implementation Practice”. The seminar was presented by Mrs. Maria Nita Dengo, Program Officer, Operations Zone I, and chaired by Dr. Gibson Guvheya, Coordinator of the Brown Bag Seminar Series. Invited guests and ACBF staff member took part in the seminar.

Mrs. Maria Nita Dengo, Program Officer, Operations Zone I, presenting her paper at the Brown Bag Seminar.

In her presentation, Mrs. Dengo highlighted the potential challenges and opportunities involved in the shifting from project to country program approach for the delivery and management of development assistance. Since the early 1980’s, effectiveness and coordination of development assistance have been central to the development discourse, which resulted in a consensus on the need to reform aid delivery modalities for greater effectiveness in line with the Paris Declaration. The presenter critically reviewed the various aid modalities, their use as well as the pros and cons of project and non-project approaches.

Mrs. Joyce Kazembe, Chair of the Zimbabwe Electoral Support Network, making a point during the seminar.

In concluding, the presenter indicated that there is no conclusive right or wrong approach to development program management and delivery. The current trend that favors countries/implementing agencies structures for the delivery of development program has its merits, particularly in terms of improving the structures’ capacity and contributing to the development partners’ harmonization and alignment principle. However, PIUs also prove to be well suited for targeted development objectives. On the basis of an assessment of PIU’s effectiveness on ACBF program delivery, the presentation aims at providing insights on the Foundation’s program/project delivery mechanisms and strategies for ACBF adherence to the current efforts for the alignment and harmonization of development assistance.

ACBF staff and invited guests attending the seminar.