Capacity building: learn by doing

Capacity building is essential to making any lasting change. Without the necessary skills, knowledge and resources, no design intervention can be sustained. It's just giving a man a fish.

Geoff Mulgan says capacity isn't something you can give to someone else, because it can only be learned by actually doing it. You improve your skills by practising them. The best design interventions will involve giving ongoing support and guidance to permanent staff as they put new knowledge into practice. Consultants should preference active engagement and experiential learning over than passive training sessions.

And it's not just learning – at Paper Giant we also find we think best by doing.

– Emma Blomkamp