Measuring capacity building in communities: a review of the literature

Abstract

BackgroundAlthough communities have long been exhorted to make efforts to enhance their own health, such approaches have often floundered and resulted in little or no health benefits when the capacity of the community has not been adequately strengthened. Thus being able to assess the capacity building process is paramount in facilitating action in communities for social and health improvement. The current review aims to i) identify all domains used in systematically documented frameworks developed by other authors to assess community capacity building; and ii) to identify the dimensions and attributes of each of the domains as ascribed by these authors and reassemble them into a comprehensive compilation.MethodsRelevant published articles were identified through systematic electronic searches of selected databases and the examination of the bibliographies of retrieved articles. Studies assessing capacity building or community development or community participation were selected and assessed for methodological quality, and quality in relation to the development and application of domains which were identified as constituents of community capacity building. Data extraction and analysis were undertaken using a realist synthesis approach.ResultsEighteen articles met the criteria for this review. The various domains to assess community capacity building were identified and reassembled into nine comprehensive domains: "learning opportunities and skills development", "resource mobilization", "partnership/linkages/networking", "leadership", "participatory decision-making", "assets-based approach", "sense of community", "communication", and "development pathway". Six sub-domains were also identified: "shared vision and clear goals", "community needs assessment", "process and outcome monitoring", "sustainability", "commitment to action" and "dissemination".ConclusionsThe set of domains compiled in this review serve as a foundation for community-based work by those in the field seeking to support and nurture the development of competent communities. Further research is required to examine the robustness of capacity domains over time and to examine capacity development in association with health or other social outcomes.

Sustenance and sustainability: maximizing the impact of school gardens on health outcomes

“…Those schools that did apply for funding had greater access to financial and human resources, confirming the importance of individual school environments as a determinant of suitability for garden establishment and sustainability. Such top-down approaches may undermine grass-roots capacity-building initiatives (39) . A substantial limitation across the studies was the lack of consistent evaluation measures.…”

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“…Holley (2012) has similarly found that "complex reciprocity"-where participants help others without expecting reciprocation because they believe in the value of the network-is the tipping point at which collaborations are able to be more effective. Collaboration scholars have also found that network effects deepen as relationships and trust solidify (Ansell & Gash, 2008;Innes & Booher, 2000;Liberato, Brimblecombe, Ritchie, Ferguson, & Coveney, 2011;Nowell, 2009;Vandeventer & Mandell, 2007). In more recent writings, Kania, Kramer, and Rusell (2014) have also observed that, "The health of relationships between organizations and individuals in the system is often the missing link in explaining why programs and interventions ultimately succeed or fail" (p. 31).…”

Indigenous Adoption of Internet Voting: A Case Study of Whitefish River First Nation

“…Building community capacity is understood as a necessary precondition for the effective development and administration of community programs, as well as for fostering political participation and citizen engagement (Goodman et al, 1998;Liberato, Brimblecombe, Ritchie, Ferguson, & Coveney, 2011;Scully & Diebel, 2015). Community capacity building refers to the "identification, strengthening and linking of [a] community's tangible resources, such as local service groups, and tangible resources like community spirit" (Ontario Healthy Community Coalition, 2015, para.…”