USAID Project Aims to Make Rwanda a Hub for Organizational Performance Improvement Expertise

Today the U.S. government, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), launched an eight-week preparatory course for Certified Performance Technologist (CPT) certification under its Human and Institutional Capacity Building (HICD) project.

The course offers Rwandan consultants and organizations the opportunity to become officially licensed in the field of organizational capacity building through the International Society for Performance Improvement (ISPI).

USAID launched the event at the Umubano Hotel with representatives from the National Capacity Building Secretariat (NCBS), USAID, and local government officials, as well as private sector leaders, and more than 55 high-level Rwandan consultant members of the HICD project’s Community of Practice.

Over the course of 8 weeks, the trainings will introduce participants to the 10 Certified Performance Technologist standards, including a focus on results, taking a systematic view, adding value, and building productive partnerships with clients and stakeholders.

The HICD project pays course fees; when finished, course participants can complete the application. If qualified, they will earn CPT certification.

“The HICD project represents one of USAID’s core priorities, which is to support public institutions to operate in an effective and inclusive fashion, and that civil society is equipped to advocate effectively on behalf of individuals and communities in Rwanda” said Emily Krunic, Democracy and Governance Office Director at USAID/Rwanda.

“This training and certification of local organizations will make sure Rwanda has the skills to strengthen its own organizations into the future.”

Currently, there are very few African professionals certified by ISPI. With three Rwandans already certified through the HICD project, Rwanda is among the continent’s leaders.

This training aims to put several more on the path to certification – ultimately making Rwanda the most highly CPT certified country in Africa.

The project, through these and other trainings, aims to create a ‘Community of Practice’ in the field of organizational capacity building, creating a critical mass of local professionals available and certified to guide organizational development in both the public and private sectors.

Once certified, the participants will join a community of more than 700 experts across the globe in performance improvement, and will be resources not only for Rwanda, but also for the continent.

“We’re very excited to be partnering with NCBS on this activity. The HICD approach to performance improvement is closely aligned with Rwanda’s drive to achieve measurable performance improvements, and NCBS is the right institution to bring the approach to the private and public sector” said John Palmucci, Chief of Party of the HICD project.

The HICD project is a five-year project that aims to build the ability of government institutions and civil society to operate efficiently and in a way that is responsive to citizen needs and desires.

Over its life, the project will work with several public sector institutions, and civil society organizations to identify and address their specific performance gaps, and create evidence-based solutions, as well as host training like the one launched today to build and maintain the skill set of highly qualified Rwandan professionals to carry out this work once the project ends in 2017.

Source:USAID

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