Capacity Building

We came to Tanzania hoping to share our skills and knowledge with local practitioners--be they women’s rights activists, or health care workers. In NGO jargon, we came to “build capacity”. 

But, of course, it was never going to be, and could never be so simple as: We came. We shared our skills and knowledge. And now all the staff at Kivulini and Bugando perform better. Fanta Orange for everyone! 

In reality, we both struggle everyday to know when and how and how often to speak up, to instruct, to intervene. For me, this might mean resisting the great temptation to completely take over a project months behind schedule knowing that I could probably finish the whole darn thing within days, on my own. If only the goal were not to build capacity or maintain a participatory work culture. For Duncan, obviously, the stakes are raised to a whole other level. Should he hop and holler every time he sees medication being dosed incorrectly? Test results not being followed up with properly? Families not being briefed on the treatment for their child thoroughly? 

He could do that, and I could take over a few projects myself, but at what cost?  Our relationships with locals are fragile enough, given the imbalances in education, in experience and let’s face it, in finances. While we both like to get a job done well, on schedule, in moments of clarity, we understand that if we're not careful, our attempts to get a job done well can encourage dependency on mzungu experts to keep things afloat a little longer, like the little Dutch boy sticking a few fingers in the dike to stave off disaster.  

So, again, what can we do but ask for wisdom, patience, and a healthy willingness to let things be messier than we’d like? If you pray, pray these things for us.