V.A: Capacity Development
Provide for capacity development: the overarching contribution of UNDP Other Information:
53. Human development – with its focus on the expansion and use of human capabilities – provides the conceptual basis for
the longstanding UNDP commitment to capacity development. UNDP methodologies have influenced the approaches of OECD/DAC and
the UNDG. They reflect a shift from a supply-driven approach to an endogenous-led change process and give tangible form to
the principle of national ownership. The evolution of the United Nations role in development underscores the centrality of
national decision-making and domestic accountability as the start and end points for defining and measuring the contribution
of the United Nations system to development. 54. A more rigorous and systematic approach to supporting capacity development
is called for to enhance UNDP assistance to the efforts of programme countries to achieve the MDGs and support human development.
UNDP capacity development services are underpinned by continuous research and analysis of good practice and lessons learned
across countries, capacity assessment methodologies and response applications. These are continuously validated and adapted
through the more rigorous monitoring and evaluation conducted today. UNDP has supported efforts to bring this body of knowledge
and methodologies into the UNDG, to facilitate common approaches to United Nations system support to national capacity development.
This is in line with General Assembly resolution 59/250 calling for more effective United Nations support in this area. 55.
UNDP will work closely with the United Nations development system, and global, regional and national partners, to support
capacity development efforts through the provision of the following services: (a) Capacity assessments – supporting countries
to map their capacity assets and needs in relation to what is required to accelerate human development and achieve the MDGs;
(b) Capacity development strategies – facilitating partnerships to support the development of national capacity development
strategies based on the assessments, and providing policy and technical services in institutional reform and incentives, leadership
capacities, training and learning, and accountability mechanisms; (c) Costing capacity development strategies – providing
a systematic costing of strategies, facilitating advocacy for the investments required in national capacity through national
and sector strategies; (d) Monitoring and evaluation of capacity development – including measurable indicators so national
clients can track progress in capacity development through monitoring and evaluation systems. 56. Work is currently under
way to roll out the above methodologies and services to country programmes using the ‘Capacity 2015’ capacity development
trust fund to supplement current staff and regular resources to meet the expanding demand. 57. UNDP supports the strengthening
of national capacity to implement a human rights-based approach to national development programmes and policies. The human
rights-based approach to programming contributes to the conceptual framework of human development, which is based on international
human rights standards as adopted by the Member States of the United Nations. From a human development perspective, this focuses
in particular on the principles of non-discrimination and equality. This translates in very practical terms into supporting
the design and implementation of national MDG-based poverty reduction strategies that reflect the needs of marginalized and
vulnerable groups in order to engage them fully in the development processes that affect their livelihoods and their lives.
58. UNDP will enhance the capacities of country offices and regional centres to apply a human rights-based approach to programming,
as defined in the in the UNDAF guidelines. Given the cross-practice and inter-agency nature of this programming approach,
UNDP will continue to play an active role in global initiatives such as the United Nations-wide Action 2 Initiative. 59. Achieving
the MDGs will depend in large part on the engagement of citizens and civil society organizations in the design and implementation
of national and local development policies and programmes. Expanding opportunities for people’s participation in their own
development contributes to the ‘shared sense of responsibility’ referred to in the Millennium Declaration. As part of its
efforts to support the strengthening of national capacities for achieving the MDGs, UNDP will, in partnership with governments,
facilitate ongoing processes of civic engagement in the public development dialogue on policies and programmes to reduce poverty
and achieve the MDGs, and in the implementation response it entails. An important expression of this lies in the contribution
by millions of national and international volunteers to the global and local development agenda, with UNV in a key position
to support the broader United Nations effort at the country level in bringing this resource to bear.
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