Any effort to develop serious capacity in the public sector to fully manage for results should start with an assessment of existing capacity. Diagnostic reviews are an important – and growing – source of information for governments on the state of MfDR country systems. Together with existing MfDR capacity assessment tools, the CAP-Scan allows countries to conduct an assessment that provides a clear view of capacity gaps, develop actions to address them and targets donor support.

Throughout 2008, we were very pleased to have so many countries express interest in implementing the CAP-Scan. Based on Mauritania's experience, Niger just finished its own CAP-Scan process and Senegal has confirmed its interest in implementing the exercise as soon as possible. Furthermore, during the launch of the CAP-Scan methodology at the Third High Level Forum in Ghana, an additional 11 countries expressed serious interest in the CAP-Scan.

For the coming year, it is the aim of the CAP-Scan Secretariat to develop the CAP-Scan tool further and to effectively respond to country requests to implement the tool by facilitating the process, and contributing to the necessary budget and facilitators. We are hoping that as many countries as possible will be introduced to the methodology and we are willing to assist in the process of making the tool relevant and useful for current and future MfDR planning. While we are still in the piloting phase, the goal is to offer this tool as a completely country-led exercise, with international agencies providing only backup and technical assistance.

The Results Secretariat of the World Bank Group, in partnership with several of our JV colleagues, is currently coordinating the roll-out of this tool. We would be very interested to hear from you regarding whether your country is seriously interested and committed to implementing the CAP-Scan in 2009. Please contact Ingwell Kuil, ikuil@worldbank.org if you would like additional information or if you have any further questions. Otherwise, please visit our CAP-Scan website at www.MfDR.org/Cap-scan/.