Managing for Development Results at ADB

Country Capacity for Results Management

A Guide for Conducting a Rapid Assessment of the Capacity of Developing Member Countries to Manage for Results

Background
This rapid assessment guide offers a method for evaluating a country's results management capacity. It is based on five building blocks of results management. By posing questions on each building block, the guide creates an overall picture of the country's capacity to manage for development results.

The outcome of this rapid assessment can serve as a basis for the design and implementation of capacity building initiatives for the country.

The Target Users
This guide was designed primarily for use by ADB staff, consultants, and governments in carrying out a rapid assessment of results management capacity in ADB's developing member countries.

The Tool
The building blocks are: (1) commitment, norms, and values for results management; (2) clarity of expected results; (3) making results happen by linking objectives and planning; (4) determining contributions to results through monitoring and evaluation; and (5) making results matter by providing feedback to decision-making.

1. Commitment, norms, and values for results management
   The key components of this building block are policy leadership, accountability, openness and participation, and receptivity to reform. These make up the enabling environment for results management.

2. Clarity of expected results
   The starting point for results management is clear development objectives. With clear-cut targets, it would be easier to measure what is achieved and what gets measured has greater chances of being improved.

3. Making results happen by linking objectives and planning
   Ideally, national development goals and targets inform and guide the plans and budgets from central planning down to departments, ministries, and agencies.

4. Monitoring and evaluation
   Monitoring and evaluation allows managers and planners to assess their accomplishments and based on such assessment, make necessary adjustments to the plans. It gives public officials information on what works and what does not which they can use to improve performance.

5. Providing feedback to decision-making
   What matters most is that results information is used in decision-making. When progress against original objectives has been determined and fed back to planning and managing, a full cycle of results management has been completed.

See:

• The complete Rapid Assessment Guide
• Introduction to Results Management
• Sample assessment for Indonesia