Enhancing Capacity to Implement Partnerships

Understanding the operating context of municipal partnerships

Develop understanding of the operating context of the municipality and its impacts on PPPs

• political context and political will for partnerships

• economic context

• legislative framework

• policy context and leaders

• administrative context

Develop understanding of the regulatory environment for PPPs

• who is the regulator?

• what is being regulated (price, entry, quality)?

• who is being regulated?

• how is it regulated?

Enhancing human resources

Develop appropriate skills for developing, implementing and sustaining PPPs, e.g.

• capacity to analyse needs

• capacity to develop a strategic response

• capacity to implement agreed strategy

• capacity to maintain effective partnerships

• capacity to engage with stakeholders

• ability to act as an effective partner

• ability to understand capacity deficiencies

Develop and implement a skills development strategy

• identify key skill gaps

• identify how to fill these gaps internally or without external technical support

• carry out programme of skills development

• ensure ongoing capacity of decision-makers

• develop mechanisms to ensure skills are sustained

Supporting

organisational

development

Develop an organisational development strategy to respond to partnership strategies

• identify key organisational factors constraining effective partnering

• identify mechanisms for change

Address management capacities

• lead participatory process

• champion process, create environment for change, remove bureaucratic inertia

• ensure depth of skills and partnership awareness

• determine strategy and mechanisms for implementation

• establish the municipality as a credible partner

Address procedural constraints

• strategic planning

• partnership development

• partnership implementation including procurement, contracting etc.

Address impacts of and on municipal structures

• effective internal coordination

• impacts of downsizing engineering departments

• separation of water and sanitation

• location of solid waste function, revenue functions, low-income settlement upgrading initiatives

• capacity to facilitate multi-sectoral responses

Address financial capacities to ensure strong financial base and reliable partner

• general municipal finances

• management, improved revenue base)

• finances for services

• cost benefit analyses, monitoring and benchmarking

Address municipal attitudes

• identify key attitudinal blockages

• recognise differences between viewpoints and impacts

• identify motivation for change

• address and alleviate issues where possible through direct action

• establish open information policy

• invest in capacity building