Front Cover -- Title Page -- Copyright -- Contents -- Foreword -- Acknowledgments -- About the Contributors -- Abbreviations and Acronyms -- Overview Institutions Taking Root: Building State Capacity in Challenging Contexts -- Literature Review: BuildingState Capacity in Challenging Contexts -- Research Design: Explaining Institutional Success -- Pathways to Institutional Success: Navigating the Evolving Sociopolitical Context -- Core Institutional Repertoire: Shared Underpinnings of Success -- Policy Implications -- Conclusion -- Notes -- References -- PART I THE GAMBIA -- Chapter 1. The Gambia: BalancingStructural Constraints and Hegemonic Politics -- Notes -- Chapter 2. The Gambia Case Study: Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs -- Institutional Success -- Sociopolitical and Historical Context -- External Operational Environment -- Internal Institutional Workings -- Challenges -- Conclusions -- PEFA Complete Indicator Set -- Notes -- References -- Chapter 3. The Gambia Case Study: Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education -- Institutional Success -- Solutions for Governance Challenges -- External Operational Environment -- Internal Institutional Workings -- Challenges -- Conclusion -- Annex 3A -- Notes -- References -- PART II LAO PEOPLE'S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC -- Chapter 4. The Institution-Building Context in Lao PDR -- Traditional Fragmentation and the Socialist Revolution -- State Building and Multifaceted Reform -- Economic Objectives and Institutional Capacity -- Notes -- References -- Chapter 5. Lao PDR Case Study: Électricité du Laos -- Institutional Success -- Institutional Sociopolitical Context: Electricity as a Leading Edge of Modernization -- Results through Operational Autonomy -- Mandate Implementation through Partnerships -- Challenges -- Conclusion -- Notes -- References.

Chapter 6. Lao PDR Case Study: Ministry of Public Works and Transport -- Institutional Success -- Institutional Sociopolitical Context: Roads as a Crucial Modernization Vehicle -- Institutional Strategies to Resolve Governance Challenges -- Institutionalization, Professionalism, and Mandate Implementation -- Challenges -- Conclusion -- Notes -- References -- PART III SIERRA LEONE -- Chapter 7. The Institution-Building Context in Sierra Leone -- Since Independence -- After the Civil War: 2000s -- Countertrends -- Note -- References -- Chapter 8. Sierra Leone Case Study: Ministry of Finance and Economic Development -- Institutional Success -- Sociopolitical and Historical Context: State Retraction and Conflict -- External Operational Environment: Solving Governance Challenges through Dialogue and Interagency Coordination -- Internal Institutional Workings: Focusing on Efficiency and Balancing Short-Term Needs with Sustained Development -- Challenges -- Conclusion and Operational Insights -- Relevant Legislation and Official Documents -- Annex 8A -- Notes -- References -- Chapter 9. Sierra Leone Case Study: Local Councils -- Research Design: Data, Sources, and Sampling Strategy 220 History and Development of Local Government in Sierra Leone -- The Parameters of Institutional Success -- Drivers of Success and Its Navigation -- Outstanding Challenges -- Policy Implications and Conclusions -- Notes -- References -- PART IV TIMOR-LESTE -- Chapter 10. The Institution-Building Context in Timor-Leste -- Tumultuous History -- Contrasting Visions: Building the State versus Building Trust -- Chapter 11. Timor-Leste Case Study: Ministry of Social Solidarity -- Institutional Success -- Institutional Context -- Managing Client Demands and Citizen Expectations -- Building Trust through Social Values and Traditions -- Capacity to Deliver -- Analysis of Causal Factors.

Challenges -- Annex 11A Ministry of Social Solidarity Milestones -- Notes -- References -- Chapter 12. Timor-Leste Case Study: Ministry of Health -- Institutional Success -- Institutional and Sector Context -- Overcoming Systems Constraints -- Confronting Historical Legacies and "Building Back Better" -- Deepening Performance and Quality -- Causal Factors -- Challenges -- Annex 12A Ministry of Health Milestones -- Notes -- References -- Chapter 13. Timor-Leste Case Study: The Central Bank of Timor-Leste -- Institutional Success -- Sociopolitical and Historical Context: Locking in a Roadmap for Autonomy -- External Operational Environment: Securing Autonomy and Building Relationships with Stakeholders -- Internal Institutional Workings: Building-Block Approach and Organizational Learning -- Challenges -- Conclusions -- Annex 13A -- Notes -- References -- Boxes -- Figures -- Map -- Tables -- Back Cover.