Capacity Building
Capacity Building
Capacity Building
Capacity building
Capacity building also referred to as capacity development is a conceptual approach to development that focuses on understanding the obstacles that inhibit people, governments, international organizations and non-governmental organizations from realizing their developmental goals while enhancing the abilities that will allow them to achieve measurable and sustainable results. The term capacity building emerged in the lexicon of international development during the 1990s. Today, capacity building is included in the programs of most international organizations that work in development, the World Bank (World Bank) [1], The United Nations (UN) [2] and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) like Oxfam International. Wide usage of the term has resulted in controversy over its true meaning. Capacity building often refers to strengthening the skills, competencies and abilities of people and communities in developing societies so they can overcome the causes of their exclusion and suffering. Organizational capacity building is used by NGOs to guide their internal development and activities.
Definitions
The organizations interpret capacity building in their own ways and focus on it rather than promoting one-way development in developing nations. Fundraising, training centers, learning centers and consultants are all some forms of capacity building. To prevent international aid for development from becoming perpetual dependency, A world map showing the percent of national populations living on less than $1.25 (PPP) developing nations are adopting per day. strategies provided by the organizations in the form of capacity building. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) was one of the forerunners in developing an understanding of capacity building or development. Since the early 70s the UNDP offered guidance for its staff and governments on what was considered "institution building. In 1991, the term evolved to be capacity building. The UNDP defines capacity building as a long-term continual process of development that involves all stakeholders; including ministries, local authorities, non-governmental organizations, professionals, community members, academics and more. Capacity building uses a countrys human, scientific, technological, organizational, and institutional and resource capabilities. The goal of capacity building is to tackle problems related to policy and methods of development, while considering the potential, limits and needs of the people of the country concerned. The UNDP outlines that capacity building takes place on an individual level, an institutional level and the societal level.[3] Individual level- Capacity-building on an individual level requires the development of conditions that allow individual participants to build and enhance existing knowledge and skills. It also calls for the establishment of conditions that will allow individuals to engage in the process of learning and adapting to change. [3] Institutional level- Capacity building on an institutional level should involve aiding pre-existing institutions in developing countries. It should not involve creating new institutions, rather modernizing existing institutions and supporting them in forming sound policies, oganizational structures, and effective methods of management and revenue control.[3]
Capacity building Societal level- Capacity building at the societal level should support the establishment of a more interactive public administration that learns equally from its actions and from feedback it receives from the population at large. Capacity building must be used to develop public administrators that are responsive and accountable.[3] The World Customs Organization-an intergovernmental organization (IO) that develops standards for governing the movement of people and commodities,[4] defines capacity building as "activities which strengthen the knowledge, abilities, skills and behaviour of individuals and improve institutional structures and processes such that the organization can efficiently meet its mission and goals in a sustainable way."It is, however, important to put into consideration the principles that govern community capacity building. Oxfam International- a globally recognized NGO, defines capacity building in terms of its own principals. OXFAM [5] believes that capacity building is an approach to development based on the fundamental concept that people all have an equal share of the worlds resources and they have the right to be authors of their own development and denial of such right is at the heart of poverty and suffering.[6] Organizational capacity building another form of capacity building that is focused on developing capacity within organizations like NGOs. It refers to the process of enhancing an organizations abilities to perform specific activities. An Organizational capacity building approach is used by NGOs to develop internally so they can better fulfil their defined mission.[6] Allan Kaplan, a leading NGO scholar argues that to be effective facilitators of capacity building in developing areas, NGOs must participate in organizational capacity building first. Steps to building organizational capacity include: Developing a conceptual framework Establishing an organizational attitude Developing a vision and strategy Developing an organizational structure Acquiring skills and resources [7]
Kaplan argues that NGOs who focus on developing a conceptual framework, an organizational attitude, vision and strategy are more adept at being self-reflective and critical, two qualities that enable more effective capacity building.[7]
History
The term capacity building has evolved from past terms such as institutional building and organizational development. In the 1950s and 1960s these terms referred to community development that focused on enhancing the technological and self-help capacities of individuals in rural areas. In the 1970s, following a series of reports on international development an emphasis was put on building capacity for technical skills in rural areas, and also in the administrative sectors of developing countries. In the 1980s the concept of institutional development expanded even more. Institutional development was viewed as a long-term process of building up a developing countrys government, public and private sector institutions, and NGOs.[8] Though precursors to Capacity Building existed before the 1990s, they were not powerful forces in International development like capacity building became during the 1990s. The emergence of capacity building as a leading developmental concept in the 1990s occurred due to a confluence of factors: New philosophies that promoted empowerment and participation, like Paulo Freires Education for Critical Consciousness (1973), which emphasized that education, could not be handed down from an omniscient teacher to an ignorant student rather it must be achieved through the process of a dialogue among equals. Commissioned reports and research during the 1980s, like the Capacity and Vulnerabilities Analysis which posited three assumptions: development is the process by which vulnerabilities are reduced and capacities increased
Capacity building no one develops anyone else relief programs are never neutral in their developmental impact[6] Changes in International Developmental approaches During the 1980s many low income states were subject to structural adjustment packages the neo-liberal nature of the packages led to increasing disparities of wealth. In response, a series of social dimension adjustments were enacted. The growing wealth gap coupled with social dimension adjustments allowed for an increased significance for NGOs in developing states as they actively participated in social service delivery to the poor. Then, in the 1990s a new emphasis was placed on the idea of sustainable development.[9] Reports like the CVA and ideas like those of Freire from earlier decades emphasized that no one could develop anyone else and development had to be participatory. These arguments questioned the effectiveness of service delivery programs for achieving sustainable development, thus leading the way for a new emphasis on capacity building."
Capacity building communication and strategic planning. C. Knowledge- The UNDP believes knowledge is the foundation of capacity. They believe greater investments should be made in establishing strong education systems and opportunities for continued learning and the development of professional skills. They support the engagement in post-secondary education reforms, continued learning and domestic knowledge services. D. Accountability- the implementation of accountability measures facilitates better performance and efficiency. A lack of accountability measures in institutions allows for the proliferation of corruption. The UNDP promotes the strengthening of accountability frameworks that monitor and evaluate institutions. They also promote independent organizations that oversee, monitor and evaluate institutions. They promote the development of capacities such as literacy and language skills in civil societies that will allow for increased engagement in monitoring institutions.
[11]
4. Implement a capacity development response Implementing a capacity building program should involve the inclusion of multiple systems; national, local, institutional. It should involve continual reassessment and expect change depending on changing situations. It should include evaluative indicators to measure the effective of initiated programs.[11] 5. Evaluate capacity development Evaluation of capacity building promotes accountability. Measurements should be based on changes in an institutions performance. Evaluations should be based on changes in performance based around the four main issues: institutional arrangements, leadership, knowledge, and accountability.[11] The UNDP integrates this capacity building system into its work on reaching the Millennium Development Goals(MDGs) [12]. The UNDP focuses on building capacity at the institutional level because it believes that institutions are at the heart of human development, and that when they are able to perform better, sustain that performance over time, and manage shocks' to the system, they can contribute more meaningfully to the achievement of national human development goals. [11]
Capacity building Providing weak local government institutions with the capacity to address pertinent problems, reinforces the weak governments and brings them closer to being institutionalized. The goal of capacity builders in Afghanistan is to build up local governments and provide those burgeoning institutions with training that will allow them to address and advocate for what the community needs most. Leaders are trained in governance, conflict resolution, gender equity, project planning, implementation, management, procurement financial, and disaster management and mitigation.[16] The Municipality of Rosario, Batangas, Philippines provided a concrete example related to this concept. This municipal government implemented its Aksyon ng Bayan Rosario 2001 And Beyond Human and Ecological Security Plan using as a core strategy the Minimum Basic Needs Approach to Improved Quality of Life Community-Based Information System (MBN-CBIS) prescribed by the Philippine Government. This approach helped the municipal government identify priority families and communities for intervention, as well as rationalize the allocation of its social development funds. More importantly, it made definite steps to encourage community participation in situation analysis, planning, monitoring and evaluation of social development projects by building the capacity of local government officials, indigenous leaders and other stakeholders to converge in the management of these concerns.
Capacity building The Centre for Community Empowerment CCEM [22]- is an NGO working in Vietnam that aims to train the trainers working in the development sector of Vietnam. The organization believes that the sustainability of a project depends on the level of involvement of stakeholders and so they work to train stakeholders in the skills needed to be active in development projects and encourage the activity of other stakeholders.[23] The organization operates by providing weeklong training courses in for local individuals in issues such as: project management, report writing, communication, fund-raising, resource mobilization, analysis, and planning.[24] The organization does not create physical projects, rather develops the capacity of stakeholders to initiate, plan and analyze and develop projects on their own.[25] Mercy Ships-A Christian,healthcare NGO [26], provides another example of an NGO participating in localized capacity building. While CECEM devotes its energy to training individuals to be better project managers and participants- Mercy Ships participates in a form of capacity building that focuses on the pre-existing capacities of certain individuals and builds on those.[27] For example, Mercy Ships focuses on training doctors and nurses about new procedures and technologies. They also focus on building leadership skills through training workshops for teachers, priests and other community leaders. Leaders are then trained in other areas such as, proper care and construction of hygienic water wells.[27] The first example depicts capacity building as tool to deliver individuals the skills they need to work effectively in civil society. In the case of Mercy Ships, the capacity building is delivering the capacity for individuals to be stakeholders and participants in certain defined activities, such as health care.[28]
In NGOs
Societal development in poorer nations is often contingent upon the efficiency of organizations working within that nation. Organizational capacity building focuses on developing the capacities of organizations, specifically NGOs, so they are better equipped to accomplish the missions they have set out to fulfil. Failures in development can often be traced back to an organization's inability to deliver on the service promises it has pledged to keep. Capacity building in NGOs often involves building up skills and abilities, such as decision making, policy-formulation, appraisal, and learning. It is not uncommon for donors in the global north to fund capacity building for NGOs themselves. For organizations, capacity building may relate to almost any aspect of its work: improved governance, leadership, mission and strategy, administration (including human resources, financial management, and legal matters), program development and implementation, fund-raising and income generation, diversity, partnerships and collaboration, evaluation, advocacy and policy change, marketing, positioning, planning. Capacity building in NGOS is a way to strengthen an organization so that it can perform the specific mission it has set out to do and thus survive as an organization. It is also an ongoing process that incites organizations to continually reflect on their work, organization, and leadership and ensure that they are fulfilling the mission and goals they originally set out to do.[29] Alan Kaplan, an international development practitioner, asserts that capacity development of organizations involves the build-up of an organization's tangible and intangible assets. He argues that for an NGO to work efficiently and effectively in developing country they must first focus on developing their organization. Kaplan argues that capacity building in organizations should first focus on intangible qualities such as:[7] Conceptual framework--an organization's understanding of the world, "This is a coherent frame of reference, a set of concepts which allows the organization to make sense of the world around it, to locate itself within that world, and to make decisions in relation to it."[7] Organizational attitude this focuses on the way an organization views itself. Kaplan asserts that an organization must view itself not as a victim of the slights of the world, rather as an active player that has the ability to effect change and progress.[7] Vision and Strategy this refers to the organization's understanding of its vision and mission and what it is looking to accomplish and the program it wishes to follow in order to do so
Capacity building Organizational structure a clear method of operating wherein communication flow is not hindered, each actor understands their role and responsibility.[7] Though he asserts that intangible qualities are of utmost importance-Kaplan says that tangible qualities such as skills, training and material resources are also imperative. Another aspect of organizational capacity building is an organization's capacity to reassess, reexamine and change according to what is most needed and what will be the most effective.
Capacity building
Specification
Capacity Building is much more than training and includes the following: Human resource development, the process of equipping individuals with the understanding, skills and access to information, knowledge and training that enables them to perform effectively. Organizational development, the elaboration of management structures, processes and procedures, not only within organizations but also the management of relationships between the different organizations and sectors (public, private and community). Institutional and legal framework development, making legal and regulatory changes to enable organizations, institutions and agencies at all levels and in all sectors to enhance their capacities (citation: Urban Capacity Building Network [32]). It also interfaces with some work by the New Institutional Economics association led notably by the 1994 Nobel prize winner Douglass North. It tries to lay out the essential organizational and institutional prerequisites for economic and social progress ( See the paper by North, Wallis and Weingast) modestly entitled 'A conceptual framework for interpreting recorded human history', NBER working paper 12795, (www.nber.org/papers/w12795). Capacity building is defined as the "process of developing and strengthening the skills, instincts, abilities, processes and resources that organizations and communities need to survive, adapt, and thrive in the fast-changing world." (Ann Philbin, Capacity Building in Social Justice Organizations Ford Foundation, 1996) Capacity building is the elements that give fluidity, flexibility and functionality of a program/organization to adapt to changing needs of the population that is served. Infrastructure development has been considered "Economic Capacity Building" because it increases the capacity of any developed or developing society to improve trade, employment, economic development and quality of life. It is also true that where institutional capacity is limited, infrastructure development is probably constrained. Currently the United States infrastructure is rated D or worse by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). This may be an indication that the Institutional Capacity of the USA is constrained and will impact future quality of life issues.
Capacity building
References
Nancy Barnes and Abdelkarim Asa'd (2003) http://www.jwu.org/guide/english/start_en.htm "Jerusalem Water Undertaking - A Challenging Experience in Organization Development - A Guidebook" Deborah Linnell (2003). Evaluation of Capacity Building: Lessons from the Field. Washington, DC: Alliance for Nonprofit Management [36]. Eade, Deborah (2007). Capacity Building an Approach to People-Centered Development. UK & Ireland: Oxfam. pp.35 Teferra, Damtew (October 2010). "Nurturing Local Capacity Builders". Capacity.org. Chabbott, Colette (1999). Constructing World Culture. Stanford: Stanford University Press. pp.223230 Kaplan, Allan (Aug 2000). "Capacity Building: Shifting the Paradigms of Practice". Development in Practice. 3/4 10 (10th Anniversary Issue): 517526 Boex, Jamie; Yilmaz Serdar (December 2010). "An Analytical Framework for Assessing Decentralized Local Governance and the local Public Sector". Urban Institute Center on International Development and Governance. Smillie, Ian (2001). Patronage or Partnership: Local Capacity Building in a Humanitarian Crisis. Bloomfield, CT: Kumarian Press. pp.15. ISBN 1-55250-211-2. Duane Muller (November 2007). "USAID's Approach to monitoring Capacity Building Activities". UNFCCCC Experts Meeting on Capacity Building. Antigua shariq, Zamila; nahukul K.C (March 2011). "Enhancing Local governance institutions in Logar and Urozgan Provinces, Afghanistan". Capacity.org. Ubels, Jan; Acquaye-Baddoo,Naa-Aku; Fowler, Alan (2010). Capacity Development in Practice. Capacity. pp. chapter 18 United Nations Development Programme. "Supporting Capacity Building the UNDP approach". UNDP. Retrieved 4/23/2011 Brough, Potter (2004). Systemic capacity building: a hierarchy of needs. Oxford University Press. pp. 336345 Wagner(2003). "Why Capacity Building Matters and Why Nonprofits Ignore It." New Directions for Philanthropic Fundraising, vol. 40. pp. 103-111. Boice (2005). "Better Building Blocks." Advancing Philanthropy, vol. 50 pp. 16-19. Chandler (2003). "Writing Proposals for Capacity Building." Grantsmanship Center Magazine, vol. 50 pp. 21-22.
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Footnotes
[1] http:/ / www. worldbank. org/ [2] http:/ / www. un. org [3] United Nations Committee of Experts on Public Administration (2006). United Nations Economic and Social Council Definition of basic concepts and terminologies in governance and public administration. http:/ / unpan1. un. org/ intradoc/ groups/ public/ documents/ un/ unpan022332. pdf. [4] World Customs Organization. "Home Page" (http:/ / www. wcoomd. org/ home. htm). WCO. . Retrieved 4/6/2011. [5] http:/ / www. oxfam. org/ [6] Deborah, Eade (2005). Capacity-building: an approach to people centered development (http:/ / books. google. com/ ?id=tnSTMrh2ga0C& pg=PR4& dq=defining+ capacity+ building#v=onepage& q=defining capacity building& f=false). UK and Ireland: Oxfam UK and Ireland. pp.3039. ISBN0-85598-366-3. . [7] Kaplan, Allan (Aug 2000). "Capacity Building: Shifting the Paradigms of Practice". Development in Practice. 3/4 10 (10th Anniversary Issue): 517526. doi:10.1080/09614520050116677. [8] Smillie, Ian (2001). Patronage or Partnership: Local Capacity Building in a Humanitarian Crisis (http:/ / publicwebsite. idrc. ca/ EN/ Resources/ Publications/ Pages/ IDRCBookDetails. aspx?PublicationID=411). Bloomfield, CT: Kumarian Press. pp.15. ISBN1-55250-211-2. . [9] Chabbott, Colette (1999). Constructing World Culture. Stanford: Stanford University Press. pp.223230. [10] http:/ / www. undp. org/ [11] United Nations Development Programme. "Supporting Capacity Building the UNDP approach" (http:/ / www. undp. org/ capacity/ ourapproach. shtml). UNDP. . Retrieved 4/23/2011. [12] http:/ / www. un. org/ millenniumgoals/ [13] Foreign Assistance Standardized Program Structure and Definitions. program element 4.6.2. [14] Boex, Jamie; Yilmaz Serdar (December 2010). "An Analytical Framework for Assessing Decentralized Local Governance and the local Public Sector". Urban Institute Center on International Development and Governance. [15] "Capacity-building support for central government institutions of the Republika Srpska". UNDP. [16] Shariq, Zamila; nahukul K.C (March 2011). "Enhancing Local governance institutions in Logar and Urozgan Provinces, Afghanistan". Capacity.org. [17] http:/ / www. csactionteam. org/ ?file=128 [18] linell, Deborah (2003). Evaluation of Capacity Building: Lessons from the field. Washington, D.C: Alliance for Nonprofit management. [19] Teferra, Damtew (October 2010). "Nurturing Local Capacity Builders" (http:/ / www. capacity. org/ capacity/ opencms/ en/ topics/ local-capacity-developers/ nurturing-local-capacity-builders. html). Capacity.org. . [20] http:/ / www. csactionteam. org/ ?content=13 [21] http:/ / tanpi. jsi. com/ Grantees/ grantees. htm [22] http:/ / www. cecem. org/ [23] "Our Mission" (http:/ / www. cecem. org/ Home/ Board-of-advisors/ ?lg=en). CCEM. . Retrieved 4/25/2011. [24] "Training courses 2011" (http:/ / www. cecem. org/ Home/ Board-of-advisors/ ?lg=en). CCEM. . Retrieved 4/25/2011. [25] "Our Projects" (http:/ / www. cecem. org/ Home/ Board-of-advisors/ ?lg=en). CCEM. . Retrieved 4/25/2011. [26] http:/ / www. mercyships. org/ index. php/ pages/ mission-capacity [27] "The Mission" (http:/ / www. mercyships. org/ index. php/ pages/ mission-capacity). mercy ships. . [28] Eade, Deborah (2007). Capacity Building an Approach to People-Centered Development. UK & Ireland: Oxfam. pp.35. [29] Eade, Deborah (1997). Capacity Building: An approach to people centered development. UK: oxfam. pp.3536. [30] Ubels, Jan; Acquaye-Baddoo,Naa-Aku; Fowler, Alan (2010). "18". Capacity Development in Practice. Capacity. [31] Duane Muller (November 2007). "USAID's Approach to monitoring Capacity Building Activities". UNFCCCC Experts Meeting on Capacity Building. Antigua. [32] http:/ / www. gdrc. org/ [33] Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Innovation, Business and Rural Development. "Opportunity Management Facilitators Guide". Retrieved 1 February 2012. [34] http:/ / unwto. org/ [35] http:/ / www. unwto-themis. org/ en [36] http:/ / www. allianceonline. org/
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External links
US Trade Representative (http://www.ustr.gov/Trade_Development/Trade_Capacity_Building/ Section_Index.html/) Official UNDP web site (http://www.undp.org/) University Capacity Building Program, Ethiopia (http://www.ucbp-ethiopia.com/) RMP Knowledge Excellence Centre (http://www.rmponweb.org) Quality Label for Capacity Building (http://www.qualityfoundation.org/openecbcheck/)
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License
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported //creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/