Local Government Capacity in Cao Bang Province

1. Local Government Capacity in Cao Bang Province Enhance the Local Government Capacity at Commune Level in Cao Bang Province(ELGC) – Pilot Phase 2004-2005

2. Problems with the commune Government • Ineffective information exchange on new policies • Inefficient use of resources • Lack of institutional coordination The situation in the communes

3. Problems with commune cadres The situation in the communes • Basic education level • Commune cadres are often retired cadres • Current retraining programs need to be improved

4. Recommendationsby Needs Assessment team • Support the DoHA & the concerned agencies to deliver effective training to local governments • Support the commune cadres to better meet the local needs • Facilitate citizens’ participation in local government Strategies

5. Intervention strategies for the project • Refresh local training institutions (PPS, DoHA, DPC, OoLIDA) with LCTM, TNA, training curriculum development, training packages) • Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) on GRD Strategies

6. For Who ? Beneficiaries • Citizens will get better public services delivery • Communal cadreswill have in-service training and improved communications

7. Project Objectives • Strengthen local government capacity at commune level • Human Resource and Institutional Development for local cadres through support to the concerned agencies.

8. Expected Results & achievements (1) • “Job description” for local cadres (DoHA done) • Training and training management skills for local competent institutions (consultants done) • 10 job description for local cadres are printed. • A series of training on LCTM, TNA, facilitation skills, training planning skills, and learning by doing training curriculum development process helped improve most significantly PPS and DoHA.

9. Expected Results & achievements (2) 3. Training packages adapted to local reality (PPS done) • 11 training curriculum were developed for commune cadres and village heads in the field of state management, finance, legislation, land administration, administration and GRD: short skill based courses ranging from 3 – 7 days applying LCTM

10. Expected Results & achievements (3) • Set of tools on GRD elaborated by DoHA available: questions and answers booklets, Posters, VCD on GRD on ethnic language folklore and theatre; leaflets and posters on implementation guideline, hand-outs on monitoring guidelines. • Awareness on Grassroots Democracy by local cadres and GRD people increased (DoHA done)

11. Expected Results & achievements (4) • 2 study tours to 4 provinces. • Attending workshops on training for commune cadres held by NAPA-SDC project • Jointly organise national workshop with NAPA_SDC project on commune cadres training curriculum promotion. • Closing national workshop in Mar. 2006 5. Lessons learnt and experience sharing (DoHA done)

12. Future concerns • How to multiply these to the whole province. • In action: Learning by doing/practice • Towards job analysis • Institutionalisation of approach/methods/tools it in the local environment. • Replicable products appreciated by commune cadres and people • GRD promotion tools – awareness interventions • Job description • Changed practice in training management and delivery