Strengthening systems to build stronger societies

Capacity development creates enabling environments in which local organizations and stakeholders can produce locally-relevant and sustainable development results: a process of creating more capable and resilient institutions that can respond to today’s challenges and adapt to new challenges in the years to come.

As the 2015 deadline for achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MGDs) draws near, it becomes increasingly clear that developing adequate country capacity will be necessary to accelerating progress on – and ultimately achieving – the MDGs. The outcomes of the recent global development forums have signaled a momentum (by both donors and partner countries) to strengthen capacities at all levels, national, sub-national, thematic and sectoral, and invest more effectively and strategically in capacity development.

Notwithstanding the fact that the argument for capacity development has been nominally accepted, achieving the MDGs will require dedicated attention to the policy and financial inputs needed for more effective and sustainable investments in capacity development.