Improving Economies for Stronger Communities (IESC)
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Capacity Building and Change Management II
Summary
This program strengthened the Afghan Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock at the national, provincial, and local level to provide better services to Afghanistan’s farmers and herders and to support the growth of the country’s agriculture sector. Following on the success of the first capacity building program, this program extended activities to the local level, providing technical services to ministry headquarters, 20 provinces, and 50 local agriculture offices.
Program details
- Funder: USDA through the Volunteers for Economic Growth Alliance
- Duration: 2014 to 2017
- Award: $19.9 million
Approach
The program facilitated institutional change from the inside out and guided by development methodology of “by Afghans, for Afghans.” The program leveraged highly skilled, well-educated Afghans to serve as change management specialists, who were embedded throughout the ministry and matched with civil servants to provide on-the-job training and mentoring.
Staff training
The program trained civil servants to manage people and systems and effectively and efficiently, and to oversee a large operating and development budget.
Institutional strengthening
The program upgraded systems, processes, equipment, infrastructure, connectivity, and communications.
Support for extension services
The program strengthened the ministry’s capacity to prioritize, plan, budget, and secure resources to support extension services delivered at the provincial and local level to farmers and herders.
Results
- 1,700 civil servants received on-the-job training and mentoring
- 160% increase in the ministry’s budget spending and management ability
- $122 million in funded agricultural development projects, after proposal training from the program