Third Edition of Practitioners' Handbook for Capacity Development: A Cross-Cultural Approach explores an innovative approach to capacity development (CD) in the context of international aid. The book re-defines capacity development as a cross cultural interaction. It provides frameworks and approaches for those involved in CD processes internationally. Practitioners and their partners are encouraged to build mutual understanding about the connection between cultural values and the existence, nature and development of capacity. This departure from previous functional approaches to CD activities will increase chances of success and sustainability in developing country contexts.Who is it for?Those involved in development work with people from other cultures, such as aid program managers and implementers, advisers, project staff, researchers and volunteers will find this book useful.

This book considers specific and practical ways in which NGO's can contribute to enabling people to build on the capacities they already possess. It reviews the types of social organisation with which NGO's might consider working and the provision of training in a variety of relevant skills and activities.

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH possesses over 30 years of experience in managing cooperation worldwide. It has now consolidated its comprehensive expertise by publishing this book. The management model Capacity WORKS is designed for everyone actually involved in cooperation: managers, executives, consultants and advisors in business, governance, public administration and the nonprofit sector. It provides a full introduction to the challenges of successful cooperation management, and supplies practitioners with tried and tested approaches. Five success factors (strategy, cooperation, steering structure, processes, and learning & innovation) delineate the various facets that help focus on the objectives and results of complex cooperation systems. The conceptual framework underlying the success factors is clearly set out, and the success factors are supplemented by an extensive toolbox to support practitioners working in these five areas. At the same time the manual gives readers a broad insight into the world of cooperation management for sustainable development. It includes numerous practical examples, proven contexts of application and glimpses into the work of international cooperation.

"This book contains seven chapters, each of which presents one of more cases of action learning or capacity development. These cases have engaged the research and non-governmental communities in diverse settings in -- mostly -- Africa. All aimed to strengthen intellectual engagement and the culture of enquiry, as part of a knowledge translation process. This means that not only knowledge institutes and researchers participated but also problem owners, policymakers, practitioners, advocates and other end-users of research."--Publisher.