Capacity building for integrated development: Considerations from practice in South Africa

Abstract

From December 2003 to March 2006 the CSIR (Build Environment) lead and implemented the Municipal IDP Support (MIDPS) Project on behalf of the Department of Provincial and Local Government. The Project was designed on the premise described by the National Capacity Building Framework for Local Government (2004), which identifies three forms of capacity, i.e.
• individual capacity (an individual's technical and generic skills, knowledge, attitudes and behaviour);
• institutional capacity (an organisation's human resource capacity, strategic leadership, support systems, financial abilities, etc); 
• environmental capacity (potential and competency found outside of organisations' formal structures).
In this article the results of an assessment of the MIDPS Project and its implementation of environmental, institutional and individual capacity building will be presented. Considerations for the design of future capacity building initiatives that emerged from this experience and similar international experiences will be shared.