Aid Modalities ~ Annex 1 | Table 10

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

One-off advisory or technical support which is requested and responded to outside of any larger project design or programmatic involvement in the sector

Aid modality characteristics

General

· Only a modality where this form of assistance falls outside of a larger programme or project logic

· Input defined via a discrete Terms of Reference agreed with the partner

Relationships and governance

· Governance would normally be managed via High Level Discussions which would confirm broad requests or undertakings

· If the TA is not in a priority sector, then discussions beyond the particular TA involvement may be limited

· NZAID should pursue a specific partnership arrangement with the partner concerned, providing for agreement on the nature and scope of the assistance, the undertakings of each partner, and how it will be governed and monitored. This will provide a basis for ensuring that NZAID’s role in contracting delivery is undertaken in accord with expectations of the partner.

Design and accountabilities

· Design process limited to ensuring agreement on a Terms of Reference of job description that fits the partner need and clarifies all responsibilities

· Contractor is accountable to the partner govt for the assistance, advice, or work they are undertaking

· Contractor is accountable to NZAID for meeting their contractual responsibilities

· Partner may assume responsibility for some costs (eg housing, office space)

Advantages

Risks

· Well targeted and timely technical assistance may provide for a quick and effective response to an important or urgent need, help to fill a gap, and build in skills transfer in the process

· May build good will within a partner agency

· Technical assistance has many potential pitfalls

· Outside of a programme logic, there is a risk that TA will be an inadequate response, achieving only stop gap measures on an underlying problem

· There may be insufficient design or experience to ensure skills transfer or capacity building;

· Heavily reliant on the particular individual and their approach.

· TA may purposely or inadvertently fill in-line positions creating difficulties at the end of contract

When to use:

Where there is no alternative higher order modality

· Where NZAID has no intent to engage more broadly in the sector but finds very strong reason to support the technical assistance request

Where the inherent limitations of isolated technical assistance are moderated

· The need is valid and the contribution clear

· There is a sound Terms of Reference which aligns to the partner need, clarifies responsibilities both to the partner and to NZAID, and

· Where there is clear partner commitment to provide any critical inputs such as appropriate counterpart staff, workspace, and supervision.

· There are clear and reliable plans for how the role will be filled at the end of the of the TA period.