Ensuring the alignment of donor support to the priorities outlined in the Roadmap

Interestingly enough, the multi-stakeholder approach adopted throughout the dialogue would allow both the donors and the stakeholders themselves to assess their actual capacities as a whole and according to the policy objectives contained in the Roadmap for Reform, instead of as isolated entities, which is, unfortunately, the way in which many institution-building programs are still being devised. In doing so, both governments and donors will be in a better position to avoid the capability traps resulting from what Andrews, Pritchet and Woolcock have called “isomorphic mimicry: the tendency of governments to mimic other governments’ successes, replicating processes, systems, and even products of the “best practice” examples” (see Library).

As a result, the Roadmap for Reform can contribute directly to the alignment of international assistance with the broader reform agenda developed by the key domestic stakeholders. This will, in turn, enhance local ownership over the definition of reform priorities while improving the coordination between democracy support activities and technical assistance. Which in the end should result in better-designed programs that take as their starting point the reality in the country and policy area to be supported instead of ideal models that seldom fit into the existing practices and tend to neglect the full potential and capacities of domestic actors.