Presented by Patrick Kalas during FAO, GLF and IUFRO's session, Enhancing Restoration Capacities in Africa's Drylands: A Decade for Action, at GLF Africa 2021. The session centred on the results of the African capacity needs assessment undertaken by the FAO-led Taskforce on Best Practices in preparation for the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030.

1. Global Landscape Forum (GLF) Africa 2021
Enhancing Restoration Capacities in African Drylands: A decade
for action
https://events.globallandscapesforum.org/agenda/africa-2021/03-june-2021/enhancing-restoration-
capacities-in-african-drylands-a-decade-for-action/
Thursday, 3. June 2021 11:15-12:45 CET

2. What is system-wide Capacity Development?
= effective and sustainable Development practice
“Development is like a plant / tree - it can be nurtured in its growth only
by feeding its roots not by pulling up on its branches” I. Serageldin
Country-Driven
Country Ownership
Joint-Commitment
Mutual
Accountability
Paradigm Shift for
Transformational
Sustainable
Results
at Scale
Paris Declaration and Accra
Agenda for Action Website

3. System-Wide Restoration Capacities
Individual dimension areas:
Awareness / Understanding,
Knowledge/ Skills / Attitudes
> Internalization of “Decade/Restoration”
with “Glocalization” (what it means to “me”)
> Enabling / Empowering people to “restore”
Organizational / Network / Multi-
Stakeholder dimension areas: functioning
and performance of formal and informal
organizations, networks (i.e. “social
fabric”):
Coordination mechanisms (horizontal
and vertical) / Networks / Mandates
/ Multi-Sectoral and Stakeholder
Dialogue processes / Collective Action
Enabling / Governance environment areas: context
in which individuals, organizations, networks exist:
Governance (formal and informal)/ implicit
and explicit rules / laws and policies /
incentives and investments / institutional
political economy
> Harmonized “Restoration” relevant policies and
investments (agriculture, environment, trade etc.)
> Polycentric (incl. “Landscape”) Governance
> Restoration networks and movements
> Multi-sectoral, Multi-Stakeholders
coordination, planning, decision-making
spaces and processes
> Rights-based spatial planning (tenure)

4. Key Take-Away Messages
• Lasting, ambitious and large–scale transformation needs “systemic” capacitation of
#generationrestoration grounded in empowerment, country-ownership and commitment
• We need “business-as-unusual” capacity development beyond skills, knowledge and
competency development only with more focus on strengthening organizations, institutions,
networks, collective action mechanisms, multi-stakeholder processes and policies to achieve
restoration at scale
• Systemic “CapDev” process is the glue to link global, regional, national and sub-national levels
and achieve lasting ecosystem restoration where it matters most
Website
Website
Systemic CapDev
Action at Scale in
Progress in GEF-7
Impact Programs

5. Thank you for your attention, contributions and commitment……..
“Process matters just as much as product” (CapDev = process + product)
Patrick P. Kalas
Natural Resources Officer (Capacity, Institutional Development & Governance)
Office of Climate, Biodiversity and Environment (OCB) Website
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
E-Mail: patrick.kalas@fao.org
With valuable support from:
Cora Van Oosten and Bas van der Schalie, Centre for Development Innovation,
Wageningen University www.wageningenur.nl/cdi