This module deconstructs the often used term ‘capacity building’ noting its different uses in building capacities with humanitarian NGOs on the one hand and in developing community capacity in recipient communities on the other. The notion of capacity is reconstructed in a way that uses best practice in organisational development enabling students to develop the rudiments of competent performance in the needs analysis, development of interventions and monitoring of outcomes in a capacity building agenda.

These are the topics we will address:

1. Capacity building – concepts,  models and goals

(a) Within communities

(b) Within NGO s and other organisation

(c) Barriers to Capacity building

(d) Criteria for success

 

2. Capacity building as organisational development

(a) Adaption of OD for facilitating the development of NGOs

(b) The development of organisational out reach to build external capacity

(c) Indicators of success and failure

 

3. Capacity building as a mechanism for social development

(a) Assessing social needs with communities

(b) Strategy development

(c) Implementation of strategy

The learning outcomes are

At the end of this module, students will be able to:

 

Knowledge

 

1)  Give an account of the development and implementation  of  ‘capacity building’ in humanitarian contexts

2)  Understand how knowledge  of organisational processes help define and develop capacity building activities

 

Thinking skills

 

3)  Undertake a teleological analysis of capacity building in several contexts

4)  Critically review several examples of capacity building

 

Subject-based practical skills

 

5)  Create a needs assessment for capacity building

6)  Develop Capacity building strategy

7)  Define how to begin a capacity building process

 

Skills for life and work (general skills)

 

8)  Write professional reports

9)  Team development

 Assessment is by way of 

Organisational report (3500 words) (60%)

Briefing Document  (1500 Words) (40%)

The teaching method will be real time and discursive. Key initial readings are attached.