Pacific Choice Revamping the Cook Islands Public Sector

Abstract

A 2001 report by AusAID and the New Zealand Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Trade marked the beginning of efforts by both Governments to increase their emphasis on aid harmonization in the Pacific. This was followed by a decision to pilot a cofunded program in Cook Islands which is the subject of this case study. The case is presented through the eyes of Garth Henderson, the senior Cook Islands official responsible for aid management. It describes how the Cook Islands government, through the aid harmonization process, and under Henderson’s leadership, enhanced its capacity for aid management while strengthening national ownership and forging a shared sense of direction by all stakeholders. This sub-series is published by the Asian Development Bank to provide the governments of its Pacific developing member countries (PDMCs) with analyses and insights on key issues and lessons learned with respect to capacity development. Cases studied highlight a range of experiences throughout the region by sector, theme and source of external support, revealing approaches to capacity development that work best and the conditions that have been conducive to their success. They also explore the unique challenges faced by PDMCs in addressing capacity constraints as well as some of the opportunities facing governments and the people in the Pacific islands. Among other things, the case studies underline the importance of PDMC leadership, engagement of local partners, strategic attention to long-term capacity issues and effective use of external resources. It is our hope that the findings in these reports will help to guide future capacity building efforts in the Pacific.