This study reviewed the ways and means in which Technical Assistance (TA) has been deployed within South Africa during the period 2004 to 2014, with a focus on the technical assistance provided in the employment creation, infrastructure, education and justice/legislature sectors.
The study was split into two phases.The first one mainly dealt with the following aspects:

• Reflect on the use to which TA is put in South Africa - was it used strategically in support of long-term institution building or was it used to fill gaps in public sector service provision?
• Investigate the role played by TA in different situations.
• Where was TA directed and how was it used by institutions across all three spheres of government?
• Assess whether the TA that was mobilised used a comprehensive capacity development approach.
• Reflect on how TA was reported by South African government institutions and development partners.
• When and where were the most challenges experienced in the use of TA?

The second phase assessed the following aspects:

• Impact of TA within the identified sectors and institutions in terms of skills development, institution building, value added and impact on policy/service delivery.
• Identified the lessons to be learnt from this experience.
• Possible impact on departments and service delivery if TA were to be withdrawn.
• What sustainability mechanisms were instituted in order to ensure that interventions succeed?
• Comparison of local experience with global best practices (especially in other middle-income countries)
• Recommendations on how IDC can improve the use and management of TA across all spheres of government.