- English
For the last 30 years, a considerable amount of international capacity building support has been provided, by means of technical assistance projects, for developing countries to regularly report national information on climate action and support. However, understanding the roles of those projects is limited, especially their impacts in the medium-and-long term in an explicit manner. This paper develops and demonstrates an evaluation framework that addresses the complex nature of capacity building and the facilitative (not decisive) roles that external projects can play, referred to as catalytic effects. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)’s project in Indonesia for development of national greenhouse gas inventories (GHGIs) is presented as a case study. The paper shows that project’s catalytic effects are largest with respect to the capacity elements and levels where a country’s own efforts have been significant. While a recipient country’s ownership is essential, donors can play a part for facilitating the country’s own efforts, if they are heading in the same direction. Careful consultations between recipient countries and donors are necessary to determine which element and level need to be targeted. The evaluative evidence from past efforts should inform future support for the effective implementation of the Paris Agreement.
- English
