Capacity building

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Capacity building is assistance which is provided to entities, usually developing country governments, which have a need to develop a certain skill or competence, or for general upgrading of performance ability. Intergovernmental organizations (international organizations, often of the UN-family), provide much capacity building as a part of their general work, but also by bilaterally funded entities or by private sector consulting firms or non-governmental organizations, called (NGOs). Sometimes NGOs, in developing countries are themselves recipients of capacity building.

Capacity Building is, however, not limited to international aid work. More recently, capacity building is being used by government to transform community and industry approaches to social and environmental problems.

1 Definition
2 Specification
3 See also
4 Partial List of Agencies Providing Capacity Building
5 External links
- 5.1 References

[edit] Definition

In 1991, UNDP defined 'capacity building' as the creation of an enabling environment with appropriate policy and legal frameworks, institutional development, including community participation (of women in particular), human resources development and strengthening of managerial systems, adding that, UNDP recognizes that capacity building is a long-term, continuing process, in which all stakeholders participate (ministries, local authorities, non-governmental organizations and water user groups, professional associations, academics and others. (citation: UNDP).

The WCO 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."

[edit] 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).