Policy resources, capacities and capabilities

Abstract

Although policy capacity is among the most fundamental concepts in modern governance, few systematic efforts have been made to operationalize and measure it. This chapter presents a conceptual framework for analyzing and measuring policy capacity under which policy capacity refers to the skills and resources that governments bring to policy-making. Policy competences are categorized into three general types of skills essential for policy success - analytical, operational and political - and policy capabilities or resources needed to exercise these are assessed at the individual, organizational and system levels. This framework provides a diagnostic tool helping to identify capacity gaps and offer critical insights into strategies to overcome such gaps in professional behaviour, organizational and managerial activities, and the policy systems.