Institutional capacity development within the national urban policy formation process – Participants’ views

In 2019, Serbia adopted its first national urban policy. This document was established through a communicative process during 2018–2019, formally encouraging urban governance as a practical innovation in Serbia’s planning doctrine. The main aim of this research is to explore institutional capacity development within a live setting of the policy formation process. The participants of this process are the primary subjects of the research. Data was collected through participatory events in four instances during the process. The concept of institutional capacity development is used in this paper as a basic framework to assess knowledge, relational and mobilisation capacity for urban governance. The main contribution of this paper is providing an understanding of the challenges and potentials for establishing urban governance practices in a post-socialist country planning context. Findings indicate an increase in the participants’ knowledge and understanding of governance instruments such that coordination and cooperation are continually unfolding. The identified challenges relate to the mobilisation capacity and fragility of institutions and resistance to change, while a need to deal with complexity and uncertainty remains present.

Institutional Capacity Development Of Rural Tourism In Lombok Kulon Bondowoso

The Indonesian government has tried to develop tourism based on the potential and ability of people to manage tourism activities. This strategy is realized through the development of a tourism village, one of which is the Lombok Kulon Tourism Village in Bondowoso Regency. This study aims to determine the institutional capacity in developing Lombok Kulon Tourism Village. The study was conducted with a descriptive qualitative method. The results of this study indicate that at the organizational level, the POKDARWIS "Lombok Kulon" has shown good capacity in aspects of external partnerships, aspects of tourism potential development, and aspects of promotion of tourism villages. While in the aspects of leadership and coordination, it shows a lack of capacity. While at the individual level, individuals have a good capacity to pioneering the development of tourism potential. However, individuals have a lack of capacity in understanding and applying the village tourism concept.

Institutional Capacity Building and Legal Reform in Iraq: Toward Innovation and Public Administration Modernization

Iraq is often cited as a test case as to whether “nation-building” can work. Since 2003, the U.S. government has been advancing institutional capacity development with Iraq’s national government. Now 10 years later, it is clear that the program, the largest such as U.S. government program since the Vietnam War, has been a success. Tangible durable institutional reforms are now in place to professionalize the civil service, improve electricity production, make public procurement more transparent and efficient, and upgrade budget formulation and execution. The program, known locally as USAID/Tatweer, worked across executive branch agencies, to improve government performance and expand institutional capacity development. Its accomplishments, so far almost entirely unrecognized by the media, will continue to advance democratic change in Iraq for generations to come.