The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) was created in 1997 to oversee the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), and recently, following on from the experience of two ima tailor-made trainings on Results Based Management, OPCW hired IMA International in a consultancy to support the development of a Results Based Management (RBM) system.  

The origins of RBM came with a realization that a move to outcomes could only be fully achieved where organizational support functions were all aligned with, and supportive of, the operational core.  RBM is now seen as a question of shifting organizational culture. An RBM approach is made up of an M&E plan, an M&E system and an enabling results structure and culture. To begin this process at OPCW materials such as branch logic models, developed by IMA during the earlier trainings, were used as a starting point to build an understanding of stakeholder involvement, and of the historical development and current status of RBM in OPCW. This began the process of fully fledged Logical Framework development, for an RBM system. Interviews with key staff members helped to understand the complex realities of implementing a system in a large organisation. 

The Lesotho Data for Sustainable Development Project is aimed at developing capacities for collection, analysis and dissemination of development data (funded by UNDP and the EU).  A 5 day residential training took place at Mohale Lodge, Lesotho, with 76 participants from different ministries, academic institutions and other bodies.  Five IMA facilitators conducted the training designed to assist in building institutional support and technical skills, to strengthen national and sectoral capacities, to generate and utilize data for Results Based Monitoring and Evaluation. 

The participants were split into their sectoral sub groups, and developed their understanding of RBM with a focus on the strategic goals each group specified using guidance from the National Strategic Development Plan, each sector sharing their work to connect with the whole group’s collective experience.  22 participants took part in a further three day Training of Trainers to learn and practice facilitation techniques to be able to deliver the RBM course in the future.

A particular success was the social mapping exercise which with such a big group of willing and energetic participants was an excellent way to start off this busy workshop.