Capacity Change and Performance:

Abstract

The European Centre for Development Policy Management (ECDPM) recently published the final report of a five-year research programme on capacity, change and performance. 1 This research provides fresh perspectives on the topic of capacity and its development. It does so by highlighting endogenous perspectives: how capacity develops from within, rather than focusing on what outsiders do to induce it. The research also embraces ideas on capacity development drawn from the literature outside the context of development cooperation. Although the research draws implications for international development cooperation, it does not specifically examine donor agency experiences in capacity development, or related issues of aid management and effectiveness. The final report, which this chapter is based on, provides a comprehensive analysis of the findings and conclusions of the research programme. In total, 16 case studies 2 were prepared that embrace a wide spectrum of capacity situations covering different sectors, objectives, geographic locations and organisational histories, from churches in Papua New Guinea to a tax office in 136 Rwanda to nationwide networks in Brazil. The case studies are complemented by seven thematic papers and five workshop reports. 3 The final report is written for people interested and involved in capacity development work. It offers insights as much for managers and staff of public sector and civil society organisations as it does for external agencies, either those providing capacity development services to local organisations or donors that finance capacity development work. This chapter highlights key findings and conclusions of the final report and presents implications for external agencies engaged in capacity development in the context of international development cooperation. It contains a bibliography listing the publications produced in the context of this study.

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