Evaluation of Dutch support to capacity development

On 4 August 2011 the Policy and Operational Evaluations Department (IOB) of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs published a ‘Synthesis report of the evaluation of Dutch support to capacity development’. The purpose of the evaluation was to respond to the demand of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dutch NGOs and their partners in developing countries,for knowledge and insights that may contribute to capacity development policy.

Its primary focus was therefore on learning. For this reason, the evaluation draws no conclusions about the overall effectiveness of the programmes, but presents pertinent findings and draws lessons which may be used to improve the effectiveness of future interventions in support of capacity development processes.

The report presents the synthesis of the findings of seven single evaluations conducted under the umbrella of a general terms of reference document. The seven evaluations cover 26 case studies.

The report gives a good overview of the evolution that has taken place in the theory and practice of capacity development of Southern partners. It concludes that demonstrable results have been achieved, but that some steps must be made in order to be able to speak of effective capacity development.

The report also states that capacity development is a very complex process in which the influence of the external context, the quality of the internal organisation and a systematic learning process play an important role. In order to make aid to capacity development more effective, all available experience needs to be analysed and shared with a wide audience. In this light, the evaluation should not so much be seen as the final destination but as a beginning of a quest.