Capacity building is a strategy that encourages personal growth towards identified and sustainable goals. Techniques may include training, mentoring, coaching, shadowing or other activities that motivate action and stimulate the desire in individuals to implement change.
The role of capacity building is to assist in the development of people and existing systems at the individual level, institutional level and societal level. Through the use of a country’s human, scientific, technological, organisational, and institutional and resource capabilities, capacity building is able to achieve desired results.
The process of capacity building involves identifying and understanding the obstacles that inhibit realisation of sustainable goals. These obstacles may relate to individual skill levels, organisation or government systems, or a combination of situations. As well as hinderances, the process also identifies and develops the building blocks that facilitate and form the bridge towards goal achievement and sustainability.
Capacity building includes:
Human resource development
The process of equipping individuals with understanding, skills and access to information, knowledge and training that will enable them to perform to the desired standard.
Organizational development
The elaboration of management structures, processes and procedures, not only within organisations but also in the management of relationships between the different organisations and sectors (public, private and community).
Institutional and legal framework development
Making legal and regulatory changes to enable organisations, institutions and agencies at all levels and in all sectors to enhance their capabilities and capacities.