Capacity Building

The ancient Chinese philosopher; Lao Tse said:
“Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day, Teach a man to fish and he will eat for a life time.”

Based on this proverb, the fishermen in Central Vasayas region of Philippines develop a new proverb which dominates in their community-based fisheries management program. The proverb goes;
“Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day, Teach a man to fish and he will eat until the resource is depleted, but teach the community to manage its fishery resources and it will prosper for generations to come.”

This might bring the meaning for “Capacity Building” as a term used to describe initiatives which aim to increase the capability of those charged with managing the coast to make sound planning and management decisions. This term can be used to encompass a great number of apparently different activities, all of which are focused on supporting and improving coastal management decisions.

The focus of “Capacity Building” activities is on the ‘human capacity’ of individual decision makers and coastal managers as well as the ‘institutional capacity’. The distinction between human and institutional capacity is a useful one; human capacity building is centered on training and professional development, while institutional aims to improve institutional arrangement for coastal management.

The nature and scope of capacity building programs will vary with the range of staff functions of organization. This programs play a critical role in providing the knowledge, skills and confidence to participate in decision making for irrespective of the administrative level or management focus, individuals and institutional.