A roundtable discussion hosted by the Centre for Charitable Giving and the Institute for Voluntary Action, attended by a cross-section of representatives from the voluntary sector, examined the "next steps for the funding and delivery of capacity building". 'Capacity building' is advice or other support which helps organisations to effectively achieve their aims.

A roundtable discussion hosted by the Centre for Charitable Giving and the Institute for Voluntary Action, attended by a cross-section of representatives from the voluntary sector, examined the "next steps for the funding and delivery of capacity building". 'Capacity building' is advice or other support which helps organisations to effectively achieve their aims.

The discussion addressed three main issues:

1) Who determines capacity building needs? How is need determined? Which are the priority need areas, now and in the immediate future?

It was noted that external factors in the wider social, economic and political context can influence what capacity building needs will be and where resources will be targeted. The impact of the recession, and the then impending General Election were cited as two examples.

How capacity building is perceived can also have an impact. Some participants felt that is it often low down the list of priorities for organisations. Others noted that it is in fact donors and funders who define an organisation's capacity building needs, as opposed to the organisation itself, "...there is a lot of rhetoric around self-defined need, but when push comes to shove, it's donors' needs [that define it]."

The group also urged a shift away from constructing capacity building support around the resources available, towards a greater focus on identifying the actual need and how to address it.

2) Should we target capacity building support? If so, how and to whom?