The Implication of Government Change to Technical Assistance

The biggest risk to the effectiveness of ongoing Technical Assistance (TA) programmes (as a result of a change in government) is a change in priority or policy by the incoming administration. Indeed, periods of transition usually see the passing of a diverse set of economic and social policies that may affect ongoing development programmes. The existing (limited) evidence shows that change of government generally has a negative effect on the effectiveness of ongoing TA programmes – especially when the new government has different priorities (which can often be the case for an incoming opposition party). However, in some cases, a new administration – despite some policy differences from its predecessor – may see an ongoing TA programme as helpful and may decide to continue supporting it in its exiting form. In such cases, there may not be an adverse impact/shock on the effectiveness of TA programmes.