New AfCoP Strategy

In January 2010, the AfCoP’s Core Management Team members acknowledged that the objectives of the first three-year plan have been achieved and have agreed on a new strategic direction for the community (concept note available here. The Community is now moving into a new phase and looking to accomplish even greater results at the country level.

Since 2007, the AfCoP has blossomed into a community of more than 1,000 results practitioners. Members are working to build support across Africa, share MfDR knowledge and good practices, and enhance individual capacities to manage for development results. There is consensus that building individual capacity in results management is an important first step. However, for countries to experience real change, the AfCoP needs to focus on building institutional capacity and advancing MfDR at the national level through formal engagement with public sector institutions.

AfCoP members identified the establishment of National Chapters as a priority for the AfCoP during the 2008 annual meeting. National Chapters are communities of practice developed at the country level focusing on building national capacity to manage for results and advocating for a shift toward more results-oriented national processes. Since 2008, the AfCoP has seen tremendous demand from members for a shift toward National Chapters. Some, (such as those in Senegal and Niger), are already established and have more than 100 members. The African Development Bank also plans to support National Chapters in Kenya, Mali, Mozambique, Ghana and Rwanda.

The AfCoP’s second phase proposal is centered on the idea that the community will continue to play a critical role at the regional level and serve as an umbrella organization for its National Chapters. Beyond this, the AfCoP will ensure that knowledge and information is continuously shared in both directions between the regional community and the national groups. It is proposed that in 2010-2011, the AfCoP Secretariat (pending funding) will support the roll out of 10 new National Chapters. These will be created in countries that currently have a strong membership base and proven capacity to effectively establish a Chapter.

More resources will be needed for that purpose. The AfCoP Trust Fund currently has enough resources to finance the Community’s activities and the 2010 Annual Meeting but not to continue activities beyond June 2010. Additional funding must be secured in order to develop the Second Phase of the AfCoP. The proposal will be further developed by the Core Management Team and the Secretariat in the coming months and is the key agenda item for the 2010 AfCoP Annual Meeting.