Capacity building

Tales (and Tells) of a Development Amateur

written by Lant Pritchett Nina Munk’s new book The Idealist: Jeffrey Sachs and the Quest to End Poverty is a great read.  The book itself has been reviewed by development […]

BSC Video 8: What is PDIA?

Problem Driven Iterative Adaptation (PDIA) is an approach we have developed to help escape capability traps. PDIA rests on four core principles: Local Solutions for Local Problems: Transitioning from promoting […]

BSC Video 6: Understanding your Eco-system

The process of building state capability involves people, who are the ultimate complex phenomena; embedded within organizations, which are complex; and organizations are embedded in rules systems (e.g. institutions, cultures, […]

BSC Video 4: Capability for Policy Implementation

Policy implementation requires agents of organizations who are responsible for implementation, to do the right thing, at the right time, and in the right place. In this video, Lant Pritchett, […]

BSC Video 3: Form ≠ Function

Development involves change, and change always happens within a context. The focus in development however, is on transplanting successes and adopting ambitious “best practice” modes of governance and public administration, […]

BSC Video 2: Capability Trapped in a Big Stuck

In many nations today, the state has little capability to carry out basic functions like security, regulation or even core service delivery (health, education, water, etc). Enhancing this capability, especially […]

Introducing the BSC Video series

written by Salimah Samji Since the inception of the Building State Capability (BSC) program, the team has made over 50 presentations around the globe at places like the World Bank, […]