Locations
OVERVIEW
The Institutional Capacity Development for Transformative Change – The Excellence Fund is implemented in close collaboration between the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM).
The project’s overall objective is to improve institutional capacities in planning, implementation, and administration for effective, efficient, and gender-responsive governance. It aims to strengthen institutional capacities through targeted technical support and to foster more dynamic and effective relationships among stakeholders within public institutions.
The project responds to demand-driven institutional needs for enhanced capacities in both core functions—such as institutional arrangements, leadership, knowledge, and accountability—and technical and functional areas, including stakeholder engagement, vision and mandate development, strategy formulation, budget management, policy implementation, and evaluation.
An effective system of feedback and learning ensures that project implementation remains results-oriented and responsive to institutional needs.
KEY ACTIVITIES
Advisory and Technical Expert Support:
Advisors work full-time with mid- to senior-level civil servants, providing technical assistance and capacity transfer to support the formulation and implementation of policy and institutional reforms.High-Level Advisory Support:
Advisors engage with political leadership and senior decision-makers to contribute to policy development, improve policy processes, enhance organizational efficiency, and strengthen legislative instruments.
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
The Project Steering Committee is established and fully functional. Its role is to review, prioritize, and approve or reject requests in accordance with the project documents.
A total of 44 experts and specialists have been engaged across central-level institutions.
Of these, 35 specialists support institutional work in key technical areas, while 9 specialists serve in advisory, communications, and coordination roles.
Technical Experts by Area of Expertise
| Area of Expertise | Total Specialists | Roles & Functions |
|---|---|---|
| Digital Solutions & Fiscal Systems | 10 | Developers for Fiscal Systems, Big Data Analyst, Architect |
| Legal & Rule of Law | 8 | Legal Experts, Legislative Affairs Specialist, Child Protection Expert, Domestic Violence & Gender Equality Expert |
| Healthcare & Social Policy | 3 | Healthcare Efficiency Expert, Health Care & Rehabilitation Mapping Expert |
| Innovation & Economic Development | 5 | Innovation Expert, Trade Policy Expert, CEFTA Coordinator, Communications & PR Specialist, Municipal & Demographic Forecasting Expert |
| Countering Disinformation & Strategic Analysis | 1 | Strategic Analyst for Countering Disinformation |
| Technical & Coordination Support | 6 | Technical Coordination Support, Communications & PR Advisor, International Relations Advisor, Strategic Planning Expert, Non-Majority Community Affairs Advisor, KIEPA Communications Advisor, Architect |
Advisory, Communications & Coordination Specialists
| Area of Expertise | Total Specialists | Roles & Functions |
|---|---|---|
| Advisory, Communications & Coordination | 9 | Communications Specialist, Donor Coordination Expert, Dialogue Expert, Strategic Communication Expert |
A LASTING IMPACT
The Excellence Fund has established a flexible, rapid-response mechanism for institutional support and long-term capacity development. By improving transparency, efficiency, and service delivery, the Fund strengthens trust in public institutions and contributes directly to SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions).
Through its approach, the Fund is helping build resilient institutions capable of addressing both current and future development challenges.
