Governance and Public Sector Reform
At Agriteam, we believe that strong local governments are the foundation for the development of healthy, inclusive and sustainable communities. We use an integrated governance sector approach and follow a comprehensive capacity development process. Our approach includes interventions to address and engage the various elements of the governance system, which include:
- local government—including elected officials and public servants and their organizational systems
- community—including individual citizens, civil society organizations, NGOs and the private sector
- governance links—the necessary participatory, equitable, responsive, culturally appropriate, accountable and transparent interactions between government and the community it serves
- the enabling environment—including the legal, regulatory and institutional environment in which local governments function
Capacity development in governance and public sector reform is a process of change. We facilitate and support this change process by ensuring that the individuals, organizations, institutions and systems involved “own” and manage their own capacity development. We use effective methodologies including peer-to-peer learning, learning-by-doing, hands-on coaching and mentoring, demonstration, pilot-testing and replication of new systems and practices.
We draw on the lessons learned from over eight years experience in governance and public sector reform, and consult with Canadian municipal and public sector practitioners for support, frequently arranging learning exchanges between Canadian and partner country governance practitioners.
In the Philippines, our Local Government Support Program assisted over 200 municipal, city and provincial governments to increase capacity and improve performance in the areas of leadership and planning, financial management, service delivery and participatory governance.
In Malawi, our Government Assistance Project assisted several national ministries to identify and address their capacity development needs in order to better implement poverty alleviation programs while integrating gender equality and HIV/AIDS considerations.
Our experience via the Local Governance Support Program in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (LGSPA) has attuned us to the additional challenges facing governments emerging from regimes of violence and unstable peace and order situation and the need to recalibrate approaches to ensure they continue to be effective, relevant and responsive to ground realities. In LGSPA we have supported the strengthening of “peace zones” and helped community-based organizations to be more involved in the peace process.