Difference between revisions of "The Capacity Building Concept"
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* Institutional: focuses on the overall organizational performance and functioning capabilities, as well as the ability of an organization to adapt to change. | * Institutional: focuses on the overall organizational performance and functioning capabilities, as well as the ability of an organization to adapt to change. | ||
* Systemic: emphasizes the overall policy framework in which individuals and organizations operate and interact with the external environment. | * Systemic: emphasizes the overall policy framework in which individuals and organizations operate and interact with the external environment. | ||
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| + | == References== | ||
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Revision as of 19:29, 14 May 2007
Capacity building is a central concept in Agenda 21 and in other UNCED agreements.
A definition of Capacity Building
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. (citation: WCO).
Capacity Building is much more than training and education
Evolution of the concept of Capacity Building [1]:
Over the past five years, a broad common conceptual framework has emerged. This approach is increasingly being adopted by the development cooperation community. It involves a system perspective that addresses various levels of environmental management capacties (i.e. capacities of institutions, individual, overall countries and regions). This approach puts greater emphasis on the capacity development process itself, on local ownership of its process and on equal partnership in its support [2].
Capacity building involves human resource development, the development of organizations and promoting the emergence of an overall policy environment conductive to the generation of appropriate responses to emerging needs [3]
The concept of Capacity Building 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).
- Individual: refers to the process of changing actittudes and behaviours-imparting knowledge and developing skills while maximizing the benefits of participation, knowledge exchange and ownership.
- Institutional: focuses on the overall organizational performance and functioning capabilities, as well as the ability of an organization to adapt to change.
- Systemic: emphasizes the overall policy framework in which individuals and organizations operate and interact with the external environment.
References
- ↑ Vallejo, S.M., 2006, Are we meeting the challenges for capacity building for manageing ocean and coasts?, Balboa, Panama, November 13-14, 2006
- ↑ Lafontaine, A., Assessment of Capacity Development Efforts of Other Development Cooperation Agencies. Capacity Development Initiative, GEF-UNDP Strategic Partnership, July 2000
- ↑ UNDP/UNDOALOS, 1994, Report on the Consultative Meeting on Training in Integrated Management of Coastal and Marine Areas for Sustainable Development, Sassari, Sardinia, Italy, 21-23 June, 1993. United Nations Development Programme and Division for Ocean Affairs, United Nations, New York.
