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Capacity building and institutional development: reflections on water
Author(s) -
Franks Tom
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
public administration and development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.574
H-Index - 44
eISSN - 1099-162X
pISSN - 0271-2075
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1099-162x(199902)19:1<51::aid-pad54>3.0.co;2-n
Subject(s) - capacity building , water sector , capacity development , development (topology) , business , architectural engineering , environmental resource management , economics , environmental science , economic growth , engineering , water supply , environmental engineering , mathematics , mathematical analysis
The article reviews ideas about capacity building which have been articulated for the water sector, looking both at its essential elements and at practical approaches. Capacity is contrasted with capability, and the article goes on to look at three components of capacity building—increasing capability, the enabling environment and institutional development. Examples from the water sector are given to illustrate the points. The article concludes that these components are indeed important contributions to capacity building, but their relative importance will vary from one situation to another. In particular, institutional development must not always be accepted uncritically as a necessary part of capacity building. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.