The importance of Human capacity development in Community Economic Development in Tanzania
This paper is an attempt to discuss what is human capacity development as a catalyst for Community economic Development? The paper will sight some of the definition of human capacity development as defined by various scholars. Secondly the paper will discuss steps in designing human capacity development, thirdly the importance of Human capacity development and challenges and recommendation and finally the conclusion.
Human capacity development is a recent concept and commonly used in the area of community development. It started to be discussed in the 1980’s and early 1990s and now is widely used by governments and development practitioners in Tanzania. The definite definition of human capacity development is still debatable as it has been given various names. These include: institutional building and strengthening; organizational development; training, community; capacity building; strengthening; human resource development; and development management/administration
All in all the following definition have been consulted to define human capacity development: Canadian Development Agency (CIDA 1998) defined human capacity building in three ways: firstly “as a process by which individuals, organizations, institutions, organizations and societies enhance their abilities to identify and meet development challenges in sustainable manner”
Secondly, “The process by which individuals, institutions, and societies increases their abilities to perform core functions, solve problems define and achieve objectives and understand and deal with their development needs in a broad context and in a sustainable manner”
Thirdly, An on- going process by which people and systems, operating within dynamic contexts, learn to develop and implement strategic in pursuit of their objectives for increased performance in a sustainable way”
Another group who defined Human Capacity development is the Aga Khan Foundation who defined it “as a process whereby people and organizations improve their performance in relation to their mission, context, resources and sustainability”
Furthermore UNDP (1998) define human capacity as "the process by which individuals, groups, organizations, institutions, and societies develop their abilities - both individually and collectively - to set and achieve objectives, perform functions, solve problems and to develop the means and conditions required to enable this process". From the definition by UNDP two important major area of capacity development is highlighted. Firstly that for human capacity development to take place it requires to consider four levels that in each level represents a level of analysis, and importantly, a possible entry point for initiatives aimed at capacity development. And secondly that human capacity development is a process and not a passive state and must build on the existing capacities of individuals and organizations.
For further explanations basing from both definitions CIDA, Aga Kan Foundation and UNDP the paper identifies that that there are two important attributes of human capacity development. Firstly, human capacity development should address at least four levels - (i) individuals (ii) organizations, (iii) sector/networks, and (iv)the broader enabling environment. This means that the overall human capacity development is not just the acquisition of capacities of individual/institutional/sector but also it includes the opportunities and incentives for people to use, apply and share their skills within an enabling environment. Human capacity development, therefore, takes place not just within individuals, but between them and in the community they create. Capacity-development initiatives must take a holistic view of the context in which individuals operate. In CED all levels have to be put in consideration in order to achieve the real development. Community members have to acquire knowledge that is applicable in solving their problems For example capacity building initiatives in income generating activities that will raise their income. For example in rural the training should aim at improving their agriculture skills which will directly used by the community in their farming. There is no need to train them in skills that are not applicable such training in Computer knowledge.
Secondly, human capacity development is a process that requires continued support through national initiatives and partnerships whereby individual development becomes part and parcel in the performance of community activities. This process includes identifying needs, building knowledge, understanding, skills and attitudes that can be implemented through practice and experience of individuals that lead to sustainable changes in the collective performance in the community, organization, with an enabling environment. Human capacity development is a not a simple linear process it requires ample time and various interventions. It is a two-way process whereby an individual’s capacity-development needs, knowledge and experience would closely reflect the requirements of the organization - be it at organization or at community level.
This means that individuals/community organizations/sectors that need to undergo human capacity development should keep in mind the following areas:
· The target group needs to be involved in defining the needs for human capacity development. The community members are to be involved in the identification of the areas to undergo; this will help to avoid the unnecessary westage of resources by developing capacities that is not the need of the community. For example people along the coast can be trained on fishing rather than on animal husbandry.
· Human capacity development aspects to be the most needed to solve the key problems that will lead to achieve objectives that have been defined in the community. The community members are in a good position to identify which problems affect their community development. In this way the program should target in solving the immediate problem of the community.
· Identify the level of capacity to focus on the human capacity assistance - individual, organizational, sector/network and/or the enabling environment. This entails that people differ in human capacity and the utilization of the knowledge. Therefore the program should be designed in accordance with the capacity level of the community members. For example most people in the rural most of them are of class seven level educations the human capacity package for the group should be that of class seven levels.
· Identify the current capacity levels of the target groups within each capacity level, so that core capacities can be built on there may be opportunities to build reflection and learning into existing practice. Given that so much (informal) learning happens ‘on the job’ it is important to look at how learning from experience might be maximized. Always communities have some sort of the knowledge on a problem. Therefore there is a need to identify what capacity is available among the community members so the human capacity development can build on. For example in rural area like Masai people they have their own way traditionally of treating the cattle’s. Therefore as CED practitioner you need to study first how the Masai do treat their animal before introducing new methods that might create some conflicting ideas among the community.
· Identify the realistic expectations of the target group to be achieved through capacity development. Community members will attend human capacity development program that will meet their expectations. Therefore before designing a program there is a need of identifying community expectations that will lead to the designing of the program failing to do that people might not attend that program fully.
· Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) processes. There is a need to take time to critically reflect on practice, in an ongoing manner use of models such as the 'after action review' or 'action learning sets' to ensure they are reflecting on their practice. It is important to keep asking questions of current practice to community members. Are mistakes analyzed and learned from? Are lessons learned, beyond individual levels? Is there scope to question current practice and procedures relating to evaluation and learning? Does the program use learning from experience to develop both individuals and the community? Is learning recorded and shared? What types of learning are recognized? What is the responsibility of different stakeholders in relation to learning?
Approaches for human capacity development
There is a wide range of potential delivery mechanisms that can be used for human capacity development. The approaches to capacity development should take greater cognisance of the overall societal context and the political influence of supported community. Should ensure an adequate focus on the social, economic and environmental context in which technical solutions are being implemented and should capture and enable attitudinal changes and skills that are likely to result in a collective sense of purpose and progress. These approaches can be categorized into:
Face-to-face mechanisms include: classroom-based training, seminars, conferences and workshops, research programmes, exchange programmes, demonstration trials, on-the-job training and mentoring. Face-to-face mechanisms tend to be a resource intensive approach but may have a high degree of success in enhancing knowledge and skills, and developing overall competency of the community members
Remote mechanisms include: publications, manuals/training material, radio, distance-based learning, and mechanisms based on information and communication technology (ICT).
The importance of human capacity development:
Human capacity development program for community if well articulated the following benefits can be achieved for community economic development
Empower people for their development as no one develops any one else. People and community develop themselves with or without help of external.
Community members are able to increase their productivity and to participate fully in the process of income generation and remunerative employment in other words “economic growth is a subset of human development”.
Community having capacity they have access to equal opportunities. Through capacity development all barriers to economic and political opportunities will be eliminated so that people can participate in, and benefit from, these opportunities
The process of human capacity development itself can add value to overall capability, as well as result in the improved performance of the individuals, groups and organizations.
In one of the late president literature; Mwalimu Nyerere stressed that development meant “the development of people, not things...and that people could not be developed, they could only develop themselves.”
Human capacity has been recognized by Tanzania Government since it got its independence this can be seen in various initiatives that has taken place in the country. These include the introduction of adult education classes and free education in early 19770s. This was an intentional motive by the government to build the capacity of its citizens that will lead to country economic development. Not only that the Tanzania’s Development Vision and Long-Term Development Strategy for the period up to 2025 which states that “the overall development policy thrust of the Development Vision is the centrality of human resource development in the country’s wider socio-economic development process.” It also stresses the need to assure the active involvement of the population in the development process and the eradication of abject poverty.
Conclusion:
A well-educated, innovative and skilled population is the foundation as well as the goal of Community Economic Development. It is also the surest way to eradicate poverty. The Tanzania’s education and training systems should aim at the future of millions of children and of the nation itself for sustainable economic development.

Reference:
Allan Kaplan; (1997) Capacity Building Shifting the paradigms of practice
Eva Broch Pierrakos (1996) Pathwork Guide Lecture
Richard Halloway; Sharpenning the focus Capacity building work of the NGO Support Programm of Action Aid Kenya.
Tanzania Human Development Report The State of Progress in Human Resource Development (1999)
http://www.cdra.org.za/publications/various_articles/shifting
http://www.hdr.undp.org/reports/details_reports
http://www.fao.org/docrep/007