Capacity building

Much of FHI’s work involves capacity building—the process whereby the capabilities of in-country governments, institutions, NGOs, networks, communities, and individuals are strengthened to enable and sustain an expanded, comprehensive response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic.  Operational and infrastructural capacity building for organizations and institutions is often required to scale up prevention, care, and support programs and ensure that they are effectively designed, implemented, coordinated, and managed.

 

Capacity building also entails establishing and strengthening networks and linkages, implementing awareness and information campaigns, training and developing human resources, and strengthening training institutions. Capacity building involves developing tools and guidelines; identifying people to be trained, delivering training that is responsive to their needs, and providing appropriate learning environments; and ensuring supervision and long-term mentoring for continued skills transfer. Capacity building is also concerned with the effective use of staff and volunteers and the retention of skilled personnel.

 

Projects that engage in capacity building pay attention to how policies, laws, and regulations affect operations and the public health responses. Such projects analyze environments that facilitate or constrain the functional capacity of individuals or organizations, along with the processes that establish networks, norms, and social capital.