Huib Huyse, researcher from the HIVA Institute of the University of Leuven, introduced the concepts of capacity and capacity development by first inviting participants to discuss and present examples of successful capacity development processes. He highlighted the importance of individual skills and competence vs collective capacities and the capacity of an organisation (potential), as well as the context. He shared the definitions by Baser & Morgan of capacity: “Emergent combination of individual competencies/skills, collective capacities (capabilities), assets and relationships that enables a human system to create value” and capacity development: “process of enhancing, improving and unleashing capacity.”
Huib mentioned the specificities of the trade union setting in which the context is crucial, the interaction framework is specific and the playing field is being constantly changed. He underlines that capacity develops from within and that it is a non-linear and iterative process which is influenced by internal and external factors.
Emily Paulin from the ITUC Global Organising Academy (GOA) introduced the ITUC Organising Programme. The ITUC wants to lead change in workplaces and to expand the number of workers in democratic unions. An integrated approach has been devised with regional organisers constantly following up at national level. To this end, the GOA organises regional academies, national follow-ups and a yearly Global Organising Academy.
In the discussion which ensued, it was acknowledged that organising is part of capacity development, the questions that come up are whether organising means bigger unions, or stronger unions or both, how to deal with the challenge of organisational autonomy, and how to structure organising in time at a national level but also in a framework of international solidarity.
Tjalling Postma of FNV Mondiaal presented the version of the “Five Capabilities Model” (5C) his organisation uses.
Veerle Lens of CSC Belgium explained her organisation’s approach, centred on three cross-cutting issues: gender mainstreaming, environment/climate, and strengthening the quality of training.
Maresa Le Roux explained how they established their model based on the 5C Model using the partner’s logical frameworks.
Danuta Dobosz explained that the Solidarity Centre uses the TU-CapSAT instrument.
Hanneke Smits explained that the CNV uses the 5C Model as well, in combination with the Civil Society Index and an organisational checklist (which gathers information from organisations on certain issues such as representation, agreements, services, administrative organisation, financial situation, governance, human resources, etc.).
Sigrid Bergfeldt explained that LO/TCO developed an assessment tool which is used in its work with the GUFs and Swedish affiliates, in addition to which they have a logical framework approach project handbook and an application format.
Individual participants evaluated the two days as generally very positive. The learning experience, identification of a common area of work as well as certain issues on methodology (regional approach, 5Cs, …) are singled out as good elements coming out of the seminar.
It was noted that the expectations at the beginning of the seminar have been accomplished. The seminar came up with a first approach to what are considered the key capacities to strengthen, these capacities and their subcomponents will be clustered and further discussed within the partnerships working group to agree on common elements. The interest to work towards a shared OCA tool has been manifested with some considerations to take into account in this work, such as: democratic ownership, having a participative process, keeping things simple and practical, working on flexible and adaptive approaches to OCA, working on learning tools, keeping an open mind. Trade union leadership should also be involved in this process.
Many of the OCA models that have been presented have been driven by donors so it is important to work towards a common position on evaluation and assessment mechanisms for discussion and negotiation with donors.
After having put forward shared criteria during this seminar, continued input will be important in order to reach an integrated approach. In the next months the main elements of the work on OCA will be discussed in the online Partnerships Working Group and a meeting of the group will be organized around the month of September to review the work.
See the full report and the presentations of this meeting here.
