the Politics of Community Capacity-Building: Contestations, Contradictions, Tensions and Ambivalences in the Discourse in Indigenous Communities in Australia

2007 ◽  
Vol 36 (S1) ◽  
pp. 129-136 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan Makuwira
Keyword(s):  
Capacity Building ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Community Capacity ◽  
Power Imbalance ◽  
Ongoing Debate ◽  
Community Capacity Building ◽  
Heated Debate

AbstractThe recent hype and ascendancy in the discourse of community capacity-building has generated a lot of heated debate among development and policy experts on its applicability in various contexts. In particular, questions have been raised on the presuppositions inherent in the discourse and, more so, the tension that exists between theory and practice. This paper aims to contribute to the ongoing debate about the politics of capacity-building. While the paper begins by deconstructing the theoretical principles that underpin capacity-building, it seeks to show how the concept is covertly used to subjugate and create power imbalance between the “builders” (supposedly those with the power) and the “beneficiaries” (those assumed to be powerless), in the name of development and empowerment. Specifically, the paper seeks to respond to the following questions: What is “capacity”? Who needs capacity? Capacity to do what? Whose interest(s) is/are served when peoples’ capacities are built? The paper concludes by critically examining the tensions, contradictions, and ambivalences from the canvassed responses to the questions above and suggests alternatives ways of looking at capacity-building in Indigenous communities.

scholarly journals Food Sovereignty Indicators for Indigenous Community Capacity Building and Health

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valarie Blue Bird Jernigan ◽  
Tara L. Maudrie ◽  
Cassandra Jean Nikolaus ◽  
Tia Benally ◽  
Selisha Johnson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Capacity Building ◽  
Food Systems ◽  
Food Sovereignty ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Indigenous Community ◽  
Community Capacity ◽  
Local Context ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
Community Capacity Building

Food insecurity, defined as a lack of stable access to sufficient and nutritious food, is a global public health priority due to its relationships with diminished mental and physical human health. Indigenous communities experience disproportionality high rates of food insecurity as a byproduct of settler-colonial activities, which included forced relocation to rural reservation lands and degradation of traditional subsistence patterns. Many Indigenous communities have worked to revitalize their local food systems by pursuing food sovereignty, regularly expressed as the right and responsibility of people to have access to healthy and culturally appropriate foods, while defining their own food systems. Food sovereignty is a promising approach for improving health. However, limited literature is available that identifies the diverse practices of food sovereignty or strategies communities can implement to strengthen their food sovereignty efforts. This article reviews the scientific literature and highlights key indicators that may support community capacity building for food sovereignty and health. The seven indicators are: (1) access to resources, (2) production, (3) trade, (4) food consumption, (5) policy, (6) community involvement, and (7) culture. A total of 25 sub-indicators are outlined to allow communities to understand how an indicator is operationalized as well as explore their own community's progress within each indicator. It is not expected that every indicator and their subcategories will apply fully to any given Indigenous community, and the application of these indicators must be adapted for each community's local context, however the indicators may provide support for building and assessing efforts to create more sustainable Indigenous food systems.

scholarly journals Peningkatan Kapasitas Masyarakat Dalam Mengurangi Risiko Bencana Di Desa Bandung Rejo Kabupaten Gorontalo

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 176
Author(s):  
Syahrizal Koem ◽  
Noviar Akase ◽  
Irwan Muis
Keyword(s):  
Capacity Building ◽  
Disaster Management ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Disaster Risk ◽  
Warning Signs ◽  
Community Capacity ◽  
Community Capacity Building ◽  
Building Program ◽  
And Training

The community capacity building program in reducing disaster risk aims to realize the Bandung Rejo village as a disaster resilient village. Efforts made to achieve community capacity building include: (1) institutional aspects through the establishment of Disaster Risk Management forums (DRR) and Community Disaster Preparedness Teams (CDPT), (2) aspects of capacity building through dissemination and training in the preparation of disaster management plans and contingency plans , (3) aspects of the implementation of disaster management through a program to create a threat map and create disaster warning signs. The establishment of DRR and CDPT forums has a strategic role in minimizing disaster risk. The results achieved from the socialization and training were the availability of Bandung Rejo village disaster risk analysis document. The document can be a reference in making development policies in the village. Based on the results of the analysis conducted by the forum that Bandung Rejo village had a flood hazard level in the medium category. The results of identification and analysis obtained two flood-prone points that were able to reach agricultural land and facilities and infrastructure facilities. The implementation of community capacity building programs in Bandung Rejo village can provide stimulus to local governments and the public about the importance of disaster anticipation.

scholarly journals Developing trauma resilient communities through community capacity-building

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Todd P. Gilmer ◽  
Kimberly Center ◽  
Danielle Casteel ◽  
Kyle Choi ◽  
Debbie Innes-Gomberg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Capacity Building ◽  
Stress Tolerance ◽  
Community Capacity ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Community Capacity Building ◽  
Community Connectedness ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Trauma Informed ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Trauma is a significant public health issue, negatively impacting a range of health outcomes. Providers and administrators in public mental health systems recognize the widespread experience of trauma, as well as their limited ability to address trauma within their communities. In response, the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health funded nine regionally based community partnerships to build capacity to address trauma. We describe partnership and community capacity-building efforts and examine community impact, defined as successful linkages to resources and changes in stress tolerance capacities among community members. Methods We conceptualized community capacity-building as dissemination of trauma-informed education and training, community outreach and engagement, and linkage of community members to resources. We measured trauma-informed trainings among partnership members (N = 332) using the Trauma-Informed Organizational Toolkit. Outreach, engagement and linkages were documented using Event and Linkage Trackers. We examined changes in the type of successful linkage after the issuance of statewide mandatory restrictions in response to COVID-19. We examined changes in stress tolerance capacities among community members (N = 699) who were engaged in ongoing partnership activities using the 10-item Conner-Davidson Resilience Scale; the 28-item Coping Orientation to Problems; and the pictorial Inclusion of Community in Self Scale. Results Training and education opportunities were widespread: 66% of members reported opportunities for training in 13 or more trauma-informed practices. Partnerships conducted over 7800 community capacity-building events with over 250,000 attendees. Nearly 14,000 successful linkages were made for a wide range of resources, with consistent linkage success prior to (85%) and during (87%) the pandemic. In response to COVID-19, linkage type significantly shifted from basic services and health care to food distribution (p < .01). Small but significant improvements occurred in coping through emotional and instrumental support; and sense of community connectedness (p < .05 each). Conclusions Community-based partnerships demonstrated effective capacity-building strategies. Despite the pandemic, community members did not report reduced stress tolerance, instead demonstrating gains in external help-seeking (use of emotional and instrumental supports) and perception of community connectedness. Future work will use qualitative methods to examine the impact of community capacity-building and the sustainability of this approach for addressing the impact of trauma within communities.

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