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Monitoring and evaluating capacity building : is it really that difficult?

SIMISTER, Nigel
SMITH, Rachel
January 2010

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This paper is based on a literature review and interviews with a range of capacity building providers based in the North and South examining both theory and current practice of capacity development, and discusses some of the key barriers to progress. “Primarily concerned with capacity building within civil society organisations (CSOs), although many of the lessons apply equally to organisations in the commercial or state sectors... it begins by looking at some key concepts in both capacity building and monitoring and evaluation (M&E). It examines different ways of thinking about M&E, and describes a variety of different tools and approaches used to plan, monitor and evaluate capacity building work. It goes on to discuss M&E in relation to donors and provides an outline of current practice, based on the interviews. Finally, it highlights key areas for further discussion, and presents some conclusions based on the research”

Praxis Paper No. 23

Investigating the mystery of capacity building : learning from the Praxis programme

JAMES, Rick
WRIGELY, Rebecca
2007

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This paper investigates the issue of capacity building, drawing on the experiences shared by capacity building practitioners through the INTRAC Praxis Programme over the past four years. “This DGIS-supported programme encouraged capacity building practitioners to reflect on, learn from and disseminate their experiences in the field, in attempt to discover what works and what does not in building capacity. Written by practitioners from diverse contexts on a wide variety of themes…this paper syntheses the learning -  that “to build capacity effectively, stakeholders need to articulate more clearly and negotiate a shared understanding of capacity building. This understanding should be rooted in the specific context and culture in which it takes place. We have to mitigate the inherent obstacles to capacity building in the aid system as far as possible. We also need to appreciate the degree of difficulty entailed in building capacity”

 

Praxis Paper series No. 18

Organisational learning in NGOs : creating the motive, means and opportunity

BRITTON, Bruce
March 2005

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This paper explores the importance of organisational learning in NGOs drawing on examples gathered from interviews mainly with Northern NGO staff and from an extensive review of the literature. It examines NGOs' need to provide the motive, means and opportunity for organisational learning, introduces practical examples of how pioneering NGOs are doing this and suggests ways to combine these elements in planned and emergent organisational strategies for learning. The paper concludes that, although much has been written on the conceptual frameworks for organisational learning and knowledge management, learning and knowledge management are understood differently across cultures and contexts and that most current models are based on a Western understanding, presenting concerns about how to translate these theories into practice. There is therefore a need to engage with capacity building practitioners to explore innovative approaches which are relevant, appropriate and accessible across a wide range of cultures and contexts

 

Praxis Paper No. 3

Rising to the challenges : assessing the impacts of organisational capacity building

HAILEY, John
JAMES, Rick
WRIGLEY, Rebecca
February 2005

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This paper “offers a brief overview of current thinking and practice in relation to the impact assessment of organisational capacity building interventions. The paper highlights some of the conceptual, methodological and practical challenges (issues of clarity, power and culture, among others) and then goes on to provide an overview of some of the practical approaches that have been adopted by NGOs and CSOs to overcome these challenges.   A ‘thought piece’ designed to engage practitioners (particularly those from developing and transitional countries) in a fruitful debate, it identifies the key challenges towards which INTRAC could most usefully focus its future efforts. These include the need to improve understanding of the particular characteristics of the impact assessment of organisational capacity building and to generate and document innovative, adaptable and accessible approaches. A final challenge is to consider how to raise the profile of impact assessment for organisational capacity building practitioners, so that it is viewed as a vital tool to assist organisational learning, rather than a time-consuming and costly burden”

Praxis Paper n°2

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