The Building Public Finance Capabilities (BPFC) programme is a multilayered one-year long programme. One layer that we do not often speak about, is how the programme shapes the way that participants look at teamwork and how throughout the journey, they learn to leverage the expertise and diversity within the country-teams, and build strong connections while building a dynamic mindset. 

We spoke to team AKWABA of Côte d'Ivoire following its participation in the 2024/25 edition of the BPFC programme and here is what the team has to say about their BPFC journey, teamwork and learning from their peers.

CABRI : Please share your BPFC journey with us.

Team AKWABA : Our BPFC journey in the RCFP program has been enriching on several levels. Indeed, we note that the programme has allowed us:

• to understand and implement the new approach to reforms in the public sector, namely the problem driven iterative adaptation (PDIA) approach ;
• to know that iterative adaptation for problem-solving is a step-by-step approach that helps break down a problem into root causes, identify entry points, look for possible solutions, take action, reflect on what we have learned, adapt and act again, to arrive at local solutions to local problems ;
• to identify "quick wins" solutions. According to the information collected from target actors, the implementation of these rapid actions with tangible impact would make it possible to prevent the serious consequences of the problem on Côte d'Ivoire and 
• finally, to put in place a strategy in which we provide for a monitoring and evaluation phase, with a view to ensuring that the actions are carried out in accordance with what was planned in our basic action plan and to make the necessary corrections.

CABRI: To what extent has peer-learning throughout your participation in the programme impacted your approach to the problem identified by your team?

Team AKWABA : Peer-learning allowed us to acquire new knowledge and skills; to duplicate at home, the good practices that worked for them and that had similarities with our local context.

CABRI : A key part of this programme is mobilising country-teams to tackle local problems, which is a completely different way of working within our traditional bureaucracies. What have you learned about teamwork through this process?

Team AKWABA : In terms of new learnings about teamwork during the PDIA adventure, it should be noted that:

• within the work team, our culture of solidarity towards each other has been further strengthened ; 
• team work (check-ins) every two weeks with our coach allowed us to iterate with a view to making continuous adjustments to refine our work ; 
• we understood that bringing together all team members for reflection and research work and to meet with target stakeholders was not always easy. This observation allowed us to integrate the creation of small working groups into our approach. Thus, the blockages linked to heavy workloads were overcome. Depending on the agenda of each small group, working sessions were held with the target stakeholders. The information collected by each subgroup was brought to the attention of all team members during plenary sessions ; 
• we found that the coach's visit as a CABRI representative in our country, strengthened the involvement and authorisation of our constituents as well as our continued commitment to the problem. This led to a speedy signing of the letters of solicitation of target actors and the formalisation of said meetings, which were done informally ;
• this programme also allowed us to acquire new knowledge and skills both from the various interlocutors and through documentary reviews on the entry points studied and 
• the organisation of the mid-term workshop by videoconference by CABRI was beneficial; because it was an opportunity to take into account the observations and suggestions of the other participants and to know how to commit to the future with concrete actions to be taken.

AKWABA, a word derived from a local Ivorian language meaning welcome, encapsulates essential values that make it a powerful symbol of the competition: hospitality, friendship, generosity, and team spirit. AKWABA was the official mascot for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. 

Team AKWABA of Côte d'Ivoire won the 'Best Presentation' award for the BPFC in Africa 2024/25 for the significant progress that they achieved in tackling a very difficult and politically sensitive problem including the authorisation and acceptance that they acquired through the process and the solutions that they are proposing.