New cooperation for capacity development in Africa

DiploFoundation and the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) recently signed a new memorandum of understanding on training for capacity development. The MoU builds on the established cooperation between Diplo and the Learning Network for Capacity Development (LenCD) through which the two institutions have worked together over the last couple years to offer an online course on Capacity Development. The highly interactive, 9-week-long course was developed by Diplo in 2013, based on the LenCD Learning Package for Capacity Development and with the support of the UNDP, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, and LenCD.

Established in 1991, the ACBF builds human and institutional capacity for good governance and economic development in Africa. To date the Foundation has empowered governments, parliaments, civic society, private sector and higher education institutions in more than 45 countries and 6 regional economic communities. ACBF supports capacity development through investments, technical support, knowledge generation and sharing across Africa.

As the first activity under the framework on the MoU, Diplo will run two sessions of the online Capacity Development course for ACBF staff in 2016. Following this, the two institutions plan to discuss further opportunities for cooperation in the field of capacity development.

What participants say about the online course on Capacity Development

I am excited at the depth of knowledge I gained in the course, I am not only better able to understand where we are as a country, sector and organization, but I am better able to understand the past and how things can be done differently.

Lilian Idiaghe, Research Assistant, Centre for Petroleum Energy Economics and Law, University of Ibadan, Nigeria

I have been able to review our organizational understanding of capacity development within the context of our beneficiaries and target groups. Most importantly, applying the questions – why capacity development and for whom – has enabled my team and I to review how we view capacity development and reflect on areas of improvement.

Harriet Kongin, Adviser, Policy and Strategy, UNAIDS Kenya