Limited state capacity to carry out core government and service delivery functions poses a major constraint in post conflict countries, especially those with low income levels. With regard to scope, the research carried out for this note primarily focuses on developing a detailed understanding of how civil service institutes are established and function, and to reflect on available information about their impact. This note synthesizes the findings from case studies covering three countries and four public service training institutes: Rwanda (Rwanda Management Institute (RMI)); Uganda (Civil Service College Uganda (CSCU)); and Liberia (Liberia Institute of Public Administration (LIPA) and the Financial Management Training Program (FMTP)). The general policy rationale for establishing institutes of public service has been to improve national public sector capacity; while a key choice involves investing in longer and more in-depth or shorter-term training. To deliver training, a mix of some permanent staff with consultants recruited from the public sectors has worked well.