Examining barriers and facilitators of capacity building in development: a systematic review of international development projects

Abstract

This study systematically reviews capacity building projects and programs within the field of international development cooperation, with the aim of identifying key facilitators and barriers across different levels of implementation. While capacity building is increasingly recognized as a central mechanism for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), existing frameworks remain fragmented and conceptually inconsistent. To address this gap, the article proposes a level-based analytical framework that disaggregates capacity development into individual, organizational, and systemic components and conducts a systematic review of peer-reviewed literature. Guided by the PRISMA methodology, this study integrates qualitative synthesis with quantitative text mining and word cloud analysis to uncover thematic patterns and frequently cited success factors. Key success factors include local ownership, partnerships, and context-sensitive training. Conversely, barriers such as misalignment, institutional instability, and resource constraints are shown to significantly hinder capacity outcomes. This study contributes both theoretically by clarifying the operational components of capacity building and practically by offering a diagnostic tool for project design and evaluation. It provides development practitioners and policymakers with actionable insights to enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of capacity building interventions.

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