A practitioners guide to results-oriented capacity development
07 September 2011
Capacity development is usually marketed as a ‘process of change’. However, there is little point to change for the sake of change. Results-Oriented Capacity Development. A Practitioner's Guide for Leaders of Organizations and Development Managers, published in August 2010 by the Austral Foundation, offers a simple and practical approach to leaders, programme designers and managers, advisers and facilitators for implementing a results-based approach to capacity devleopment.
There are a wide variety of approaches to capacity development of organizations. Some emphasize leadership development, others systems and process improvements and still others the strengthening of key corporate values. Some focus on strengths (such as the strengths-based approach also known as Appreciative Inquiry), and others focus on team development, coaching or simply technical support.
This guide presents you with what may be termed - ‘the results-based approach to capacity
development’. The name indicates that it is a process that begins and ends with a focus on
performance and results. The capacity development intervention is justified on the basis of
tangible evidence that performance needs to be improved on very specific indicators.
Another distinguishing feature of this approach is that it supports a systematic inquiry into
what exactly is causing underperformance and therefore constraining capacity. It then seeks ways to
address these causes and improve performance. The performance perspective is retained as the
constant frame of reference through all of the various steps in this approach.
Finally, the success of this process is tested and judged by whether the targeted results do
indeed eventuate.
The approach suggested here does have its theoretical underpinnings. However, these are not discussed at length in this guide. Instead, at various stages in the approach, the key principles underpinning each step are highlighted. Each step is demonstrated through various short case studies which are based on current experience and facts.
Full citation: Saldanha, Cedric. 2010. Results-Oriented Capacity Development. A Practitioner's Guide for Leaders of Organizations and Development Managers. The Austral Foundation. 81 pages.
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