Alternative approaches to capacity building: practices in the public and private sector

This study aims to examine alternative practices in capacity building found in the public and private sector and to examine how these can be used to benefit third sector organisations.
This report is structured around three themes:
a) Reviewing the different interpretations of capacity building in the public, private and third sector.
b) Selection of eight case studies of public and private sector capacity building programmes that have raised the capacity of organisations supported.
c) Identifying a range of alternative practice from which implications for the third
sector can be drawn.
The study has examined a range of approaches to capacity building in the private and public sectors, drawing on existing literature, key informant interviews and eight case
studies. Key issues related to capacity building are drawn out and implications for the capacity building in the third sector are identified. Finally recommendations are made of
how lessons from the private and public sector can be adapted for the third sector context.
While capacity building is defined as the range of support activities that help organisations develop their skills and resources, this study examines the different types of approaches and makes a distinction between those approaches that can help organisations improve on what they are currently doing, the support that allows them to make more radical change or start new activities.