'This paper summarises the events of a workshop on institutional collaboration in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The workshop was held in Pakistan in March 2009, and discussed the participatory research in livelihoods that two Norwegian organisations conducted in Afghanistan. The paper states that this work has great potential for contributing further toward capacity and institution building in Afghanistan in several rural development sectors, including water and sanitation (WATSAN).'

'This issue of Capacity.Org looks at the capacities that need to be developed in order for the water and sanitation MDGs targets for 2015 to be achievable. The main focus is on capacity needs at the intermediate and local levels, but links between macro-level policy making and local-level implementation are also addressed.'

This report summarizes UN-HABITAT’s programme aimed at building capacities at local and national levels to achieve the Millennium Development Goals in African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries through slum upgrading policy development and implementation of pilot projects. Full paper in PDF format (1.25MB); Number of pages: 322p; Source (s) UN-HABITAT

If human development is the what of the UNDP mandate, capacity development is the how. UNDP defines capacity development as the process through which individuals, organizations and societies obtain, strengthen and maintain the capabilities to set and achieve their own development objectives. Working alongside governments, civil society and other partners in 166 countries, UNDP strives to promote human development by helping people to access the knowledge, experience and resources they need to bu more...

Improving lives through the alleviation of poverty is central to the UNDP approach to development. Some 1.2 billion people around the world live on less than a dollar a day, while almost 850 million go hungry every night. Poverty is not just about money: lack of access to essential resources goes beyond financial hardship to affect people’s health, education, security and opportunities for political participation. Solutions, then, need to address many dimensions while remaining targeted and me more...

‘Capacity development’ means different things to different people. However, it is generally considered essential to achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) relating to water and sanitation. The slow spread of safe water and sanitation is commonly attributed to a shortage of skilled people. Hence capacity development is predominantly associated with training staff in constructing physical assets such as toilets and water systems, particularly but not only in rural areas.

Meeting capacity needs is essential to achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). But these needs must be understood in the context of the wider environment in which practitioners work.

This issue of Capacity.org focuses on a practical and specific aspect of capacity development: what is needed to achieve the water and sanitation MDGs by 2015.

'China’s progress in poverty reduction over the last 25 years is enviable. One cannot fail to be impressed by what this vast nation of 1.3 billion people has achieved in so little time. In terms of a wide range of indicators, the progress has been remarkable. Poverty in terms of Income and consumption has been dramatically reduced. Progress has also been substantial in terms of human development indicators. Most of the Millennium Development Goals have either already been achieved or the count more...

This annual report presents the most comprehensive global assessment of progress to date, based on data provided by a large number of international organizations within and outside the UN system. The aggregate figures in the report provide an overview of regional progress under the eight goals and are a convenient way to track advances over time. The report is coordinated and published by the Statistics Division of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs.

Much technical assistance aimed at building capacity has failed to deliver the results sought. The article examines the causes and the possible solutions.