“Capacity Building” is a buzzword often reduced to one activity: training workshops. While training is necessary, it is rarely sufficient to drive sustainable organizational change.
At Prime & Prompt Consulting, we distinguish between individual capacity (skills) and institutional capacity (systems). You can have highly trained staff, but if they work in a dysfunctionally structured organization, they cannot perform effectively.
The “Workshop Trap”
We often see organizations sending staff to expensive trainings, only for them to return to an office where they lack the tools, authority, or processes to apply what they learned. This leads to frustration and a low Return on Investment (ROI).
Our Systems Approach
We tackle capacity strengthening through a holistic lens, focusing on three pillars:
1. People (Skills & Incentives)
Yes, we train. But we also look at job descriptions and performance incentives. Do staff know what is expected of them? Are they motivated to apply new skills?
2. Processes (Workflows & Governance)
We analyze how decisions are made. Are the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) clear? Is the organizational chart aligned with the strategic goals? We help streamline workflows to reduce bottlenecks.
3. Tools (Resources & Technology)
Does the team have the right hardware and software? Strengthening capacity also means ensuring the infrastructure supports efficiency—whether that’s a new accounting software or better field vehicles.
Sustainable Change Management
Finally, capacity strengthening is about change management. It requires leadership buy-in and a clear roadmap. We don’t just deliver a report; we accompany organizations through the transition, providing coaching and mentoring to senior leadership to ensure new habits stick.
Conclusion
Building strong institutions takes time, but it is the only path to sustainability. By moving beyond ad-hoc workshops to a systems-based approach, we help organizations build the resilience needed to deliver on their mandates long after our consultancy ends.