There's a lot of talk out there about capacity building - but what does it actually mean and how do you build it?
In the simplest terms, capacity building is the combination of activities that enable an organization to do its job better. Think about all the things that improve an organization's ability to deliver on goals over time, in a more effective and efficient way; expand capabilities; take on more work; deliver impact and build sustainability.
A more specific definition of capacity-building is the process of developing and strengthening the skills, instincts, abilities, processes and resources that organizations and communities need to survive, adapt, and thrive in a fast-changing world.
In this post, we're going to explore three primary areas organizations can focus on to build capacity: individual, organizational, and systemic.
Individual Capacity Building
Successful capacity building begins at the individual level - with an organization's human capital. Here, capacity building activities increase team members' knowledge and skills. When the team learns, grows, and is empowered to lead change, they impact their organization, their community, and can ultimately effect systemic change. Capacity building activities at the individual level include things like:
Training: regardless of modality - individual, group, in-person, or online - training increases one's knowledge base and builds skills. Training provides the tools people need to take action, to make change, to advocate for others, to be better and to do better.
Mentoring: through personalized guidance from experts, or those with more experience, team members build knowledge and skills - and - they gain confidence and social capital by growing personal and professional networks.
Organizational Capacity Building
An organization and its people grow and flourish when skills, resources, and abilities are strengthened. Activities that support organizational capacity building include things such as improved governance, investing in infrastructure development, collaboration, and sustainability practices. A few common, and effective capacity building activities at the organizational level include:
Fundraising / Resource Mobilization: diversifying and growing revenue to support not only project-specific initiatives, but unrestricted, general operating funds as well. Unrestricted fundraising leads to improved sustainability and may include things like training on fundraising techniques, fiscal management, and building a culture of philanthropy throughout the organization.
Investing in Technology: integrating new technological innovations can lead to greater efficiencies - freeing staff to focus on mission-centric activities.
Attracting, Hiring, Retaining Top Talent: recruiting staff with relevant knowledge and expertise means getting the job done with the added bonus of their ability to pass their knowledge on to other emerging professionals within the organization. Retaining good talent promotes organizational stability.
Building Partnerships that Leverage Strengths: No organization can meet all social needs, but through collaborative partnerships, an ecosystem of providers built upon their areas of specialty means less duplication, optimized services, and greater social impact.
Systemic Capacity Building
Systemic capacity building is more complex and may focus on political advocacy, policy development, or allocation of resources. For example:
Lobbying / Advocacy: Visible and vocal lobbying can challenge many systemic and cultural norms. These activities have the power to influence public policy decisions which ultimately affect communities and broader populations.
Public Outreach / Awareness: Strategic communications and collaborative outreach activities can raise awareness of issues and even change public opinion.
While Hera Associates' work emphasizes building capacity at all three levels - individual, organizational, and systemic - building capacity at any level is an investment in the health and success of your organization and will positively contribute to its long-term sustainability.
Contact us if you're interested in capacity building. Learn ways to build a healthy foundation for growth so you can deliver on your mission more effectively and efficiently.
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