Page 4 - Discussion paper on Capacity Needs of Government Officials for Integration of Energy and Human Development
P. 4
Policy Brief
INCREMENTAL APPROACH LEVELS THEMES
INDIVIDUAL
Current ORGANIZATIONAL Awareness
situation Technical skills
Existing capacities and EXTERNAL Decision making authority
relevant factors that help Stakeholder engagement
in achievement or non- Monitoring and evaluation
achievement of goals
Governance structure
Capacity Needs Budget
Manpower
Capacity gaps Stakeholder engagement
What additional Organizational tools
capacities will help in
better achievement of Policy framework
the organization’s Collaborations
mandate? Inter-department coordination
Capacity needs assessment framework utilized in this discussion paper policy
Approach Themes of capacity: The themes of capacity were
functional capacities and technical capacities, based
This study has adopted an incremental approach in on the knowledge, skill sets, and applicability of these
identifying the capacity needs of government officials. capacities in formulating and executing policies.
As opposed to a gap assessment exercise, where
high-level capacity targets (expected capacities) are Types of capacity: Different types of capacities were
predetermined, the incremental approach identifies the identified for each level and within each theme. The
existing capacities as an affirmative starting point and utilizes types of capacities help in specific identification of the
this as a way forward. This approach takes a positive outlook capacity needs of organizations, individuals, and the
towards capacity development, defining realistic steps that external environment.
can help the establishment progress in the right direction,
instead of relying on preconceived expectations that may be The study tools utilized for capacity needs assessment
impractical or unachievable.4 include structured and semi-structured interviews, focus
group discussions, and preference matrix ranking. Owing
A three-dimensional capacity needs assessment matrix to the nature of the subject and responses, the study
has been employed. While many of the core issues within was entirely qualitative. Seventy-six senior government
each dimension are cross-cutting, the strategies and officials were interviewed and many more attended state
solutions required to address the capacity needs in each workshops conducted for the capacity needs assessment
dimension may vary. exercise.
Levels of capacity: Three levels of capacity were
Individual Capacity Needs
identified. They were: (a) individual capacities;
(b) organizational capacities; and (c) external The themes selected by stakeholders for assessing
capacities individual capacity needs were awareness, technical skills,
decision making authority, stakeholder engagement and
4 Available at http://www.lencd.org/learning/howto-assessneeds, last monitoring and evaluation. Awareness pertains to the
accessed on 28 June 2015. level of awareness on the linkages between energy and
4 APRIL 2015
INCREMENTAL APPROACH LEVELS THEMES
INDIVIDUAL
Current ORGANIZATIONAL Awareness
situation Technical skills
Existing capacities and EXTERNAL Decision making authority
relevant factors that help Stakeholder engagement
in achievement or non- Monitoring and evaluation
achievement of goals
Governance structure
Capacity Needs Budget
Manpower
Capacity gaps Stakeholder engagement
What additional Organizational tools
capacities will help in
better achievement of Policy framework
the organization’s Collaborations
mandate? Inter-department coordination
Capacity needs assessment framework utilized in this discussion paper policy
Approach Themes of capacity: The themes of capacity were
functional capacities and technical capacities, based
This study has adopted an incremental approach in on the knowledge, skill sets, and applicability of these
identifying the capacity needs of government officials. capacities in formulating and executing policies.
As opposed to a gap assessment exercise, where
high-level capacity targets (expected capacities) are Types of capacity: Different types of capacities were
predetermined, the incremental approach identifies the identified for each level and within each theme. The
existing capacities as an affirmative starting point and utilizes types of capacities help in specific identification of the
this as a way forward. This approach takes a positive outlook capacity needs of organizations, individuals, and the
towards capacity development, defining realistic steps that external environment.
can help the establishment progress in the right direction,
instead of relying on preconceived expectations that may be The study tools utilized for capacity needs assessment
impractical or unachievable.4 include structured and semi-structured interviews, focus
group discussions, and preference matrix ranking. Owing
A three-dimensional capacity needs assessment matrix to the nature of the subject and responses, the study
has been employed. While many of the core issues within was entirely qualitative. Seventy-six senior government
each dimension are cross-cutting, the strategies and officials were interviewed and many more attended state
solutions required to address the capacity needs in each workshops conducted for the capacity needs assessment
dimension may vary. exercise.
Levels of capacity: Three levels of capacity were
Individual Capacity Needs
identified. They were: (a) individual capacities;
(b) organizational capacities; and (c) external The themes selected by stakeholders for assessing
capacities individual capacity needs were awareness, technical skills,
decision making authority, stakeholder engagement and
4 Available at http://www.lencd.org/learning/howto-assessneeds, last monitoring and evaluation. Awareness pertains to the
accessed on 28 June 2015. level of awareness on the linkages between energy and
4 APRIL 2015
