Strengthening capacities for integrated development planning, financing and reporting: lessons and challenges

Abstract

The integrated planning and reporting toolkit is a web-based software application that equips planners with the capacity to digitize their planning frameworks to support integrated planning functions such as alignment with global and continental agendas, integration with financing frameworks, diagnostics of results frameworks and seamless tracking and reporting on plan performance. The present paper analyses critical issues, challenges and opportunities in development planning that emerged during the roll-out of the integrated planning and reporting toolkit in 28 planning entities in Africa. Drawing on these experiences, the paper offers recommendations and suggests policy perspectives to enhance planning outcomes in Africa. The analysis is informed by desk research, survey data, observations and informal discussions with development planning experts encountered during the roll-out process.