The 5 Cs of integrated capacity development
Nuffic recently held an internal meeting on Integrated Capacity Development (ICD), with two experts on the subject. The aim was to enhance understanding of the interrelationships amongst capacity and changes in performance.
Paul Engel, director of the European Centre for Development Policy Management (ECDPM) and Driek Enserink of the International Centre for development oriented Research in Agriculture (ICRA) engaged in discussions with Nuffic programme managers. This produced some interesting insights into the concept of ICD.
Think before you start
One of the things discussed is that you should first engage, listen and understand, before ‘jumping’ into project formulation. This makes it easier to identify the core issues of the ICD project in question.
Furthermore, it is important to connect with people’s ambitions and not focus on their shortcomings or capacity gaps. Prioritise the things that matter most to the stakeholders. Know where you are heading and what kind of capacity you need to reach your destination.
The 5 Cs
Since 2004, the ECPDM has been working on a study on ’Capacity, Change and Performance’. On the basis of this study they identified what they call the ‘5 Cs’. Five core capabilities that can contribute to the overall capacity of an organisation or system to create value for others:
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the capability to act and commit;
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the capability to relate to external stakeholders;
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the capability to adapt and self-renew;
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the capability to achieve coherence;
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the capability to generate development objectives.
Monitoring and evaluating
The five core capabilities can provide a basis for assessing a situation at a given point and monitoring it through time. A recent report by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Policy and Operations Evaluation Department (IOB), entitled Facilitating Resourcefulness, uses the 5 Cs as the analysis framework.
It takes the position that an organisation’s capacity is not an end in itself, but is rather a means by which an organisation can achieve its objectives in bringing about social change.
When organisations decide to use the 5 Cs framework, they should define each of these capabilities and make them more specific and relevant to their context.
Sector level focus
Nuffic’s NICHE programme focuses on sector level developments and on promoting links between different levels of ICD within projects, in a continuous effort to provide a more effective agenda for capacity development support.