Capacity-building is an integral part of development theory and practise. However, aid agencies that ignore people's existing strenghts may create dependency, and so make people more vulnerable than before.

This book considers specific and practical ways in which NGO's can contribute to enabling people to build on the capacitiesthey already possess. It reviews the types of social organisation with which NGO's might consider working, and the provision of trainingin a variety of relevant skills and activities. The particular importance of using a capacity-building approach in emergency situations, and of the dynamic and long-term nature of the process, is also emphasised.




REVIEWS

...Capacity Building makes highly interesting reading for all those involved in development cooperation. It challenges the reader and forces one to answer some pertinent questions. I recommend it.
Development Cooperation, October 1999

CONTENTS

Acknowledgements
Preface
1. Introduction
2. Capacitity-building: where has it come from
3. What is capacity-building?
4. Whose capacities?
5. Investing in people
6. Investing in organisations
7. Investing in networks
8. Building capacity in crisis
9. Building the capacities of others: questions for donors
Notes
References