WHAT IS CAPACITY BUILDING?

Depending on the organisation and objectives, for capacity exist several definitions: the ability of people, organisations and society as a whole to manage their affairs successfully; the ability of people, organisations and society to perform functions, solve problems, and set and achieve objectives in a sustainable manner; capacity building encompasses a country human, scientific, technological, organisational, and institutional resources and capabilities. A fundamental goal of capacity building (CB) is to enhance the abilities of stakeholders to evaluate and address crucial questions related to policy choices and modes of implementation among different options for development. These choices would be based on an understanding of environmental potential and limits and of the needs perceived by the people of the country concerned. Capacity building approach can be based on three complementary and needed elements: infrastructure CB: hardware and software and other technology required to develop, access and use of scientific knowledge, experience and observation techniques; individual (human) CB: education and training of individuals to be aware of, access, use and develop of scientific knowledge, research, experience and hereto-related techniques and data observation; institutional CB: building policies, programs and organisational structures in governments and organisations to enhance the understanding of the value of environmental sciences, experiences, research and hereto-related data and products.