Embracing Technical Cooperation Reform in ACP Countries

The European Commission's reform of technical cooperation, has become an integral part of the EC's work, according to Gary Quince, EuropeAid's Director for African, Caribbean and Pacific Countries.

It was only a couple of years ago that Mr Quince, like many Commission staff, first began hearing about ‘The Backbone’ – the shorthand for the Commission’s policy document to reform the way it delivers technical cooperation.

But in that short time, the ideas that The Backbone represents have become a central part of the Commission’s operations in the African Caribbean and Pacific region.

“I’m very encouraged that not only the delegations, but headquarters staff, have really taken [The Backbone] on board,” said Mr Quince. 

The Backbone Strategy was published in 2008. But the European Commission has a more than 35-year long history with the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries. That relationship has been characterised by strong programming emphasis, strong dialogue with its partners and a decentralised management of the aid, said Mr Quince.

In the past, the European Commission has often been too willing to fulfil the partner’s duties in this relationship. However, The Backbone Strategy provided a welcome opportunity for a rethink.

"I think we've got into a habit of providing technical assistance almost as a matter of course - very often to substitute for partners, to do the job for them without thinking enough, without being self-critical enough, about what we do. And that’s where I’ve appreciated very much The Backbone Strategy.”

While Mr Quince believes that the reform of technical cooperation is a mission possible, it is also a long-term process of change.

“Is the Backbone Strategy mission possible? For sure it is,” said Mr Quince. “But it takes time. It’s not something you can change from one day to the next. It’s a very long-term process.”

In the future, Mr Quince would like to see greater clarity on the purpose of technical assistance, with the partner taking greater responsibility in the planning process.

"All the technical assistance we provide should be provided through the partner and for the benefit of the partner,” said Mr Quince. “I also would like to see more [technical assistance] for capacity building and less and less for doing the job."

Statistics provided by delegations in the ACP countries show that 50% of the technical assistance provided by the European Commission is allocated to supporting capacity building while 35% is actually managing projects.