A Guidebook on Capacity Development Agenda Formulation

22Capacity Development DefinedWhat is capacity and capacity development?It is important to better understandcapacity development to contextualizeCapacity Development Planning in localgovernance. The evolving definition ofcapacity development includes thefollowing:· Capacity development is “… any system,effort or process… which includes among itsmajor objectives strengthening thecapability of elected chief executiveofficers, chief administrative officers,department and agency heads andprogramme manager in general purposegovernment to plan, implement, manageor evaluate policies, strategies orprograms designed to impact on socialconditions in the community.” (Cohen,1993).· Capacity strengthening is an ongoingprocess by which people and systems,operating within dynamic contexts,enhance their abilities to develop andimplement strategies in pursuit oftheir objectives for (Lusthaus et al.for IDRC, 1995).· Capacity building is any support thatstrengthens an institution’s ability toeffectively and efficiently design,implement and evaluate developmentactivities according to its mission(UNICEF Namibia, 1996).· Capacity building is a process by whichindividuals, groups, institutions,organizations and societies enhancetheir abilities to identify and meetdevelopment challenges in asustainable manner. (CIDA, 1996)