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Creative Capacity Development: Learning to Adapt in Development Practice
The development community seems constantly and restlessly in search of a singular approach that will “solve” poverty, unveiling new buzzwords every few years only to toss them aside. Author Jenny Pearson argues that the fundamental flaw with this system is that each new approach fails to break out of the underlying technocratic and specialized paradigm in development work. As Director of Cambodia’s leading capacity-building NGO, VBNK, Pearson explains how creative risks and an innovative spirit can revive development work, especially in post-conflict settings.
Creative Capacity Development provides an unflinching appraisal of the author’s own assumptions and setbacks as she established VBNK and explains how a dynamic and open learning process allowed the organization to move beyond them. Pearson’s account, drawn with insights from cultural studies, mental health practice, and the arts, will guide other practitioners in broadening their own understanding of capacity-building. The book reveals that development work, far from requiring a singular solution, is and should be a never-ending process.
Creative Capacity Development provides an unflinching appraisal of the author’s own assumptions and setbacks as she established VBNK and explains how a dynamic and open learning process allowed the organization to move beyond them. Pearson’s account, drawn with insights from cultural studies, mental health practice, and the arts, will guide other practitioners in broadening their own understanding of capacity-building. The book reveals that development work, far from requiring a singular solution, is and should be a never-ending process.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 2011
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About the author
Jenny Pearson
11 books1 followerLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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May 12, 2014
Well worth reading to those working in development and capacity-building. This book hits close to home since her work is based on 15 years in Cambodia. I can relate to everything she's been through, though not in the depth, expertise and intensity that she has been through.
I definitely like her thinking on the importance of culture and how it relates to capacity-building. You can have all the technical skills in the world, but unless you can understand, know when to back off, work with the mindset, attitudes and behaviors of the people, life and work can be very difficult. The levels of mistrust, lying, obfuscation, hierarchy, gender, confusion over who is really in charge in Cambodia are deep.
She also makes a valid point about the fact that Cambodia is a post-war, genocide and conflict state. This affects the development process in terms of the psychosocial behavior that may not be seen in other developing societies.
I'm not sure how much her creative approaches really made an impact, but I can appreciate the effort. She also had the benefit of working with a much higher level of skilled staff than I have had the experience of working with.
Overall, a good book and information. 4 stars because it hits so close to home.
I definitely like her thinking on the importance of culture and how it relates to capacity-building. You can have all the technical skills in the world, but unless you can understand, know when to back off, work with the mindset, attitudes and behaviors of the people, life and work can be very difficult. The levels of mistrust, lying, obfuscation, hierarchy, gender, confusion over who is really in charge in Cambodia are deep.
She also makes a valid point about the fact that Cambodia is a post-war, genocide and conflict state. This affects the development process in terms of the psychosocial behavior that may not be seen in other developing societies.
I'm not sure how much her creative approaches really made an impact, but I can appreciate the effort. She also had the benefit of working with a much higher level of skilled staff than I have had the experience of working with.
Overall, a good book and information. 4 stars because it hits so close to home.
Displaying 1 of 1 review