Paper short abstract:

World Bank and other donor agencies support capacity development projects to sustain development goals. Study of assemblies in Ghana shows positive impact. It is recommended that these initiatives be implemented through semi-autonomous bodies to facilitate endogenous process. A model is proposed.

Paper long abstract:

Donor agencies have being supporting developing economies in capacity development through implementation of donor-funded projects to sustain development goals. Considering the literature, little is known regarding how these projects bring about the needed change. The European Centre for Development Policy Management's (ECDPM) core capabilities model (5C) has been employed to examine a World Bank project in Ghana engaging 46 Municipal and Metropolitan Assemblies (MMAs). The study revealed that capacity change is experienced on three levels (individual, organisational and societal); the World Bank's capacity development project has had positive impact on a number of assemblies, and some were also complying with Donor's requirements rather than capabilities enhancing performance. This study recommends that in order to ensure sustainability of the benefits of the development projects/programmes, capacity development project should be implemented through semi-autonomous bodies that can facilitate endogenous process. Finally, a realistic alternative model for the analysis of the sustainability of the capacity development, based on the data generated is offered and relevant conclusions are reached.