Investigating the Mystery of Capacity Building Learning from the Praxis Programme

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Investigating the Mystery of Capacity Building
Learning from the Praxis Programme

• Rick James and Rebecca Wrigley

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INTRAC Praxis Programme

• 26 Praxis Notes, 14 Praxis Papers, 6 workshops
• Diverse countries
• Diverse topics
• Diverse targets
• Common learning

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Capacity Building as a Crime

• Motive
• Means
• Opportunity
• Prize
• Accomplices
• A valuation

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The Capacity Building Prize

• Confused
• Contested
• Contextual
• Counteracted
• Complex

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• An endogenous, human process of change that
  involves positive shifts in identity,
  relationships and power

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The Motive

• Who has the motive for change?
• How strong is that motive?

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The Means

• Develops client responsibility
• Takes people-centred and relational approach
• Uses variety of methods
• Adapts to culture and context
• Communicates creatively

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The Opportunity

• Too busy to implement change
• Plans are not the same as change
• Needs resourcing
• and managing

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The Accomplices

• Skilled capacity building providers
• Foresighted and generous donors

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A-valuation of the Prize

• Vital, but imperfect
• Useful simple methods
• Narrative and numbers
• Linked to culture of learning

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Situational Capacity Building

• Understand the location
• Clarify the prize
• Set up a system for valuation
• Tamper with the security systems
• Test the motive
• Adapt the means
• Create the opportunity
• Develop good accomplices
• Seek enlightened backers

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The Real Mystery of Capacity Building

• If we know the principles of good practice, why
  do we so rarely implement them?