Africa’s development
achievements in the years following independence
are visible, but varied. Prior to the recent
global economic crisis, real GDP growth in
Africa was above 5% - and with broad macro-economic
stability. The overall prospects for sustainable
poverty reduction seemed good. However, the
financial crisis, while not impacting Africa
to the extent initially envisaged, negated
some of the significant gains made in the last
decade. The crisis also highlighted specific
demands for capacity development, such as the
skills to manage reserves and spending programs,
but also those related to sustaining reforms
in complex global and national environment.
The African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF),
with its mission to build human and institutional
capacity for sustainable growth and poverty
reduction in Africa, recognised the challenges
presented by this crisis and the important
role to be played by capacity building in helping
countries to respond in the future. ACBF’s
emerging strategy is also derived from the
Foundation’s experiences in the past.
Over the last two decades, ACBF has focused
on building sustainable, effective institutions
and policies to deliver development results
for poverty reduction. ACBF’s successes
are attributable to the Foundation’s
approach; primarily its ownership, flexibility
and innovation. As a catalyst and strategic
development partner, ACBF has worked in fragile
states, such as Rwanda and Liberia for example,
to respond to the urgent needs of such societies,
by identifying and filling gaps within the
current capacities of local and international
actors. At present, ACBF supports 24 of the
29 countries classified as being fragile or
post-conflict states. In reformer states like
Burkina Faso and Tanzania, the ACBF has played
a critical role in supporting country-level
dialogue between the public and private sector,
as well as supporting the professionalization
of the voices of civil society, among others.
The Foundation also transcends political barriers,
which are often a key factor affecting the
development process on the continent. Support
to national and sub-regional parliaments is
a key example of how the Foundation helps to
build the capacity of dynamic oversight entities.
As an institution responding to country demands,
ACBF scales up its activities via partnerships,
strategic alliances and coordination activities.
Putting in place an innovative approach to
capacity development, ACBF has drawn lessons
from experiences across sectors and themes
and also across various levels of engagement.
Lessons learned from more than 15 years of
support in the creation of Think Tanks and
Policy Units in countries such as Kenya, Uganda,
Mali, and Senegal, and Zimbabwe, have allowed
the Foundation to embed effective approaches
to capacity development in its other interventions,
as well as supporting the creation of similar
policy hubs in other countries.
In addition, ACBF prides itself in its Leadership
as the foremost, apolitical, institution in
Africa where people go to for ideas on capacity
development. ACBF is connected to the key institutions
that deliver capacity results on the continent,
and funds creative trials on ways to build
capacity. Partnerships are also key to the
Foundation’s success and ACBF operates
as a credible, value adding resource to capacity
development institutions. Excellence is another
guiding principle, where ACBF is recognized
as an organization that has contextual knowledge
about Africa, has the capability to co-ordinate
the actions of others in capacity development
and is joined-up with strategic institutions
at the regional and sub-regional level. ACBF
is known by key stakeholders and seen as a
major source of support for getting things
done. ACBF is also the only foundation in Africa
that focuses on “human and institutional
capacities” on a regional level.
Looking ahead, in 2011 ACBF will celebrate
20 years of capacity development in Africa.
The 20th Anniversary is an opportunity to review
the past and build on lessons learned. The
Foundation will use this milestone to reposition
itself and address the ongoing and pressing
capacity challenges facing the continent. High
level forums, lectures and learning events
will be held throughout the year, culminating
in the launch of the inaugural African Capacity
Indicators Flagship report on February 8th
2011. Now working in 44 countries on the continent,
the Foundation will seek to learn lessons from
past experiences, consolidate the gains from
efforts at sector and country level, and seek
opportunities for scaling up results through
smart program designs and effective partnerships.
In particular, ACBF will continue to support
strategic interventions, using them as opportunities
for transformational change.
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