In order to build capacity it is necessary for a municipality to develop and implement an effective capacity building strategy, and a key to this is for a municipality to come to an understanding of the gaps in their capacity. Recognising skills gaps, or being able to carry out assessments that provide details of the nature of skills gaps, are important skills in themselves. Once this is in hand (perhaps through human resource staff or heads of departments, or through a structured assessment), municipal leaders need to determine a capacity building strategy in relation to municipal objectives. This must consider all the municipal actors, and their potential roles, in a framework that addresses both the short and the long term - and the ongoing requirements of capacity building throughout the contract.
A key aspect of the capacity building strategy will concern the provision of skills training. Who provides the training? How is capacity building achieved - short- or long-term courses, study visits, learning-by-doing or exchange programmes…?