Rapid Results Approach

Rapid Results Approach has been implemented in various African countries and beyond with very impressive outcomes.  These include countries in South America such as Nicaragua, Yemen in the Middle East, in Africa it has been implemented in Eritrea, Sierra Leone, Rwanda, Burundi, Ghana, Madagascar, Kenya, Tanzania and South Sudan just to mention a few to promote institutional reform and capacity building in the public and private sectors.  

Rapid Results Approach essentially shifts focus away from the traditional areas where most people have been looking for answers to vexing development problems: more money, more analytic work, more workshops, more training to government officials- popularly called capacity building, more participatory planning, and more high priced evaluations among other things to determine which donor solution or government policy intervention is the most effective. Whereas all these activities have their place in the development puzzle, Rapid Results Approach recognises that the fundamental engine of change is human motivation and confidence, and the courage to take a first step, to move into collective action boldly and with an intention and a commitment to achieve what could have hitherto been seen as impossible result.

It further recognises the critical role of leadership who once discover how to tap into this engine of change, huge capacities for achievement are unleashed. Consequently in most instances once Rapid Results Approach has been launched, most of the implementation hurdles previously experienced are effectively tackled and the pieces of the implementation puzzle line up and begin to fit together in new and more effective ways, this leads to the efficient and effective attainment of development results.

In this e-discussion series on the Implementation of Rapid Results Approach, the primary objective is to learn from different contexts, situations and environments how Rapid Results has been used in overcoming development obstacles and achieving results. This first discussion in the series will focus on different country and sectorial contexts of Rapid Results Approach implementation. Contributors are therefore invited to share their experiences and insights in the application of this tool in improving implementation of programs to achieve development results.  It is expected to that as the discussion progresses from the broad aspects to specific elements of rapid results approach, lessons learned will be used in improving future implementation.

You are therefore invited to share your experiences on Rapid Results Approach – Portfolios across countries and contexts:  In answering the questions what is Rapid Results Approach? how does it work and what are its benefits, we are requesting participants to share their knowledge and experiences on the Rapid Results Approach focusing on the following aspects:

 (a) The country and the context leading to implementation of RRA;

 (b) Why Rapid Results Approach was chosen;

 (c) The results achieved;

 (d) Challenges and Lessons learned.

All contributions will be summarized and compiled, at the end each segment and shared across the community network.  We look forward to a rich and dynamic discussion as you share your knowledge and experiences.

Sylvester.