First volume of PDG Experts' Series published

The first volume of the PDG Experts' Series, “Bridging State Capacity Gaps in Situations of Fragility”, has been published by the Advisory Unit. The publication investigates whether using technical assistance in core government functions and services has been conducive to capacity development. Each case study (Afghanistan, Haiti, South Sudan and Timor-Leste) identifies specific bottlenecks and successes and aims to find new ways of thinking about the use of interim personnel for service delivery in core government functions. The publication is available online as a download. To receive a print version of the book, please write pdgcontact@oecd.org.

On 17 March, the PDG, in co-operation with ZIF (Center for International Peace Operations), co-hosted a senior-level policy dialogue on "The Use of Deployable Civilian Capacity for Stabilisation and Reconstruction". OECD Deputy Secretary-General Mario Amano provided opening remarks. For the first time, representatives from the Commonwealth Secretariat and NATO Civil Emergency Planning took part in the dialogue, which included over 40 participants from 16 OECD and non-OECD countries and five international organisations. A summary record of the meeting will be made available on the PDG website in the coming days.

Advisory Unit participates in 3C Conference

The Advisory Unit participated in the 3C Conference on "Improving Results in Fragile and Conflict Situations", held in Geneva 19-20 March. Organised by the Swiss Government in association with the OECD, UN, the World Bank and NATO, the conference featured a senior-level dialogue across different policy communities at the level of national governments and international and regional organisations, to move ahead with the challenges, adaptations and operational requirements of a coherent, co-ordinated and complementary (3C) approach to achieve better results in conflict and fragile situations. The Advisory Unit took an active role in the discussion on Liberia by highlighting the need for increased support for Rule of Law programmes in the country.

PDG plays catalytic role in Timor-Leste

In the context of its objective to establish a Clean and Effective Government, the Government of Timor-Leste called upon the PDG to provide technical support to the Government in its efforts to enhance transparency and accountability at district and community levels. A preliminary assessment conducted by the PDG has confirmed this gap and the need to rethink current technical assistance approaches in line with Government priorities. As a result, the Government of Timor-Leste—working with UNDP and bilateral donors and in consultation with the PDG Advisory Unit—is now in the process of designing Knua Buka Hatene (“places where people can go to find information”) in outlying districts, with a possible piloting phase under Government leadership and UNDP programming in 2010.

Advisory Unit meets with African Development Bank

In their first meeting since the African Development Bank joined the PDG in January 2009, PDG Advisory Unit Head Jerzy POMIANOWSKI and AfDB Vice-President Zeinab B. EL BAKRI met in Tunis to discuss possible synergies and to finalise preparations for the upcoming PDG/AfDB conference on "Contracting Out Core Government Functions and Services in Post Conflict and Fragile Situations", scheduled for 8-9 June 2009 in Tunis, Tunisia. More information on the conference will be made available on a website prepared by AfDB (available from the PDG Website in the coming days).

PDG meets with Guatemalan government and mayors

In response to a formal request for PDG support in the area of municipal development from the Guatemalan government, the Advisory Unit undertook a mission to Guatemala in February in order to assess the merits and feasibility of PDG support and make recommendations, as appropriate, based on past experience and current perspectives of the key stakeholders. The conclusions drawn from this mission have led to a series of next steps, which have been agreed upon by the Government and key donors.

Liberia expresses interest in PDG support for Rule of Law

On 20 March, the Advisory Unit received an official Expression of Interest from the Ministry of Justice of Liberia. The request concerned assistance to its newly established SGBV (Sexual and Gender-Based Violence) Crimes Unit. Consultations between the PDG and the Liberian government have been underway since the Advisory Unit's first scoping mission in September 2008. During its second mission in February 2009, the Advisory Unit participated in the first strategic planning meeting of the Liberian Ministry of Justice, where priorities and options were identified for promoting the rule of law. In light of this Expression of Interest, the PDG is proceeding with the next steps to strengthen the Ministry of Justice. Discussions and analysis are on-going with the government, partners, and experts to determine the best approach to bolstering the government’s ability to deliver in this sector.

PDG support for Georgian government advances

Following the official request for PDG support from the Georgian Ministry of Finance, the Unit has been providing advisory services to design a project on improving donor co-ordination and aid effectiveness in Georgia. An advisory mission took place in late January-early February, and the project design is expected to be finalised in April.

Government of Grenada seeks PDG assistance

On 5 March, the Grenadian Ministry of Finance sent an official Expression of Interest to the Advisory Unit, requesting PDG support to establish the Public Procurement Authority, a central institution foreseen by the 2007 Public Procurement and Contract Administration Act. Consultations have continued with the Grenadian authorities since the Advisory Unit's first fact-finding mission in October 2008. As a first response to the Grenadian request, the PDG will provide support for legislation review.

Advisory Unit deepens exploratory work in Haiti

The Advisory Unit undertook its second mission in Haiti to further explore opportunities for a PDG-supported pilot project. Meetings with government representatives, civil society organizations, bilateral and multilateral donors, and the United Nations served to identify further gaps in the international support to the government’s capacity to deliver core functions and services. The outcomes of the mission have led to further emphasis on the need to for donors to work on possible support in the justice sector and on issues related to donor co-ordination.