Wednesday 20 June 2007

Capacity Development is now a top priority of the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands.

That is the message from RAMSI Development Coordinator Blair Exell on the eve of his departure from Solomon Islands.

“Since the rule of law has been restored, Capacity Development has become the focus of our work so that Solomon Islanders can lead the recovery and development of their own country.”

He said RAMSI and the Solomon Islands Government have worked hard to develop Capacity Development priorities for the Solomon Islands and agree on targets to work towards together.

“The Solomon Islands Government-RAMSI Capacity Building Working Group provides a high-level oversight of and review of RAMSI’s counterpart arrangements and capacity building activities. This includes deciding when the government requires a RAMSI adviser and selecting the right person for the job.”

Mr Henry Khaisum, from Papua New Guinea, is RAMSI’s Capacity Building Coordinator in the Law and Justice Program.

“Capacity building takes time, but already I can see changes. People are showing initiative, planning and there is better communication”, Mr Khaisum said.

He said being a better adviser was about building strong relationships with the Solomon Islanders they are working with.

“This means listening and learning from each other to find out the best way to get the job done in a Solomon Islands context”, he said.

Dalcy Tozaka, a Project Officer in the Ministry of Finance, has worked with a number of RAMSI advisers. She says it is important to not become dependent on advisers - which undermines the Capacity Development process.

“The important thing is to tap into the knowledge of advisers and combine that ours. We need to build a strong relationship that continues even after the adviser has gone. That’s important for a small country like the Solomon Islands”, she said.
 
Mr Exell said Capacity Development is many things - training, advice, mentoring and building relationships – but is not just about the individual.

“People need strong government institutions to do their work effectively, which is why RAMSI is working closely with government to develop capacity at every level - from the person to the institution”, Mr Exell said.

He said a number of Capacity Development activities are now in place:

• A revitalised Institute of Public Administration and Management has delivered 31 courses to 963 officers, including the first provincial training in many years
• 36 people have attended capacity development work shops for RAMSI advisers and their government counterparts
• Successful training in the Solomon Islands Prison Service has reduced the need for advisers from 50 to 40. Two RAMSI Superintendents roles will be taken up by their Solomon Islander counterparts by mid-2008 
• Four SIPF officers have been appointed to senior positions within the force
• New Solomon Island graduates have been employed with the support of RAMSI and are being mentored to undertake professional roles.
• RAMSI's Performance Assessment Advisory Team has recruited a Capacity Development Expert to assist RAMSI to constantly review and improve the way Capacity Development is done. 
 
Mr Exell said Capacity Development is a two-way process, involving work not only by RAMSI, but by the Solomon Islands Government.

“The commitment required from the Solomon Islands Government is to make sure appropriate and qualified personnel are available to work with RAMSI advisers”, Mr Exell said.

“RAMSI advisers need government counterparts to train. If there are no government staff to undertake important roles – Capacity Development stops”, he said.

Mr Exell said RAMSI had produced a report detailing the Capacity Development achieved through the Solomon Islands Government–RAMSI partnership.
“The important thing we have discovered in the whole Capacity Development process is that the qualities of an ‘ideal’ adviser are the same as an ideal counterpart: committed, want to learn and want to develop capacity of themselves and their organisation”, he said.