INTPA - Capacity4dev

OVERVIEW

What is it?

Capacity4dev is the EC's knowledge-sharing platform for development cooperation where participants can share, learn and collaborate with development professionals. Capacity4dev aims to improve capacity development through knowledge sharing by consolidating knowledge and building institutional memory, supporting thematic expertise, enabling cross-learning among practitioners from EU institutions and other organisations, and consolidating knowledge-sharing tools and communities of practice around a common environment.

What can it be used for?

Capacity4dev is a user-generated website where members contribute and share knowledge on various themes. It is a site for sharing best practices, asking questions, exchanging ideas and engaging members in a community of practice or working group. Capacity4dev is a resource for information and best practices, as well as a place to share and exchange experiences with professionals in open, restricted or closed environments.

When can it be used?

Always.

Who can use it?

Everyone! Site members include staff from EU institutions, as well as development professionals from EU Member States, partner governments, civil society, academia and the private sector.

What are its strengths?

Internal EC hosting offers a secure EU service, and restricted access for EU staff based on valid credentials.
A dedicated and responsive coordination team available to support members and provide additional advice for community administrators.

What are its limitations?

Performance in low-bandwidth countries can be constrained given data transmission speed limits.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

Key elements

Articles. There are hundreds of knowledge pieces available on the site, featuring development actors from across the world sharing knowledge on development practices and policies, with operational insight. Many of which contain video interviews, comprising a virtual treasure trove of collegial and expert insights and views. Capacity4dev topics cover a broad range of international development themes from policy to education.
Membership. Members can post information, upload documents and comment on content. They can stay up to date with key developments relating to their professional field or areas of interest, by signing up for email notifications.
Online groups. The platform enables learning and knowledge exchange through online communities. Members are welcome to join or create communities targeted to specific audiences in order to collaborate and engage with peers. Group features make it easy for members to share documents, ask questions, post comments, promote events, and share best practices and lessons learnt.
Online projects spaces. Projects allow to share knowledge based on experiences implementing key methodologies and/or working methods, sharing lessons learnt along the way. You can easily offer visibility to a specific project and programme (ongoing or completed), and the pages will be publicly visible, even after completion.
Resources. Capacity4dev provides easy access to useful tools and guidance such as “Team Europe Initiatives and Joint Programming Tracker” and “Results and Indicators for Development”.

Requirements

Data/information.

Users do not have to provide any data to browse public information. However, when becoming Members, they must submit mandatory profile data, including name and surname, email, organisation, organisation type and country. More details are available under Capacity4dev's privacy statement.

Time.

Depending on one's role and position, the time commitment can range from very little for occasional users to high engagement for managers of Groups/Projects/Resources.

Skills.

No particular skills, but at least a minimum of web-savviness and comfort using community sites. Managers of Groups/Projects/Resources need to get familiar with extra functionalities which will allow them to better manage their own spaces.

Facilities and materials.

Device with a modern browser and an Internet connection.

Financial costs and sources.

Capacity4dev is a free service. Anyone can visit the public access portions of the site and/or sign up as a member to benefit from additional services and features.

Tips and tricks