EUROPEAN PROFILES S.A

Print PDF

TITLE OF PROJECT

Technical Assistance to the Programme 'Strengthening the Capacity for Community Development in the Ministry of Local Government and Councils

Country:

Botswana

Project Period:

04/2008-03/2012

Project Value:

€ 1.470.000

No of Staff Provided:

2Key Experts

8 Short Term Experts

Origin of Funding:

9th EDF

Name of Client/ Beneficiary:

Ministry of Local Government

Description of Project:

Within the MLG (Ministry of Local Government) and at the Council level, community development has been associated with the promotion of small-scale community projects aimed at social/economic upliftment. There is concern, however, that the performance of this sector is falling short of expectations and the need has been recognised to review current approaches to the delivery of community development services as a tool to strengthen the fight against poverty.


The overall objective is to reduce poverty and improve the livelihoods of the poor and disadvantaged sections of the population, including youth and women. The purpose is to strengthen the capacity of the Ministry of Local Government/Councils to address community development as a key performance area by offering a framework for implementing a change process. This framework will link together aspects of dialogue and networking, policy and strategy formulation, programme development and Human Resources Development (HRD).


Four results will contribute to the achievement of the project purpose.


  • Result 1 - Policy Strategy Formulation will assist in creating the overall policy and strategic framework pertaining to community development, from the national to the district level. It will contribute to the creation of a policy vision, by clarifying the issues and the interrelation between various strategies, implemented by various stakeholders, the purpose and components of the Community Development (CD) system. Additionally it will undertake the consolidation of the diverse CD measures that are currently implemented in Botswana, as well as developing new priorities for action, in the form of national and district operational plans;
  • Result 2:- Programme Development will assist MLG in translating the overall policy and operational documents developed in the previous component into concrete CD programmes in the national and district level; it will include the pilot roll-out of the programmes and support to their implementation. Lessons learned will be used in order to improve the design of the system, prior to the country-wide roll-out of the programmes;
  • Result 3 - Human Resource Development (HRD): is the main capacity building Component of the Project, in which the Consultant will strive to increase the professional and technical skills of the personnel involved in CD design, implementation and evaluation. Additionally the Project will elaborate an overall staffing plan of the MLG, and will upgrade and develop relevant curricula and a manual that will assist in the work of training and effective implementation of community development measures;
  • Result 4 - Aspects of Dialogue Networking will include horizontal measures that will consolidate the close collaboration of community development practitioners in the country and create a common culture of CD. The Component includes activities relevant to the involvement of NGOs, the upgrade of the VETs/DETs and the boosting of synergies with other Projects and agencies.

Services Provided:

The main services of the project include:

  • Policy and Strategy Reform;
  • Programme Development;
  • Aspects of Dialogue Networking;
  • Strengthening of Civil Society Organisations
  • Human Resources Development
  • Capacity building in the area of Community Development to increase the professional and technical skills of the personnel involved.
  • Training and organisation of study visits
  • Development of capacity building for the upgrade and development of relevant curricula and a manual to assist in training and effective implementation of community development measures;
  • Promotion of information and public awareness raising
  • Create common cultures for Community Development and employ monitoring systems for reviewing and evaluating them on a continual basis.

Name of Partners:

AEET (Botswana)