Capacity Development Tools




Selected Tools

These tools have been used and in some cases validated during the activities of the Tropical Agriculture Platform

Tool factsheet: Social Network Analysis

Social Network Analysis is a practical and useful tool that looks at the linkages present in an innovation network and monitors their development over time. It maps the relationships between the stakeholders in the network and highlights...

Tool factsheet: Scoping Study

The scoping study explores the nature and dynamics of the agricultural innovation system in order to disclose past and ongoing investments and mechanisms relating to AIS in the country. In particular, the study looks into the various...

Assessment of innovation capacities - A scoring tool

Capacity development interventions in support of agricultural innovation are more effective when based on systematic and participatory assessments of existing skills and capacity needs. Recognizing that, an instrument has been developed in...

Trainer's Manual: Facilitating Capacity Needs Assessment

This training manual was prepared under the EU-funded project Capacity Development for Agricultural Innovation Systems ( CDAIS ), a global partnership (Agrinatura, FAO and 8 pilot countries) that aims to strengthen the capacity of...

Tool factsheet: Timeline

The timeline tool is generally put to use when stakeholders embark upon the self-assessment phase of their innovation partnership. Stakeholders are asked to recall moments they feel were significant for the partnership, from its beginning...

Tool factsheet: Capacity-focused Problem Tree

The capacity-focused problem tree pinpoints a core capacity issue, along with its causes and effects. It helps clarify the precise capacity-development objectives that the intervention aims to achieve. The focus should be on functional...

Tool factsheet: Simulation Game

This tool enables participants to become cognisant of the functional capacities discovered through the capacity scoring questionnaire, and test the limits of these capacities through simulations or role-playing (e.g. problem-solving,...

Tool factsheet: Rich Picture

This tool is a simple tool to map out the current status of the AIS, and to discover where the actors want to go. The rich picture tool can be used both to describe the current situation and to illustrate future plans. A rich picture opens...

Tool factsheet: Action Planning

The Action Planning is a tool that formalizes commitments and plots the route to their implementation. An action plan is intended for the use of the core actors, who will have been identified beforehand in the visioning phase. It...

Tool factsheet: Scoring Innovation Capacities

This tool was designed to assess innovation capacities, identify strengths and weaknesses and monitor capacity changes over time. The scoring tool makes it clear which functional capacities are going to be needed to promote, lead or...

Additional Tools

These other tools are commonly used in the context of capacity development.

Farmer field schools: key practices for DRR implementers

Natural hazards have become more frequent and intense in the last few decades, increasing the often significant negative impacts on the gross domestic product of countries in southern Africa and undermining development efforts. Forecasts...

Governing land for women and men. A technical guide to support the achievement of responsible gender-equitable governance land tenure

Gender equality is one of the ten core principles of the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in the Context of National Food Security. This guide aims to assist in its implementation...

Flash flood risk management: a training of trainers manual

This Training of Trainers Manual is designed to help build the capacity of trainers in flash flood risk management, who can then disseminate the knowledge to a larger number of practitioners. The manual presents an eight-day course...

Learning for capacity development: a holistic approach to sustained organisational change

This article describes a holistic approach to organisational development that promotes learning and its integration into everyday work practice. It presents the approach and how it leads to genuine organisational transformation, increased...

Assessing Capacity Needs of Extension and Advisory Services: A Guide for Facilitators

This guide is intended to assist facilitators in conducting a workshop with Extension and Advisory Service (EAS) providers for assessing their capacity needs. This guide has been compiled by the Centre for Research on Innovation and...