Optimizing human and organizational capacity is a prerequisite to providing quality services of any kind. The ESD Project builds capacityto improve the delivery of RH/FP services.

 Capacity building or optimizing utilization of existing capacity is defined as "a process that improves the ability of a person, group, organization or its systems to meet its objectives or to perform better" (LaFond, Brown, and Macintyre, 2002). Key elements of a well-functioning system include:  

• Strong organizational or institutional management;
• Supportive supervision;
• High quality performance;
• Community engagement in planning, monitoring, and assessing services, as well as problem-solving;  
• Ability of the community and primary-level providers to collect and use local data for decision-making.

Types of Technical Assistance

ESD focuses technical assistance on building and strengthening one or more of these elements, primarily at the community level: 

• Transferring knowledge to individuals: clients, primary-level providers, key stakeholders;

• Creating an enabling environment for the private commercial sector that includes supporting networks with and between both the public and NGO sectors to sustain RH/FP services;
• Developing performance skills of community-based and primary level providers to deliver quality RH/FP services; 
• Strengthening the “support” systems required for providers to deliver services (strategic planning, supportive supervision, financial management, budget forecasting, monitoring and evaluation, etc.); and

• Providing demand-driven technical assistance to local organizations (health and non-health, public and private) that are part of the community health system responsible for providing RH/FP services.  
   

 The Most Valuable Resources

The most valuable resources are the local providers and staff themselves. In order to best strengthen human capacity:  

• ESD works with local partners in the public and private sectors to design simple assessment tools that identify individual and organizational capacity strengths and gaps. Once identified, ESD can recommend solutions that will improve RH/FP services.
• ESD applies state-of-the-art, evidence-based learning tools and techniques developed by its partner organizations, in addition to those from other major collaborating agencies, to improve provider performance, strengthen the capabilities of implementing public/private groups to support their staff, and engage the community. For example, ESD is working with the Yemen Midwives Association (YMA) and other local institutions, training trainers to use best practice tools such as MSH’s MOST and The Financial Management Tool  to identify gaps and build technical skills. The trainers have worked with the association’s leaders to  improve their skills in strategic planning and financial management and develop a five-year operational plan. These acquired skills also strengthen the various systems required for an organization to effectively support its members in providing quality services. ESD is also working with a local Yemen business institute to develop training manuals and a basic business skills course for midwives who plan to establish private practice.
• In addition to traditional methods, ESD uses innovative learning techniques and methods where available and applicable to transfer knowledge and develop skills. Examples include: “blended” virtual and face-to-face learning that connects providers and program managers across countries and regions; distance learning; self-directed learning; e-learning; interactive simulation; virtual conferencing; on-the-job training; mentoring, learning exchanges, workshops, South-to-South technical exchanges, demonstration projects and/or appropriate combinations of these approaches.

Working with clients to support effective evidence-based and community-led interventions, and to help them adopt best practices, ESD assists individuals and groups in achieving improved health outcomes and livelihoods.

Read about our work with the Yemeni Midwives’ Association (YMA).