Welcome to Capacity.org. This is not the first issue of Capacity.org - it was launched some six years ago by the European Centre for Development Policy Management (ECDPM) - but it marks a new phase in the life of this publication. The 25 issues published since 1999 have made a major contribution to the understanding of capacity development. This summer, ECDPM was joined by two new partners: SNV Netherlands Development Organisation and UNDP. Together, we wish to enhance the range, depth and scope of Capacity.org so that it appeals to a wider audience, and offers access to a broad range of information - in English, French and Spanish - for everyone concerned with capacity development.
Our aims are ambitious. As well as providing a forum for information exchange, we hope that Capacity.org becomes a platform where practitioners and policy makers can get involved in the development of the field. The members of this growing community of practice will be able to share their experience and draw from the knowledge of others for more effective capacity development practice on the ground.
For these reasons, both the print version of Capacity.org and its website have been redesigned and expanded. The website now includes a number of additional interactive features so that readers can more easily provide feedback and contribute their knowledge and share experiences. Over time, as content is gradually added, the website will develop into a gateway to the wealth of available information on the topic of capacity development. Readers can sign up to receive regular email newsletters at www.capacity.org .
The printed journal now has twice as many pages, and is more easily accessible in terms of design and content. This 'new style' Capacity.org features a guest column, interviews and conference reports, as well as case material and articles on both the policy and practice of capacity development. Each issue will also contain many pointers to ongoing debates, as well as links to relevant resources, publications and upcoming events. Subscriptions to the journal are free of charge and can be requested at www.capacity.org .
In this first issue we provide a tour d'horizon of the field of capacity development as we see it. It features contributions from key players in both the NGO and the donor communities, including INTRAC and PRIA, as well as OECD DAC and LENPA/CIDA. In future issues of Capacity.org we intend to go deeper into a number of the fields that are merely outlined here. But to do so we need to learn about your experiences. Please feel free to use the 'Letters to the Editor' section of the website to share your thoughts, to comment on articles, to suggest relevant links, publications or events, or to submit your own contribution. Together we can shape future progress in the policy and practice of capacity development. We look forward to hearing from you.
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