ABSTRACT
Capacity development, education and training are generally recognized in scientific literature, practical experience and political reality as cross-cutting issues crucial not only to promote renewable energy activities but also to move towards more sustainable development paths. The quotation from Agenda 21 in Box 14.1 illustrates the general needs perception and also describes some of the generic elements of capacity development (CD). While this chapter will not discuss various approaches to CD in theoretical detail, it is important to keep in mind that there has been significant development in both the theoretical and the practical understanding of the CD concept over the past decades. Vast experience with CD exists in most sectors in both industrialized and developing countries. The key issue is therefore to understand what the specific needs for CD are in relation to the energy sector and, as a subset of that, how to ensure that the specific conditions and requirements for CD for renewable energy technologies (RETs) are understood and addressed.
