Planning for Participatory Capacity Development: the Challenges of Participation and North-South Partnership in Capacity Building Projects

This paper analyses the challenges in the use of participatory approaches and North-South partnerships in three capacity-building projects sponsored by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) in Vietnam, Brazil and the Philippines. The shifts in development orientation, that led to the current emphasis on capacity development framework, are analyzed as background to the discussion of common dilemmas in participation and cross-cultural partnerships. The challenges of introducing participatory approaches in these three projects are presented, along with lessons learned in improving partnerships and incorporating popular participation in capacity-building projects.