Environmental Science & Climate Change

Capacity building is the process by which individuals or organizations acquire, improve, or retain the skills, knowledge, tools, equipment, or other resources needed to perform their jobs competently. It also refers to improving one's performance and thus increasing one's capacity. Capacity development and capacity building are frequently used interchangeably. In other words, capacity building is an investment in the effectiveness and long-term viability of society. Capacity building focuses on specific target groups involved in climate change adaptation, such as practitioners working in a specific region, those focusing on a specific climate threat and/or sector, or those dealing with a multi-sector and multi-threats perspective. Capacity building is essential not only at one point in time, but also throughout the entire adaptation cycle.

There are numerous ways to build capacity, which can be divided into the following categories:

·         Education (through colleges, universities, and other institutions of higher learning).

·         Training (through classes, seminars, webinars, and online learning).

·         Networking (through conferences, workshops, sharing platforms, communities of practice, and networks of excellence).

·         Coaching.

·         Technical assistance (through expert missions, twinning).

·         The focus of at-risk groups.