Capacity Building and Empowerment - community development

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CAPACITY BUILDING AND EMPOWERMENT

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION TO CAPACITY BUILDING AND EMPOWERMENT

Meaning of capacity building and empowerment

Definition:

Capacity building is all about encouraging and promoting people (shareholders)

by enriching them with the skills and techniques that are needed for developing their community.

Empowerment

What is being empowered?

 Power is the ability to make others act according to ones wishes to work for the ability to meet
certain interest. Power has to do with influencing other behavior to meet ones needs or standards.
 It is therefore a political process that seeks to distinguish in various for poor and the
disadvantaged. It initiates the relinquishing of power from personalized destinations into the
hands of the people.  Empowerment is the process where efforts by the grass root people are
consolidated to solve people problems, it includes appropriation and adoption technology in
extension services so that it serves the people to respond to their development priorities 
Empowerment can also be defined as the process of gaining the strength and visions to work for
positive changes individually or to work with others. People become empowered by their own
efforts and not by what others do for them.  Capacity building enhances people’s ability
through training in appropriate skills and it entails issues on human development such as
scientific, technological, institutional etc.

 It enriches people with ideas, skills and knowledge in tackling their day to day problems

Elements of Community Strength

Community empowerment goes well beyond political or legal permission on to participate

political system, it includes capacity to do things that the community members want to do.

Empowerment include capacity building and strengthening in various dimension

This element of community strength includes;

Altruism

It’s the promotion and degree to which individuals are ready to sacrifice to themselves for the
benefit of the community as a whole (reflected in the decrease or generosity, individual humility,
communal pride, mutual supportiveness, law , concern, commutative, sister/brotherhood)as a
community development worker move altruism in developing more capacity.

Common value
This is the degree to which members of a community shares value especially the idea they
belong to common entity that supersedes the interest of members within it.

Communal services

The more the members of a community have access to the needed communal facilities the
greater the empowerment i roads, market portable water, access to education etc.

Communication

As a community gets better communication it gets stringer in empowerment. Poor

communication means weaker organization.

Confidence

While expressed individual how much confidence is shared amongst the community as a whole
as understanding that the community can achieve whatever it takes to do.

Information

The strength of a community depends on upon ability process and analyze. Information that is
level of awareness, knowledge and wisdom found among key individual and community as a
whole.

Contest

Political and administrative.

A community will be stronger and more able to get stringer and sustain its strength more, the
more it exists in an environment that supports the strengthening. This environment includes;

 Political – Including values and attitude for national leader law and administration 
Administrative – Attitude of servants and technicians as well as government regulation and
procedures.  Intervention – The extent and effectiveness of mobilizing management, training
awareness rising and stimulation and strengthening the community. It is the intervention
sustainable or does depend upon by  outsiders, donors who have different goals and the agenda
than the community itself

Wealth

The more wealth the community has, the stronger it is. To what extend a community is able to
control actual and potential resources, production and distribution of scarce and useful goods and
services.

Players in community capacity building

Players in community capacity building and empowerment process are the participants involved
in decision making and planning of its faster/ sustainable community programs.

Stakeholders

Include people who are funding the entire programme of the community e. donor agencies i.
World Bank. IMF etc.

Change agents
Are community development workers who work alongside the facilitators to boost the lives of
the people and are like community development workers, government officials, business and
social workers amongst others.

Client system

The community or target group, the people to be empowered.

Levels of social Agency

 It is crucial for organization change agents to undergo change towards strengthening its own
position by building the position capacities of partners this involves looking at search areas. 
Does the organization have the board committees that oversees its operations that can hire and
fire  Does it have legal entity?

 Are there policies, terms and working guidelines to all those people in the organization 
Does it have qualified staff trained to do the job?  Are procedures for a bill cleared and
accessible?  Is staff welfare spelt /entrenched  Does the organization deal effectively with the
contradiction?  Challenges in capacity building and empowerment

Some of the communities cited challenges that tend to negatively affect the effectiveness of
development workers change agents within a frozen community include the following;

Negative community development

Towards new innovations and new ideas people realize that they have lived with their problems
long enough to know how to cope. Any new possibilities tend to appear threatening as they will
change the existing traditions and disturb the comfort of stable queue.
Outsiders are accepted but often with suspicion over their purpose. Are the outsiders genuine
about their concern about your fate? What is their interest? What do they gain out of helping us?
These are genuine questions which should be addressed through open dialogue. Creation of good
rapport and trust now becomes a critical challenge.

Presence of corrupt leaders who are out for personal gain Make community entry for external
development agents a nightmare. The best is to develop diplomacy until such a time the
community develops enough awareness and confidence to tell such leaders off or replace them
altogether. Leaders are not acceptable to their deeds.

Limited resources and expertise

Empirical observations hold that rural communities often have limited organization an
managerial skills. This statue exposes rural community initiative not only to the vulnerability
against intentional management and theft but also the causes projects to fall due to inadequate
planning. The state of limited resources goes beyond skilled manpower to include financial and
material resources; this slows down the pace of community development process.

Unconducive customs and traditions

While it is true that the customs and traditions will always work against new and innovative
ideas from without experience tends to indicate that many times people are obliged to follow
customs and traditions even if they work against development.

Customs and traditions are valuable as a source of peoples sense of identity and self-confidence
however people tend to regard externally initiated ideas/ innovation on development programs
with suspension and contempt disabling the capacity and empowerment programs.

Contradictory approaches among filed development workers and community mobilizes

Contradictory policies and practices among filed development actors have tended to compromise
the quality of participation within the communities for instances while one change agent
promotes self-reliance type of community mobilization that ensures sustainability another will
chose to give hand out to induce peoples involvement in the same community, thus most likely
the beneficiaries communities will chose to identify with the immediate benefits hence
compromising on the long term benefits of the arithmetic participation. The challenge of a lone
voice Properties of participation and the empowerment of the weak and the poor as the basis of
human empowerment are usual y un popular with authorities or the custodians of the institutional
power , for this reason the protagonist of social justice are usually ostracized not only by these
authorities but also by their unconverted colleagues and worse still at the time by the same
community itself.

Middle class dilemma

In most cases change agents working among the poor are often quite well educated, their social
economic status qualify them for the middle class bracket beyond they are often stationed in the
remote villages semi desert and slums where amenities of urban environment are not available.
On the contrary their peers stationed in the urban areas enjoy all their amenities.

Those working under hardship are working under constant temptation to give up this hardship
and cross the floor Central control reinforced by the absence of effective methods of
mobilization.

The prospect of community autonomy is to date perceived a threat to central authority and
natural unity is both valid and noble sometimes the agenda has been overstretched to muscle
community identity this become obstacle to authentic community participation and
empowerment

Biases typical to community change agents / mobilization

Beside other challenges community mobilization are also themselves the source of further
contradictions. They often manifest biases in their community mobilization errands bases which
may not be conscious about. These biases include; age bias, ideological bias, professional bias,
spatial bias, dry season
Bias and diplomacy bias.

Remedies to the challenges

 Gather facts as the basis for sharing information to as many people as possible. Indicate the
views of the opponents to be able to counter effectively with facts.

 To build on a positive attitude towards change among the people, the change agents should
use peers to win over their friends. Youth to youth, elders to elders, women to women or
professional to professional. Be friendly to whole in order to win the trust and confidence hence
be open.

 Try to understand and emphasize with people understand reality as well as their fears and
limitation to be able to see through their eyes and speak in their

CHAPTER TWO

CAPACITY BUILDING AND EMPOWERMENT INDICATOR

Meaning of Capacity Building and Empowerment Indicators

The concept of indicator comes from the Latin word indicate which means to print out or
proclaim. It is a way of knowing or telling or communicating something without telling or
knowing all the aspects of the subject. Indicators are derived from one or more quantity set of
data depending on how the community workers define their variables.

By capacity indicator it means the measurements that are used to detect the degree of
performance of development project and programme in the community.

Types of capacity building and empowerment indicator

These indicators are categorized as follows;

 Economic indicator

 Health and sanitation indicator

 Political indicator

 Social indicator

 Cultural indicator

 Technological psycho – spiritual indicator

Economic indicator

A community is economically empowered when it is able to meet its day to day cost of living
effectively without problems. Economic indicators looks at facts like employment /
unemployment rate of men and women changes in the time used in selected activities e. great
sharing by household neighbors e. salary

Wage difference between men and women

The ability to make small or large purchases independently

Percentage of the available credit, financial and technical support going to men and women from
government to NGO resources.
Health and Sanitation Indicator

 A community is empowered in terms of health and sanitation if is is able to meet its day to day
cost in health and sanitation issues effectively.

 Health and sanitation indicators looks at facts like;

 Are people able to access medication easily whenever they need?

 Is the environment clean to avoid easy outbreak of diseases like cholera and diarrhea etc. 
Through the community accessibility the affordable health facilities one can be able to state
whether the community empowered

 Health care is very essential need for humanity. People should be able to lead healthy lives
and protect their families from some illness e. malaria, typhoid, dysentery, cholera etc.

 Accessibility to health facilities is crucial factor to tell people in a community

 Sanitation is the availability of cleaner / tidy environment / habitat

 Human beings who live in untidy environment are said to be low in

 development and those who habitat tidy environment are said to be empowered.

 Health care and sanitation is a measure to indicate how accessible the people are to drugs and
their potentiality to escape some illness which accrues as a result of poor sanitation.

 Political indicator

 It looks at issues like the percentage of people participating in political affairs of the country
(community )

 Percentage of ladies / women in various political parties / affairs

 Percentage of the people involved in decision making i. how many men and women

 Percentage of people (sex) registered as voters how many men and women are working) 
Percentage of people (sex) in local and regional position (how many men and women are
working)

 Social indicator
Some scholars argue that culture first then development, cultural indicators include;

a) The major cultural practices that tend to influence people’s attitude towards work e. initiation

b) Look at gender participation of women in development issues

c) The resources spent and the time at cultural resources

d) Distribution of resources in terms of inheritance of land e. if the child is allowed to access the
resources.

e) The squatter problem and the landlessness e. how many people are legitimately owing land.

 The fundamental role of culture and empowerment is the building

of peace, democracy, and development ideas that promote self-reliance, security and provision of
basic needs therefore culture is an indispensable recipe for development.

Technological Psycho – Spiritual Empowerment Indicator

Technology involves the use of machinery and knowledge to facilitate the production of goods
and services for sustainance. In Africa the low level of technology is associated with the
economic backwardness of the continent and the spread of poverty.

The technology adopted by the community acts as the development and empowerment indicator
because it influences people’s activities. This can be seen in;
 Whether a community uses traditional technology in the production. In community traditional
techniques they use a lot of time and power reaps very little.

 Whether people use technology to control population growth

 Whether community access markets by use of technology e. internet, radio ,TV.

 Raw materials for instance do farmers produce their products or sell them raw when farmers
sell raw materials their earnings are extremely low so the community should be advised tom
produce their commodity and get more from it.

 The quality of agricultural commodity e. seeds and animals breed whether or not farmers are
certified seeds or hybrid e. artificial insemination of animals.

Psycho – spiritual need of the community

These include love affection and procreation, dignity and respect Productive self- actualization
through use of improved technologies. The attainance of psycho spiritual needs is made possible.

Strategies of Building Capacity

Effective capacity building is attained through the following strategies or methodologies;

Training programmes

Change agents should offer training programmes through building capacity

Advocacy

Capacity building can be affected through sensitization of people or creating awareness by

advocating / advocacy means.

Networking skills

Formulation of linkages and collaboration assist in sharing of ideas and resources therefore
capacity building can be attained through this integration of others mutual co existent Promotion
of an enabling environment

TYPES OF CAPACITY BUILDING

Capacity building applied different models / strategies of empowering the poor(marginalized) or

disadvantaged people. These types or levels of reaching people include;

Participation in an element manner in a top down development frame work approach

It is a kind of participation which is extremely induced and therefore outside peoples control. It
is divided into three levels;

a)Extractonist Participation

This type of participation is reminiscent with central government development planning where
blue prints are drawn and handed down for execution though government extension networks. In
this frame work planning bureaucrats see participation as the process of drawn people into the
implementation of pre- determined development goals hence people are seen as a resource
potential that need to be mobilized. This approach emphasizes the indispensability of central
government planning, bureaus in the identification, planning and implementation of development
activities and projects. It also involves people often involuntary financial and material
contribution towards public projects.
b)Vertical Participation

It has been accrued that this kind of participation manifest itself in the circumstances where
community power brokers develops mutually beneficial relations with individual elites or
government officials as the basis for peoples mobilization for participation. E. patrol client’s
networks and political alliances. In both cases people are not concerned with influencing
government policies as much as developing paternistic relationship that will assure them of
immediate and long term benefits.

This form of participation is perpetuated by local power brokers within the communities who
form linkage between the people and the patrons. Power broken usually has alliances with the
government officials or, the political. They benefit individually from such relationships of
vertical linage usually with such

peanut reaching the people they represent. People are kept under illusionary expectations of
security in time of hardships in addition to occasional and significant trickles of material benefit
from the top. These vertical approach usually happens when people represents like the members
of a particular turnout to be compromised or brought by powers.

c) Hand out induced participation

Participation has also been understood in terms of the handouts receivable from a development
activity. This perception is associated with economist and technocrats who even through
conceding the widespread failure of conventional development approaches in poverty alleviation
yet still maintained the supremacy of development expertise and technical know-how over the
potential for ordinary people to assume such responsibilities. The expert’s agreement is that since
the poverty basically is caused by mal distribution of benefits of development, designs to experts
hence peoples participation is ensured through handouts to people and to leave development
designs to the experts hence peoples participation is ensured through fair share in the benefits
acquiring from development endeavors handout induced approach to participation tends to
maintain the supremacy of professional knowledge and expertise which leads to beuracraziation
of professional services`.
Participation as a Fundamental Bottom up Development Approach

(Participatory Rural Appraisal) approach model

It is the ideal method of participation that seeks to empower the powerless by making an attempt
to understand the poor and learn from them.

It makes the poor assume full responsibility over their own destiny within the frame work of
their cultural and socio economic realities. Poverty is believed to be structural product whose
blame could not in any way be attributed to the poor people’s but to the structural forces of local
and global society hence it becomes everybody’s responsibility to make the world a better place
and more hospitable for every single human person .

People take control of their own lives through making their own choices and priorities, planning,
implementation and making judgments on the project’s success or failure. Authentic
participation is incomplete without the

TYPES OF CAPACITY BUILDING Capacity building applied different models /

strategies of empowering thepoor(marginalized) or disadvantaged people.

These types or levels of reachingpeople include;Participation in an element manner in a

top down development frame workapproach It is a kind of participation which is
extremely induced and therefore outsidepeoples control.

It is divided into three levels;

a)Extractonist Participation This type of participation is reminiscent with central government

developmentplanning where blue prints are drawn and handed down for execution
thoughgovernment extension networks.

In this frame work planning bureaucrats seeparticipation as the process of drawn people
into the implementation of pre-determined development goals hence people are seen as a
resource potentialthat need to be mobilized.

This approach emphasizes the indispensability ofcentral government planning, bureaus

in the identification, planning andimplementation of development activities and projects. It
also involves peopleoften involuntary financial and material contribution towards public
projects.
b)Vertical ParticipationIt has been accrued that this kind of participation manifest
itself in thecircumstances where community power brokers develops mutually
beneficialrelations with individual elites or government officials as the basis for
peoplesmobilization for participation. E.g.

patrol client’s networks and political alliances.In both cases people are not concerned with
influencing government policies asmuch as developing paternistic relationship that will assure
them of immediateand long term benefits.This form of participation is perpetuated by
local power brokers within thecommunities who form linkage between the people
and the patrons. Powerbroken usually has alliances with the government officials or, the
political. Theybenefit individually from such relationships of vertical linage usually with

peanut reaching the people they represent. People are kept under illusionaryexpectations of
security in time of hardships in addition to occasional andsignificant trickles of
material benefit from the top. These vertical approachusually happens when people
represents like the members of a particularturnout to be compromised or brought by
powers.c) Hand out induced participation Participation has also been understood in terms of the
handouts receivable froma development activity. This perception is associated with
economist andtechnocrats who even through conceding the widespread failure of
conventionaldevelopment approaches in poverty alleviation yet still maintained the supremacyof
development expertise and technical know-how over the potential for ordinarypeople to assume
such responsibilities. The expert’s agreement is that since thepoverty basically is caused by
mal distribution of benefits of development,designs to experts hence peoples participation
is ensured through handouts topeople and to leave development designs to the experts
hence peoplesparticipation is ensured through fair share in the benefits acquiring
fromdevelopment endeavors.The handout induced approach to participation tends tomaintain the
supremacy of professional knowledge and expertise which leads tobeuracraziation of
professional services`.Participation as a Fundamental Bottom up Development Approach
(Participatory Rural Appraisal) approach modelIt is the ideal method of participation that seeks
to empower the powerless bymaking an attempt to understand the poor and learn from them. It
makes thepoor assume full responsibility over their own destiny within the frame work oftheir
cultural and socio economic realities. Poverty is believed to be structuralproduct whose blame
could not in any way be attributed to the poor people’s butto the structural forces of local and
global society hence it becomes everybody’sresponsibility to make the world a better place and
more hospitable for everysingle human person .People take control of their own lives through
making theirown choices and priorities, planning, implementation and making judgments onthe
project’s success or failure. Authentic participation is incomplete without

Attitude People’s perceptions and ideologies on a given fact, a mode of empowermentshould

capture people’s ideologies for instance what does the society think of theprogram is the
community positive on the development issues.Social integrationA mode of empowerment
should facilitate the building of solidarity. An integrativeempowerment means capacity
building which is bridging allows for socialcohesion between different parties in the
community. Resources They are the potential or endowment a community has.
Empowering peoplemeans getting the people into the position of utilizing the available
resources howmany resources is the community endowed with are they utilized or
not.Communication Communication entails a transaction where a community needs to
be fullyfurnished with information on certain critical issues for instance making peopleaware of
their rights and freedom. The mode of communication should be onethat fits the strategy to b
utilized in community empowerment i.e. should fit thesocio cultural environment in the
community.

CHAPTER THREEC

OMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT CYCLE

Meaning of Empowerment CycleIt is an empowerment cycle which comprises of elements

which are criticalfor any quality community development programme to be
consideredarithmetic.It comprises of the nine elements which are believed to meet the
standardexplicated as the ultimate potential for the community development.All the elements
have equal importance. The cycle can start at any oneelement hence it is not a linear
development. Community EmpowermentCycle 7. continuous participation review / evaluation
reflection and action power to self-critique1. Change of attitude and values to self believe
solidarity with others justice forall, love and care power within2. Promoting of community
based organization democratic leadership,constitutional framework, values of accountability
power with others 6. Building networks & linkages, collective power, lobbying & advocacy,
collectivelearning power over powerless 8. Organizational strengthening at the promoting
agency level in methodology,management system, leadership style, transparency, fairness.
(Putting homeright first as a model)3. Capacity building through training in revelation
skills Para-techniques,community resources people’s power to5. Economic benefits right
from the family level improving living standardseconomic friction

Community empowerment programme

 Empowerment can be conceptualized as a process of enabling people to gainstrength

confidence and vision to work for positive changes in their lives,individually and
collectively with others. People become empowered by their own efforts not by what others do
forthem when development programmes are not firmly based on peoples ownefforts
to work for change their impact may be disempowering . the wakening tothe realization that
there cannot be true development without people’sempowerment has now been
repackaged into a mere contemporary conceptnamed post development or post
modernism. The concept seems to suggest that the conventional development practice
andmodernization have all failed to bring people to the Promised Land. There is notslightest
dispute on the fact that the community participation that resulted inpeople’s
empowerment holds the key to the authentic human development in thetwenty first century.
Post development calls for an open ended agenda, an agenda in which manyvoices may be heard.
Post development is all about growing interest in liberation,politics and how they link up with
people’s empowerment through democrazationof public debates allowing Challenges in the
Capacity Empowerment ProgrammeThese challenges include;a) Political interruptions When
politician interfere with the process of choosing leaders in the communitypoor leader may
end up being chosen. Politicians may also interfere withleadership management of
communities by criticizing or laying some leaders infavor of othersb) Weak organization
structuresGood leadership entails that the organization be in capacity to accommodateform
the various department position within a countryc) Inadequate resourcesLack of enough and
sufficient resources human and facility resources to entrenchit or to start and maintain it.d)
Inadequate skills –Leaders should be equipped with skills of how to handle the entire
empowermentprocess, skills of governance, transparency and accountability for
efficientmanagement of empowerment process and capacity building.e) Corruption and poor
governance Mismanagement of funds and resources allocated for the process of capacitybuilding
and empowerment through corrupt deals, change agents, leaders andstakeholders interfere the
process of empowerment programmesf) Nepotism and tribalismWhen a community is affected
by the problem of ethno – centrism rather thannationalism, choosing and getting appropriate
community empowerment andcapacity building programmes becomes cumbersome.g)
Communication breakdownIn a multilingual society communication barrier is almost inventible
which may bedue to hostility and suspicion among members of different communities this as
afact makes running of empowerment programmes too difficult.

h) Enforcement of leaders When leaders are chosen or appointed without consultation of the
target group orcommunity in question interest of all is denied which implies the capacity
buildingand empowerment programmes too will be denied.i) Marginalization of important
stakeholders or minorityThe empowerment programme postulates that all relevant
participants to beconsulted may lead to the formation of negative attitude towards
the wholeprogramme which possess a threat to the process.j) The problem of implementing
officers being based away from the groundk) Poor coordination between the community and
change agent.

CHAPTER four

TECHNIQUES OF CAPACITY BUILDING AND EMPOWERMENT Technique of Capacity

Building and Empowerment These are strategies used inbringing people to know of the available
resources and how to maximize theopportunity available for their own good. The process of
empowerment entailsenlightening people on political structures, economic spheres,
cultural andpsychological empowerment this part of people imperative to tell the initiative
andrealize their potentials in solving their problems. These initiatives talk the following
terms;Change of people’s attitude It is the building of self-confidence and imparting of
self-worth sense in thepeople so as to realize their own potential to transform their
circumstances. it isthe undoing of effects of internalized operations. Expanding people’s
knowledgePeople’s perspectives and perceptions of a problem need to be
increased.Community problem awareness is crucial in promoting knowledge about causes,effects
and preventive measures of a community. Training techniques

It enhances peoples’ abilities and capacity function in solving community

problems through attendance of appropriate training. Education Through formal and non-
formal e.g. extension work, sensitization, holdingseminars, and other advisable services
the people get to have abroad. Spectrumof community and its problems and formulate policies.

Identification of opportunities.

Empowerment involves helping the community not only to realize the available opportunities for
success but also to utilize them in realizing their full potential Exposure to choices Community
people need to be educated on the available choices and chances of survival for instance better
jobs, educational facilities, accessibility to services i.e.

water, access to ones rights and freedoms etc. Promotion of space Empowerment dictates that
community enjoys all inclusive decisions making process without marginalization of
others.

A democratic community is strengthens in the sense that the policies and programmes are as
result of a participatory on decision making.

Strengthening of people’s organization capacity

It composes country’s’ human scientific technological or organization institutional capacity. A

fundamental goal of empowerment is to enhance the ability to evaluate and address
the crucial question related to policies choices and modes of implementation based on
understanding potentials and limits of the needs perceived by the people of a country.
Promotion in Integration

This dimension encourages that the community forges in closer relationship withal stakeholders
in the process of changing the community.

Mobilization techniques

It is the act of building a unanimous collective action and problem solving.

Collective action can be locally focused at the upper level of the entire village. It evolves making
people work together to achieve a more extensive impact than one would have lead alone.
Mobilization is characterized by the focus on unity in problem solving rather than competition
among the stake holders .Empowerment enables the people to understand the circumstances, the
social environment and hence leading to action. Personal empowerment technique It is the
developing of the people’s ability in order for him /her to solve a given problem.
It may involve the extension of micro financial assistance togroups.The role of
facilitators, politicians, religion workers etc Empowerment does not involve an outsider
only but an outsider can be a facilitator or guider, an advisor bit empowerment could be
within the group. Factors to Consider in Choosing Capacity Building Techniques

a) The attitude of people towards change and development programmes

b) The role of politicians, religious workers and facilitators in the empowerment process

c) The united status of the community should be considered before embarking on particular
technique as a capacity building strategy.

d) The literacy level of the members in the community thus how many people are educate,
illiterate and what means or techniques can be used to empower them.

e) The technological advancement of the community, where the community is advanced

technically the use of advanced technology can be used in empowerment strategy.

f) Community organization – for the change agents to consider a given techniques

he/she should consider the organization of the community, how is the community organized are
they have some order groups?

g) The resources available thus for a change agent to consider using a particular technique e.g.
training there should be enough resources to help in financing the entire process of training.

Challenges of Capacity Building Techniques

 Lack of enough resources to help in capacity building programs

 The expensive nature of using different particular techniques in Empowerment

programmes

 Lack of unity among community members

 Lack of altruism among community members

 Illiteracy of members in the community to be empowered

 The building of negative attitude towards change by people in a Community.

CHAPTER FIVE
PROCESS OF CAPACITY BUILDING AND EMPOWERMENT

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

By the end of this topic the trainee should be able to:

1. Carry out training needs assessment2. Identify the target group

3. Categorise trainees according to their training needs4. Identify the trainers/facilitators.

5. plan for the training6. Implement the training7. Monitor and evaluate the training

 Mulwa (1999) acquired that capacity building and empowerment is continuous

process of enhancing stakeholders’ knowledge and skills as well as adjusting

their attitudes, values and practices. The process involves efforts to strengthen each
partner’s decision to make effective on what to do on their lives and assume a full
responsibility over the consequences of those decisions.

 Capacity building and empowerment involves building up peoples ‘self-confidence

by changing of attitude through imparting relevant skills and knowledge that will
ultimately help them manage their lives. The process challenge the stakeholders to
efficiently Marshall available resources towards meeting their own needs as they identify,
create and optimize opportunity in life The stakeholders seek to influence policies that
govern their community and society at large to ensure their individual and collective needs
and rights are accommodated. The entire process involve training need assessment,
identification of the needs group, categorization of trainees, identification of

trainers facilitators and planning for the training. The process of capacity building

And empowerment is encompassing it has all people involved. It has to

Encourage a participatory rural approach and should not exhibit the top down

Strategy but bottom up strategy.

CHAPTER FIVE

PROCESS OF CAPACITY BUILDING AND EMPOWERMENT

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

By the end of this topic the trainee should be able to:

1. Carry out training needs assessment2. Identify the target group

3. Categorise trainees according to their training needs4. Identify the trainers/facilitators.

5. Plan for the training6. Implement the training7. Monitor and evaluate the training

 Mulwa (1999) acquired that capacity building and empowerment is continuous process of
enhancing stakeholders’ knowledge and skills as well as adjusting their attitudes, values and
practices. The process involves efforts to strengthen each partner’s decision to make
effective on what to do on their lives and assume a full responsibility over the consequences of
those decisions.

 Capacity building and empowerment involves building up peoples ‘self-confidence

by changing of attitude through imparting relevant skills and knowledge that will
ultimately help them manage their lives. The process challenge the stakeholders to
efficiently Marshall available resources towards meeting their own needs as they identify,
create and optimize opportunity in life The stakeholders seek to influence policies that
govern their community and society at large to ensure their individual and collective needs
and rights are accommodated. The entire process involve training need assessment,
identification of the needs group, categorization of trainees, identification of trainers
facilitators and planning for the training. The process of capacity building and empowerment
is encompassing it has all people involved. It has to encourage a participatory rural
approach and should not exhibit the top down strategy but bottom up strategy.

Training needs assessment the advantage of applying technique in working is that it involves
working with the people and not for the people thus involving the people, consulting the people
and having rapport on the people, this in turn facilitates: A people cantered development

 People driven development

 Sustainable development

 Encourage people confidence Promote full realization of objectives

 Encourage the use of indigenous process. Boost identification and utilization of locally
available human and other resources

 It encourages empathy. The bottom up progressive approach is better than unpopular trickle
down approach which has the following aspects;

 Marginalization of the grassroots people

 Produces differences

 Alienation, withdrawal, retreatism and demotivation

 It undermines people confidenceThe process of capacity building and empowerment should

put into considerationassessment of the community to know the kind of technology to be utilized
in theproblem solving. This assessment includes; Know the available indigenous knowledge
Locally available human and other sources Local leadership structures e.g. opinion leaders and
gate keepers and the localcommunity

Appropriate technology

Monitoring and evaluation of training Monitoring is a systematic routine that aims at confirming
the training success, it seeks to establish as early as possible any anomaly and correct them as
soon as possible. It will seek to confirm whether the process of successful building has failed of
succeeded. Why is monitoring and evaluation done?

- To confirm the process of capacity building and empowerment succeeded or failed

- to brief superiors on the progress of training

- to make request for further funding

- to establish if the empowerment process should be stopped or terminated- to confirm the cost
of training process, whether it went as planned during social cost and benefit analysis

REVISION QUESTIONS

1) Explain six factors which are considered when sourcing or preparing training materials in
capacity building?

2) Explain four limitations of group discussion as a technique of training in

capacity building?

3) Highlight and explain five factors that should be considered when selecting a model for
community empowerment?

4) As a newly employed community development Officer in a municipal council, explain six

parameters to improve the provision of quality services?

CHAPTER SIX

LEADERSHIP

Meaning of leadership

A leader is people who influence the direction and group members to achieve

Group goals and objectives. Leadership is the state of one person being able to influence the
direction and group members to achieve group goals and objectives. Leadership is
defined as the act of ruling. It is the provision of direction and guidance to given members or
groups within a community. Leaderships form the base capacity building in the community
especially when it is participatory

Functional leadership types

Classical leadership These are those of the olden days. They were not concern with output or
groupachievement. Some were authoritarian and not democratic in nature. These include
kingdoms, chieftaincy and government by council of elders Participatory leadership

A participatory leader is one that allows the group to take part in the process ofdecision making.

Responsibilities and tasks are shared among group membersthrough democratic

directions.Supervisory leadership This is a further development of participatory leadership with
leaders assumingthe role of supervisors e.g. teachers, counselors, and representatives
ofparastatals.

They delegate duties to their subordinateConsultation leadership It is another kind of

participatory leadership where a group seeks the skills of anexpert or specialist. The specialist
is the one to be consulted on communityissues. The specialist is the one to be consulted on
community issues Qualities of a leader.

These qualities include;-

Acceptability- acceptable behavior/ good rapport meets community norms ofconduct, good
interpersonal human relations, command respect and self-discipline- a good leader has
wisdom or knowledge to handle situations , independent,courageous, trustworthy, eloquent,
intelligent.- Job- competence- track record of performance in a particular skill- Ability to listen
and understand others- Tolerance- ability to accommodate dissenting views– -

d. Emphasis on code of conduct and ethics – leaders should be guided by standsprinciples and
values pertaining the defined areas of influence e.g. should not becorrupt, should be transparent.

e. Networking skills – formulation of linkages and corporation assist organizationin sharing of

ideas and resources therefore leaders need to be informed on howto integrate or parties with
others for mutual coexistence.

f. Promotion of hardworking leaders – the rewarding of hardworking leaders notonly motivates

them but also encourages the rest to work excessively smart toattract promotion packages.

g. Annual or seasonal analysis of performance – the existence of performancecontracts and

indicators of success to describe a leader’s term or tenure in officemakes a leader work diligently
to attain a good performance.
h. Recognition – leaders tend to deliver poor services when the top managementdoes not
recognize the selfless effort the leader is discharging. When leaders arerecognized by the
management or top management they feel inspired to deliver.

i. Democratic space enhancement – leaders deliver their full potentially whenthey have the
freedom of speech, expression, association and to air their viewswithout dictatorship

j. Promotion of good communication – when leaders are allowed to exchange theinformation

easily with the superiors and clients work out and service deliverywould be improved.

k. Promotion of an enabling environment – leaders like other employees deservea nice

environment where they can unravel their full potential that is they can gofor further studies
to improve their leadership skills, can air their grievanceswithout abstraction, can
develop their career by inventing some programmeswithin the organization without
obstruction, can develop their carrier by inventingsome programmes within the organization
without hindrance.Challenges for Leadership Development Programmes In the process of
leadership strengthening and development some obstacles areencountered for instance:

Challenges for Leadership Development Programmes

in the process of leadership strengthening and development some obstacles areencountered for
instance:

g. Enforcement of leaders When leaders are chosen or appointed without consultation of the
target group or community in question the interest to all is denied.

h. Nepotism and tribalism When a community is affected by the problem of ethno centrism
rather than nationalism choosing or getting appropriate leaders becomes a problem In them
multilingual society communication barriers is almost inevitable getting a leader who will be
able to communicate and be understood by the entire community becomes a problem.

i. Marginalization of important stakeholders or minority Leadership formulation postulate that all

relevant participant to be consulted in the process of the leadership choosing or formation.

j. Negative attitude When people have a negative attitude towards a particular chosen leaders
they will not get involved with the leader thus participation in development

LEADERSHIP AND CAPACITY BUILDING

 Capacity building is all about encouraging and promoting people by enrichingthem with skills
and techniques that are needed for developing their community. Empowerment .it is the
act that influencing other behaviors to meet onesneeds or standard. Therefore
empowerment is essentially a political process thatseeks to redistribute power in favor of the
poor and the disadvantaged. It initiatesthe relinquishing of power from personalized destinations
into the hands of the people.

 Since a leader is someone influential especially politicians capacity building ofa particular
people or community can be enhanced through leadership. Capacitybuilding is enhanced
when participation of people is reminiscent with centralgovernment, development
planning where blue plans are drawn and handed overfor execution through government
extension networks. Planning bureaucratic seeparticipation as the process of drawing
people into the implementation ofpredetermined development goals. In this case
people are seen as resourcepotential that need to be mobilized  This approach emphasize
the indispensabiliyof the central governmentplanning and implementation of development
activities and projects Leadership and capacity building goes hand in hand that is for the
people tohave their own independent base of authority. Whereby local leaders
withorganized power and base are elected to the board of public organs or serviceorganization.
This wild genuine bargaining power over the outcome of the deliberations withthe ability to
engage effectively in the give and take negotiations. People shouldsend their in organization for
the community Leaders govern and help as in distribution of resources Leaders facilitate
decision making in a community Leaders act at the role mentors Leaders facilitate training of
people on various issues and policies Leaders integrate various plans within the organization
Leaders undertake the mobilization of people Leaders facilitate linkages and networking 
Leaders stimulate inventions and innovations in organization Leaders develop a sense of
irresponsibility into the people they govern Leaders implement coordinate issues within the
organization  Leaders motivate people by developing morale spirit within the
organization.Leadership techniques.

There are three types of leadership techniquesAuthoritarian leadershipThis is where the leader
determines the policies and the community by him orhimself. The leader induces dependency by
the people on himself.Authorization is negative in the sense that it thrives by unleashing terror
andinstilling fear on the subject. This is done through of law enforcement instrumentssuch as the
police. While authoritative is different in the sense that leadership isfashioned from its positive
attributes. Authoritative leadership is earned wherebya leader commands respect from
his/her subjects derived from ones skillsabilities and talents. Democratic leadershipLeaders
encourage participation of members in decision making. The leader isfriendly and helpful to
members and gives technical assistance of suggestion onalternative choices. There is higher
frequency of making suggestions by thepeople. There is freedom of choice and
expression for members. There areelectronics of members of choosing leaders.Laissez faire
leadershipThis is free style leadership where the leaders allow complete freedom
ondecision making and action and keeps his suggestion and initiative to a minimumdependency
on the leader. Members suggest how things should be within theorganization.REVISION
QUESTIONS1. Explain the types of leadership styles?2. Effective leadership leads to
positive growth of capacity building and Empowerment?

3. Highlight four main characteristics of a good leader?

CHAPTER SEVEN

ORGANIZATION DEVELOPMENTSPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

By the end of this topic, the trainee should be able to:1. Discuss the roles of organizational
development.2. Discuss the strategies to foster organizational development and capacity
building.3. Discuss the relationship between organizational development and
capacitybuilding.Meaning of organization development Community base organization
in theirpursuit of goals has to not only organize them but also undertake retracting of
theorganization framework. Community organization helps in the strengthening ofthe overall
management structure of the organization. Development entails thetransformation and
reconstructing of an organization in accordance to its currenttrends/demands. Role of
Organization DevelopmentOrganization development is an essential mechanism within various
departmentsbecause of the following; Improved management for example in leadership
management, trainedleaders delivers more articles and quality effective work compared to
untrainedleader. Organization development also helps in the reviewing of the current trends
inorganization structure and design Organization development encourages the provision
for understanding ofguidance and leadership within the organization. It helps in raising
awareness about an influencing practice in effectiveorganization restructuring among
senior executives. Organization development also strengthens the capability of the
organizationrequired for the provision of the improved objectives or goals. It fosters skills on
networking between one organization and the other. Through development of the organization
it is possible to build an organizationfor further expansion especially in terms of increasing
output of the organization.-  Organization development helps to deal with change in the
whole organizationor in its major units Organization development brings about more dispersed
overall improvement inthe organization e.g. it creates high job satisfaction of workers It
improves team work and cooperation by members of the organization Through gaining
(group exercise in decision making) – people gain muchexperience in a short time.
Organizational development also promotes the learning of different approachestowards problem
solving In addition to increased production organization development also enhanceimproved
resolution of conflict in an organization. Organizational development reinforces the
institution capacity of theorganization e.g. in coping with its environment Through action
research organization improvement on existing job and otherwork can be improved Immediate
feedback – organization development supports feedback toparticipants so that they
may be able to collect solid original data on whichdecisions are based on. Strategies
to Foster Organizational Development and Capacity buildingOrganizational development
is a training programme to develop the organizationculture among the people in order to effect
change in a planned way, also it is anintervention strategy thus focus in the whole culture of
organization to bring outthe planned change. Organization development seeks to change the
organizationbelief, attitude, values and structures and practice to adopt the technology withfast
pace of change.The following steps are required for developing the organization
developmentprogrammes;Initial consultation with the consultants

It is the finding out of the deficiencies within the organization by the consultant. Italso involves
improvement of some points where some plans are not workableand finally monitoring the
whole process of organizational development.Relationship between Organizational Development
and Capacity BuildingRelationship between organizational development and capacity building is
thatboth; Are focused on the whole proceeds of change and not part of the organizationor
community. Are systems oriented since they are concerned with the process structure
andattitudes of various people of the organization or community? Are problem solving
oriented Are using group process to solve issues thus with capacity building there
iscategorization of people depending on the problem facing them. Are contingency oriented
since people learn through experience whileadopting new suitable patterns or skills.
Both use change agents e.g. experts or consultants who guide theorganization or
community development process Both possess a strategy of initiating change within
the organization orcommunity in question.I. Explain five strategies which could be
used to foster organizationaldevelopment and capacity building.2. Explain the roles played
by the following agents in capacity building.i) Management consultant.ii) Government
organizations.-