Research Achievements

Excellent papers on Asian regional integration, which are prepared mainly by young researchers such as GIARI members, co-researchers, research fellows, and research assistants, will be published as working papers. Contributed papers, written in English or in Japanese, will be reviewed and examined by the editorial committee before publication. GIARI donates published papers to the libraries of Waseda and other related universities, research organizations, etc.

GIARI Working Paper Vol. 2008-E-14,

CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT AND INSTITUTIONAL
CHANGE IN INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
COOPERATION

Shunji MATSUOKA, Ph. D. and Professor
Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies, Waseda University

June, 2008

[1033KB]

GIARI Working Paper Vol. 2008-E-14,
June.30, 2008
Published by Waseda University Global COE Program
Global Institute for Asian Regional Integration (GIARI),
Waseda University, Nishiwaseda Bldg. 5F#507 1-21-1
Nishi-waseda, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 169-0051 Japan
Printed in Japan by International Academic Printing Co.Ltd

The capacity development approach was proposed by UNDP and European donors as a new approach based upon the African aid failure in the1980s and the end of the Cold War instead of conventional aid approach. In this paper, capacity development approach comes into collision with institutional studies in social sciences on purpose to accelerate knowledge evolution. This paper presents a new perspective on the development process and on aid policy. It is named an approach of "capacity development and institutional change". By using this new approach of "capacity development and institutional change", capacity development is able to cover not only technical cooperation but also lending matters. Moreover, the program approach is realized into development strategy and aid policy. The program approach indicates criteria of selectivity and priority of allocation of development resources including aid resources. Program approach concentrates more on the policy making process or on the top down (upstream) approach. Furthermore, this paper shows the importance of field experiences, meaning the advantages of Japanese aid compared to European aid, especially with regards to making the program approach more effective. The micro (field experience) and macro (top down) loop is a critical factor for aid effectiveness.

1. Introduction
2. The Starting Point of Capacity Development
3. What is meant by Capacity?
4. What is meant by Institutions?
5. Social Capacity Assessment (SCA)
6. Designing the Program for Social Capacity Development and Institutional Change
7. Conclusions
Acknowledgements