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3. UNDP’s Capacity Development Approach
Box 2.
Capacity is “the ability of individuals, organizations and societies to perform functions, solve problems, and set and achieve objectives in a sustainable manner”, while Capacity Development is the process through which capacities are obtained, strengthened, adapted and maintained over time.
P R A C T I T I O N E R S ’ G U I D E :
C A PA C I T Y
A S S E S S M E N T
O F
A N T I C O R R U P T I O N
A G E N C I E S
R
egardless of the form of anti corruption agency in place, the UNCAC calls for a “comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach” to prevent and combat corruption effectively, as well as “strengthening capacity and … institutionbuilding”. This recognizes the complex nature of corruption. It is essential to address corruption not only from a technical and legal perspective, but more importantly from a grounded, contextual understanding of corruption practices as they are linked to and/or influenced by incountry political, social and systemic issues. This approach calls for a transformation in the way corruption is perceived and addressed by society, organizations and individuals from having passive disregard to corrupt practices, to becoming proactive participants in preventing and combating corruption.
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Source: Capacity Development Practice Note, UNDP, 2007
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Figure 1. Capacity Development Process Step 1: Engage Partners and Build Consensus Step 5: Monitor and Evaluate Capacity Development Strategies
Step 4: Implement Capacity Development Strategies
Step 2: Assess Capacity Assets and Needs
Step 3: Define Capacity Development Strategies
UNDP’s capacity development approach has already been applied in numerous settings. It offers a comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach to assessing the capacity of an ACA to effectively prevent and combat corruption. UNDP’s approach recognizes that capacity development is an inherently political and complex process that cannot be rushed. Outcomes cannot be expected to evolve in a controlled and linear fashion.9 An internally owned process is therefore required, which can bring about transformation within anti corruption agencies through a facilitated, iterative process of stakeholder engagement Step 1 in the capacity development process, a capacity assessment of an anticorruption agency Step 2, formulation of a capacity development plan Step 3, implementation of the capacity development plan Step 4 and monitoring and evaluation Step 5. This iterative process can be used to continue to
Supporting Capacity Development: The UNDP Approach. Capacity Development Group, Bureau for Development Policy, UNDP. New York, June 2007.