Definition – Capacity refers to the ability of an organisation to undertake the tasks for which it is responsible, expressed in terms of its: (i) human resources: their number, skills experience; (ii) physical and material resources: machines, land, buildings; (iii) financial resources: money, credit; (iv) information resources: pool of knowledge, databases; and (v) intellectual resources: copyrights, designs, patents, etc. Capacity building
refers to developing the skills of an organisation or group of people, to enable them to more effectively contribute to the engagement process, or to manage local projects.
Relevance to SUMP – Capacity building processes allow public authorities that are responsible for SUMP preparation to improve their ability to manage complex planning and implementation processes. This may involve, for example, staff training, the employment or contracting of additional staff, and the procurement of planning tools and equipment. Undertaking a review of organisational capacity for SUMP preparation relates to the first stage of preparation in the 2014 Guidelines: “Determine your potential for a successful SUMP”, Activity 1.3 “Self-assessment”.
Source: GUIDEMAPS, 2004; www.businessdictionary.com (online)