Opportunities For Capacity Development Research Articles

Climate change dynamics and youth participation decisions in aquatic food systems: Case of the oyster sector in The Gambia, West Africa

Climate change adversely affects aquatic food systems, causing livelihood challenges and other socioeconomic complexities. We use the case of the oyster sector in The Gambia to explore the awareness of climate change impacts and its effect on youth participation decisions. The paper also examines how family ties to oyster activities, climate adaptation strategies, capacity development opportunities, and introductions of climate-smart innovations influence youths’ decisions to engage in oyster value chain activities. We conducted focus group discussions (FGDs) with youths to explore the factors affecting their participation decisions in the oyster sector. We then used information from the FGDs to design a survey questionnaire to collect data from 312 youths through a simple random sampling technique. Through the probit model, the results show that awareness and training opportunities on climate change, discussions about climate change with family members, training on oyster management, awareness on the use of climate-smart tools, decisions to stay or leave the oyster harvesting community, family ties to oyster harvesting, and awareness of climate change adaptation strategies, positively influenced youths’ decisions to succeed in oyster activities. The educational level and climate-related stressors negatively influenced youths’ succession decisions. This paper contributes to the existing literature on the need to improve the human capital of youths through relevant skills and capacity-building opportunities to encourage their participation in aquatic food systems. The study suggests that the successful engagement of youths in the oyster sector requires an enabling environment supporting the recruitment and retention of youths despite the challenges of climate change.

Caught between principles and politics: Challenges and opportunities for capacity development from governmental donors’ perspectives

Capacity development —an integral part of development cooperation in general and for disaster risk reduction (DRR) in particular—has had limited success so far. This article investigates capacity development challenges and opportunities from the viewpoint of the staff of progressive governmental donor agencies. Data were obtained from 26 semi-structured interviews with informants from seven donor agencies. The results show that donor staff are highly committed to the application of established principles for effective capacity development. However, despite capacity development being recognized as a cornerstone of development cooperation and crucial for DRR, it is described as a complex, broad or empty concept. The results reveal tensions between the principles for capacity development and current political priorities, power relations, and structural constraints of the aid system. Capacity development is undermined by the widespread aversion of donors and external partners to engage in the perceived risks associated with applying the principles in practice since they are accountable to other actors along the aid chain. Capacity development requires donors and external partners to let go of control and allow flexibility, adaptability and innovative approaches over longer time frames. This requires explicit risk-sharing agreements along the aid chain. Efforts are necessary at all levels of the system to realize the principles and conditions that enable effective capacity development for DRR.

Biocultural Diversity for Food System Transformation Under Global Environmental Change

Biocultural diversity is central to the nutrition, resilience, and adaptive capacity of Indigenous and traditional peoples, who collectively maintain the longest ongoing human experiences with the provision of food under environmental change. In the form of crops and livestock and associated knowledge on their cultivation and use, food-related biocultural diversity likewise underpins global food security. As food system transformation is increasingly recognized as an urgent priority, we argue that food security, sustainability, resilience, and adaptive capacity can be furthered through greater emphasis on conservation, use, and celebration of food-related biocultural diversity. We provide examples from the Parque de la Papa, Peru, a “food biocultural diversity neighborhood” which through advocacy and partnerships based around its diversity, has both enhanced local communities and contributed to food security at a much larger scale. We outline collaborative actions which we believe are important to up- and out-scale food biocultural diversity neighborhood successes. Further research and knowledge sharing are critical to better document, understand, track, and communicate the value, functions, and state of biocultural diversity in food systems. Expanded training and capacity development opportunities are important to enable the interchange of experiences and visions on food, health, sustainability and resilience, climate adaptation, equity and justice, and livelihood generation with others facing similar challenges. Finally, strengthened networking across food biocultural diversity neighborhoods is essential to their persistence and growth as they increasingly engage with local, national, and international organizations, based on shared interests and on their own terms, across five continents.

The road to partnerships in practice: Practical wisdom as an alternative to managerialism in NGO partnerships

AbstractMotivationThe idea of partnerships in international development originated in the 1970s and was canonized in the rhetoric of the 2005 Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness, but such partnerships have been criticized for their inability to create ownership and capacity changes in practice.PurposeThe article presents a case study of a partnership between a Northern NGO (NNGO) and a Southern NGO (SNGO) that aims to enhance capacity development.Approach and methodsWhile acknowledging the critiques of partnerships, we ask how a praxis‐informed analysis of the SNGO–NNGO partnership might create a basis for capacity development. A case study of an NNGO–SNGO partnership that seeks to enhance capacity development.ResultsWe argue that the potential for capacity development through partnerships can be enhanced by using a pragmatically oriented approach that renders visible power relations and values differences between donors and recipients.ConclusionThe case study has implications for partnerships in practice. As partnerships mature, organizational and strategic complexity increase the need for phronetic praxis, or practical wisdom, rather than just sticking to managerialism. An approach to capacity development that is less power‐blind, and more aware of value differences, could enhance the potential for capacity development.Policy implicationsOur study contributes to the pragmatic tradition in partnerships in development, suggesting that the praxis approach can be a way to enhance and deal with opportunities for capacity development.

Perceptions about data-informed decisions: an assessment of information-use in high HIV-prevalence settings in South Africa

BackgroundInformation-use is an integral component of a routine health information system and essential to influence policy-making, program actions and research. Despite an increased amount of routine data collected, planning and resource-allocation decisions made by health managers for managing HIV programs are often not based on data. This study investigated the use of information, and barriers to using routine data for monitoring the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) programs in two high HIV-prevalence districts in South Africa.MethodsWe undertook an observational study using a multi-method approach, including an inventory of facility records and reports. The performance of routine information systems management (PRISM) diagnostic ‘Use of Information’ tool was used to assess the PMTCT information system for evidence of data use in 57 health facilities in two districts. Twenty-two in-depth interviews were conducted with key informants to investigate barriers to information use in decision-making. Participants were purposively selected based on their positions and experience with either producing PMTCT data and/or using data for management purposes. We computed descriptive statistics and used a general inductive approach to analyze the qualitative data.ResultsDespite the availability of mechanisms and processes to facilitate information-use in about two-thirds of the facilities, evidence of information-use (i.e., indication of some form of information-use in available RHIS reports) was demonstrated in 53% of the facilities. Information was inadequately used at district and facility levels to inform decisions and planning, but was selectively used for reporting and monitoring program outputs at the provincial level. The inadequate use of information stemmed from organizational issues such as the lack of a culture of information-use, lack of trust in the data, and the inability of program and facility managers to analyze, interpret and use information.ConclusionsManagers’ inability to use information implied that decisions for program implementation and improving service delivery were not always based on data. This lack of data use could influence the delivery of health care services negatively. Facility and program managers should be provided with opportunities for capacity development as well as practice-based, in-service training, and be supported to use information for planning, management and decision-making.

Lessons Learned on Health Adaptation to Climate Variability and Change: Experiences Across Low- and Middle-Income Countries.

Background:There is limited published evidence of the effectiveness of adaptation in managing the health risks of climate variability and change in low- and middle-income countries.Objectives:To document lessons learned and good practice examples from health adaptation pilot projects in low- and middle-income countries to facilitate assessing and overcoming barriers to implementation and to scaling up.Methods:We evaluated project reports and related materials from the first five years of implementation (2008–2013) of multinational health adaptation projects in Albania, Barbados, Bhutan, China, Fiji, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Philippines, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. We also collected qualitative data through a focus group consultation and 19 key informant interviews.Results:Our recommendations include that national health plans, policies, and budget processes need to explicitly incorporate the risks of current and projected climate variability and change. Increasing resilience is likely to be achieved through longer-term, multifaceted, and collaborative approaches, with supporting activities (and funding) for capacity building, communication, and institutionalized monitoring and evaluation. Projects should be encouraged to focus not just on shorter-term outputs to address climate variability, but also on establishing processes to address longer-term climate change challenges. Opportunities for capacity development should be created, identified, and reinforced.Conclusions:Our analyses highlight that, irrespective of resource constraints, ministries of health and other institutions working on climate-related health issues in low- and middle-income countries need to continue to prepare themselves to prevent additional health burdens in the context of a changing climate and socioeconomic development patterns. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP405

Competence Utilisation Among Foreign-trained Faculty Members in Saudi Public Universities

The foreign scholarships awarded by Saudi public universities to their trainee academics are intended to provide substantial learning and capacity development opportunities for future faculty members, through education and training at well-established higher education institutions throughout the world. At the same time, such overseas study is intended to provide sponsoring universities with highly qualified domestic faculty members, who can help meet staffing needs and strengthen human and institutional capabilities. However, this investment can be successful for faculty members and universities alike only if faculty members are effectively utilised by their universities after they return from overseas, and given the opportunity to apply their acquired skills, knowledge, and experiences. The purpose of this study was to examine the important but largely ignored issue of competence utilisation among foreign-trained faculty members in Saudi public universities. First, the study explored and assessed how the education, skills, abilities, and experiences of foreign-trained faculty members are fully and desirably utilised through the requirements and challenges of their work. Second, the study examined how patterns of competence utilisation systematically influence important job attitudes and outcomes. Third, the study explored the factors that influence competence utilisation among foreign-trained faculty members. This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using a concurrent mixed methods design. This design involved collecting both quantitative and qualitative data at approximately the same time, analysing data separately, and then interpreting the results to form the basis for the study discussion and conclusion. Quantitative data were collected, through a survey instrument, from a sample of 586 of foreign-trained faculty members in three major universities. Qualitative data were collected from semi-structured interviews with 21 foreign-trained faculty members who were drawn from one selected university. The findings of the study generally suggested that competence underutilisation might be a pervasive problem that has negative ramifications for foreign-trained faculty members and Saudi universities. Specifically, the quantitative results revealed that a substantial portion of foreign-trained faculty members in this study were not fully and adequately utilised by their universities. Expanding on the quantitative results, the qualitative findings provided more insights into how foreign-trained faculty members interpreted and evaluated the current realities of their competence utilisation. The perceptions of most interview participants indicated that their jobs failed to provide them with the opportunities they desired, and maybe felt they deserved, to fully utilise their acquired skills and qualifications, leading to a perceived deficit in the way they were utilised. Additionally, competence utilisation was found to be significantly positively related to job satisfaction, organisational commitment, and job performance, and significantly negatively related to turnover intentions, even after controlling for demographic variables. Moreover, analysis of the qualitative data revealed several key factors that have the potential to influence competence utilisation among foreign-trained faculty members, including facilities, resources, and infrastructure; clarity of work duties, tasks, and procedures; knowledge about available abilities and talents; bureaucracy; workload; regulations and policies; opportunities for developing existing skills and learning additional skills; work ethics, values, and customs; monitoring and evaluation; career path planning and competence management; and individual’s desire, motivation, and determination. The findings of the study have important implications for policy and practice on competence utilisation.

Professional training in nutrition in Central and Eastern Europe: current status and opportunities for capacity development.

To examine the availability of academic programmes in nutrition and identify nutrition training needs in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). A questionnaire with close-ended and open-ended questions was distributed to the members of the United Nations University Standing Committee on Nutrition, Regional Network for Capacity Development in Nutrition in CEE (NCDN CEE). Participants' responses to the questionnaire including the comments of their colleagues from home institutions were obtained in group discussions during NCDN CEE meetings in 2010-2013. Sixteen CEE countries' experts and their colleagues from home institutions involved in NCDN CEE activities 2007-2013. The responses were obtained from fourteen out of sixteen participating countries; five countries have established Bachelor, Master and PhD studies in nutrition (Croatia, Czech Republic, Poland, Slovak Republic and Slovenia), whereas in Latvia and Republic of Macedonia only Bachelor and Master studies are set up. Seven countries have no Bachelor, Master or PhD studies: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Estonia, Lithuania, Montenegro, Romania and Serbia. Introduction to data analysis and Nutritional epidemiology are the most needed nutrition trainings that would increase working competence of nutritionists and nutrition-related professionals in CEE. Availability of academic programmes in nutrition in CEE countries is limited. Opportunities for improving the competence of existing and future nutrition-related professionals should be addressed at national and regional level; distance learning courses and creation of a regional centre for nutrition training were seen as opportunities for sustainable capacity development in nutrition in CEE.

Study to Develope a Training Syllabus for the Universitary Basketball Teams

Abstract To get the value in university basketball, it is important to verify that training concepts must consider choosing the most effective means of training by simultaneously addressing all components of training, focusing on capacity development opportunities and athletes. Research undertaken in the study has as main objective to improve the university's women basketball teams. The need to develop a curricula to instruct the girls universitary basketball teams which represent universities is determined by achieving development and unification of content and training methodology, trends and guidelines that currently occurs in the young basketball players game and training.

Coping in an HIV/AIDS-dominated context: teachers promoting resilience in schools

This paper explains how teachers in schools function as resources to buoy resilience in the face of human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome-compounded adversities. We draw on participatory reflection and action data from a longitudinal study with teachers (n = 57, 5 males, 52 females) from six schools in three South African provinces. The study tracks the psychosocial support offered by teachers following their participation in the Supportive Teachers, Assets and Resilience project. Verbatim interview transcriptions were thematically analysed and three themes (as well as subthemes and categories) emerged: (i) Teachers use resources to promote resilience in schools [teachers use (a) systems and (b) neighbourhood health and social development services to identify and refer vulnerable cases]; (ii) Teachers form partnerships to promote resilience in schools [teacher partnerships include (a) children and families, (b) community volunteers and (c) community organizations, businesses and government] and (iii) School-based support is offered to vulnerable individuals [by means of (a) vegetable gardens, (b) emotional and health support and (c) capacity development opportunities]. We conclude that teachers can promote resilience in schools by establishing networks with service providers that function across systems to support vulnerable groups. We theorize that the core of systemic networks is relationships, that relationship-driven support networks mitigate the effects of cumulative risk and school-based networks can enable schools to function as resilience-promoting resources.