Capacity Building
Capacity building is "The development of sustainable skills, organisational structures, resources and commitment to health improvement in health and other sectors, to prolong and multiply health gains many times over"(Hawe et al, 1999).
“Building capacity to improve health is an important element of effective health promotion practice. It increases the range of people, organisations and communities who are able to address health problems, and in particular, problems that arise out of social inequity and social exclusion.”
Capacity building taps into the existing abilities of individuals, communities, organisations or systems to increase involvement, decision-making and ownership of issues. It leads to a greater capacity of people, organisations and communities to influence and promote health, and incorporates advocacy.
Capacity building relies on the development of partnerships and recognises that strategies are more effective and sustainable if the effort extends beyond the traditional health sector boundaries. By working across sectors and systems, there is the potential to build individual skills, to strengthen community action, and to empower organisations and systems to promote sustainable health behaviours and support healthy environments.
References:
- Hawe, P., King, L., Noort, M., Jordens, C., Lloyd L. (1999). Indicators to help with capacity building in health promotion. NSW Health, Sydney.
- A Framework for Building Capacity to Improve Health. NSW Health. Sydney (2001)