One common factor, which is essential for the success of CPED, is the importance of capacity building and sustainability of key institutions involved in program implementation. Experiences over the years in Africa and in Nigeria in particular have shown that one of the major problems that have militated against the successful implementation of development programs has been poor institutional and capacity base of implementing agencies. This problem which has hitherto been characteristic of the public sector and which has led to the reliance of many international aid agencies to channel their assistance through non-governmental organisations is also becoming a problem in civil society sector. This is due to the fact that capacity building in most African countries has focused largely on the public sector. Little or no attention has been given to strengthening and empowering non-state actors, especially at the local level. Moreover, most donor assistance tends to focus on physical results, such as health improvement; credit availability etc. while less attention is paid to capacity building of key civil society organisations. In some cases the NGOs have disappeared with the founding leadership of the organisations. It is against this background that CPED believes that the process of strengthening partner organizations including community based organisations must be a key mechanism for the achievement of its mandate. This includes the strengthening of CPED to be able to fulfill its mandate. The capacity building of CPED and its partners will entail the following:
- Improve the equipment and facilities in CPED offices;
- Improve the governance and management structure of CPED;
- Put in place clear systems for managing and appointing staff performance and dealing with promotion, progression and remuneration;
- Revamp CPED’s website with the aim of making it a key instrument in communications and outreach activities;
- Recruit Senior research staff to enhance the research capacity of CPED;
- Recruit senior programme staff for intervention and communications activities;
- Continue to implement the training plan for CPED staff so as to enhance their effectiveness;
- Establish CPED branch offices in specific parts of the country;
The capacity building of partners will entail the following:
- Identify and build the capacity of local partners in intervention project areas in different parts of the country;
- Support for the founding/establishment of new community-based groups where the existing ones are not effective;
- Continue to build network links with the empowered local partners and other stakeholders;
- Build a contact base that allows CPED to manage its relationships with local partners efficiently and effectively;
- Source for funds from key donors for the core activities of CPED;
- Deliver on our existing commitments and take steps to persuade our existing funders to continue their support;
- Continue to seek and take on commissioned work where it fits with our broader research, communications and intervention agenda; and
- Work with a consultant to create a strategy for delivering additional external capacity building support.