This resource offers recommendations for improving the effectiveness of capacity development approaches drawn from past USAID capacity strengthening experiences. In doing so, it begins to make connections between conceptual lessons found in the development literature and programmatic learning emanating from USAID activities.

This exploratory analysis draws from two loosely interconnected efforts:

• USAID’s Paper Series on Capacity and Capacity Strengthening, particularly Inquiry 3 on Approaches to Strengthening Capacity of Local Actors, and

• A synthesis of recommendations from nine evaluations and final reports for Human and Institutional CapacityDevelopment (HICD) activities posted on USAID’s Development Experience Clearinghouse.