1. Building capacity
2. Strengthening organizations and networks
3. Providing technical assistance
4. Conducting research
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Capacity is the ability to act effectively to achieve the outcome you want.We always need to ask, “Whose capacity? Capacity for what?”, but there’s more to those questions than meets the eye.
- Capacity is both individual and collective.Great people make great communities or organizations, but unhealthy organizations can cripple good people, just as really good organizations or communities can bring the best out of everyone
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- Capacity is about both technical outcomes and relational processes.Technical competence is critical, but so is relational competence. Either one can make or break a project or program.
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- Capacity is about new thinking, new attitudes and values, new knowledge, and new skills for individuals and groups
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- Capacity is inseparable from actual engagement in the processes for which new capacity is being developed. You can’t build capacity by just learning theories. You need hands-on experience for real capacity to emerge.
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Four Worlds capacity building services occur through:
- formal and non-formal training
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- hands-on practice linked to guided reflection
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- coaching and mentoring of ongoing work
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- regular monitoring and evaluation, linked to targeted learning interventions
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SAMPLE PROJECTS
Canada 2004-Present
Aboriginal Community Development– Developed and delivered a six module training program in collaboration with Sagamok Anishnawbek First Nation (near Sudbury, Ontario). This program was fully accredited by Algoma University College and Laurentian University, and delivered in five successive years (2004-2009). The program focused on building leadership, staff and community capacity to carry out community development within the framework of a comprehensive community plan.
Along with the formal training, coaching and mentoring of inter-departmental work teams, design, testing and implementation of comprehensive community development initiatives providing a practical hands-on experience platform for capacity development of community programs and volunteers.
A similar capacity building program is currently being delivered at Peguis First Nation (Manitoba) and will be offered at Chippewas of the Thames First Nation (Ontario) in late 2012-2013.
Affordable Housing for Seniors (2011-2012)
Strengthening the capacity of the Bishop O’Bryne Senior Housing Association (Calgary, Alberta) to redesign its program orientation in order to offer a full range of support services to enable it to house vulnerable seniors living below the poverty line, and to develop a successful fundraising campaign to raise 4 million dollars.
Pakistan (2008-Present)
International Development– Two levels of work are underway. First, within the context of a comprehensive poverty alleviation initiative in the Hunza region of Gilgit-Baltistan, a combination of technical support to local area institutions and formal training of 100 development facilitators is now reaching more than 1000 community-based activists and entrepreneurs who are working in “learning and action circles”. This capacity development initiative entails a series of (now 5) course modules, as well as ongoing coaching and mentoring by a field team of five local staff. It also entails “quick-win” small grants for social and economic projects aimed at giving hands-on experience. A second level entails intensive work with an area NGO, KADO (the Karakorum Area Development Organization) which is being strengthened to become capable of expanding poverty alleviation initiatives to any district in the country.
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