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Capacity Building

Facilitator: Eric Sarriot (CSTS). Presenters: Eric Swedberg (SC), Ann Henderson (WV).

'If the capacity tree falls in the child survival forest, and we still can't measure it, does it make a difference?'

Starting with practical examples of capacity building efforts and capacity evaluation efforts at the organizational and community level, we will ask ourselves when and where capacity building matters, and how much evaluation and measurement help us apprehend this intangible concept. Capacity building has become a more and more central question to child survival interventions at many levels. Two examples will stimulate our discussion:

1. The Living University model of Save the Children has been described for some years now and been evaluated recently. Interesting lessons can be learned from this original model of local capacity building in community-based and other organizations. Presentation by Eric Swedberg (SC).

2. World Vision is currently putting important efforts in measuring dimensions of community capacity through the use of its Ministry Standards tool, currently being field-tested. Explicit and systematic steps can help measure soft issues like social sustainability, solidarity, and other issues referring to community capacity. Presentation by Anne Henderson (WV).

When is building capacity time well spent? What is its cost? How important is it to measure it? Are there specific capacities that are essential to achieve and sustain quality and performance? All participants are welcome experts in our investigation of these questions.

Introduction: Eric Sarriot (CSTS)	View	Download
Living University: Eric Swedberg (SC)	View	Download
Measuring community capacity with the Ministry StandardsTool: Anne Henderson (WV)	View	Download