ABSTRACT
The Habitat Agenda identifies capacity building and partnership development as one of the requirements for reaching its two main goals of adequate shelter for all and sustainable human settlements development in an urbanizing world. Chapters 16 and 17 review selected aspects of progress towards those goals. This chapter concerns itself with capacity building and the development of partnerships. The discussion is especially oriented to the greater role of local government and the broadening of cooperative arrangements to include civil society groups as full partners.
Capacity building goes beyond the training of individuals to the strengthening of the institutions and the frameworks within which they work
As a concept, capacity building goes beyond the training of individuals to the strengthening of the institutions and the frameworks within which they work (see Figure 14.1). This chapter will first consider capacity building in the context of the decentralization processes through which national governments devolve functions to local authorities. Effective decentralization requires, among other things, that the transfer of responsibilities to municipal governments be accompanied by a parallel transfer of resources and the creation of necessary revenue-generating capacity (see Chapters 4 and 13). It also requires appropriate institutional, legal and financial frameworks for development and management tasks. By implication, it is necessary to strengthen the capacity of local governments (see pp 162–165; see also Chapter 4). Decentralization and strengthening of local authorities are also mandated by the Habitat Agenda. Capacity Building Concept https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9781849770729/6a23cf51-91c1-46fc-bd4b-b731a7e64903/content/fig14_01_C.jpg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"/> Source: Davidson (Background papers)There is increasing recognition of the importance and potential to foster capacity building through horizontal processes
Capacity building has typically been conceived as happening in a top-down manner, involving designated agencies and training institutes. High-level experts and consultants play key roles. The process is characteristically hierarchical and relies on vertically structured relationships. However, there is increasing recognition of the importance and potential to foster capacity building through horizontal processes. Such relationships can link sectoral agencies of different local governments in exchange and information sharing schemes. A good example of this approach is municipal international cooperation (see pp 163–165).