
Improving International Capacity Development
Bright Spots
J. Armstrong(Author)
Palgrave Macmillan (Publisher)
Published on 7. May 2013
Book
Hardback
XIV, 249 pages
978-1-137-31010-1 (ISBN)
Description
Nothing is more important to a new, fragile or developing nation than developing the capacity of its government to support national well-being. Every society is complex; every government is complex. Yet, well-intentioned international development aid, born in an era of infrastructure projects, continues to apply simplistic technical solutions to these wickedly complex development problems. It's an outside-in approach that rarely succeeds, even by the development industry's own admission. But out there, amongst the billions of dollars of failed interventions, there are bright spots of success places where capacity is harnessed, not just for today, but for tomorrow, too. What is working so well? Drawing on research, practical experience, and stories of success, Jim Armstrong explores these emerging approaches.
Reviews / Votes
'This book is a well-documented, fascinating and insightful analysis of how to apply principles of change to the business of government and the public sector. For those in government making a contribution to society, it illuminates a way forward in creating impact for citizens served. It is a must read for all students and practitioners implementing OD in the public sector.' - Lennox Joseph, American University, USA 'Whether you work in Government, an NGO, the private sector, or a donor agency, this book is important because it focuses on a critical gap in implementing governance improvement programs. Armstrong focuses attention on the importance of national ownership of the development agenda and provides some concrete alternatives and examples of where this has made a difference.' - Fred Carden, IDRC Evaluation, Canada 'This is an extremely timely book. The author recognises an emerging consensus that for a developing country to raise itself out of poverty - and to stay that way - it needs a capable government that is responsive to the needs of the population. With a clear and well-targeted focus on government capacity development, the author observes that 'Building effective and accountable public institutions is arguably the core challenge for sustainable poverty reduction." - Peter Taylor, Think Tank Initiative, Canada 'In this outstanding book, Jim Armstrong brings a much-needed set of theoretical and practical insights to the field of Government Capacity Development. This is an important book which should be widely read not only by governments and their advisors but also business people who wish to help enhance the future of their nations.' - Karl Moore, McGill University, CanadaMore details
Edition
2013 edition
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
sewn/stitched
Cloth over boards
Illustrations
XIV, 249 p.
Dimensions
Height: 218 mm
Width: 145 mm
Thickness: 23 mm
Weight
499 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-137-31010-1 (9781137310101)
DOI
10.1057/9781137310118
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
05/2013
1st Edition
Palgrave Macmillan
€53.49
Available for download

Book
01/2013
Palgrave Macmillan
€53.49
Shipment within 15-20 days
Person
Jim Armstrong is President of The Governance NetworkT, Canada, and has been involved with major change projects with national leaders around the globe. He has a PhD in Applied Management form the University of Birmingham, UK, a Masters from the University of Guelph, Canada, and a Masters from the University of Oxford, UK.
Content
Foreword; Karl Moore 1. One Size Fits All 2. Wicked Problems 3. Positivism and Constructivism 4. The Central Case Study 5. Non-linear Process 6. Co-diagnosing 7. Co-learning 8. Evaluation As Co-learning 9. Co-designing 10. Co-acting 11. Trinidad and Tobago Example Conclusion: The Way Ahead