The Capable Partners Program (CAP) works to strengthen the organizational and technical capacities of civil society organizations — community-based, faith-based, and intermediary support organizations, as well as civil society networks across technical sectors. The program provides technical assistance, training and grants management to U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) missions and operating units to enhance programs for strengthening nongovernmental organizations.

Building capacity

CAP has spearheaded an initiative to support nongovernmental organizations that receive funds under USAID's innovative Development Grants Program but have little or no prior experience working with the U.S. government. CAP provides grantees with customized technical assistance and training to help them manage their awards and develop their institutional capacity. Currently in its third round, the Development Grants Program has funded a total of 79 organizations that work in over 30 countries. More than half of these are in Africa and in sectors such as environment, dairy production, microenterprise, women's empowerment, water, and democracy and governance.

Specialized training in monitoring

In consultation with USAID's Africa Bureau and the West Africa Regional Office in Ghana, CAP developed and conducted a customized training program in monitoring. This training was designed to strengthen the West Africa Peacebuilding Network (WANEP) and to build the monitoring and organizational capacities of the 15 national networks within WANEP. The training was replicated in each country, enabling CAP to reach 483 nongovernmental organizations that are WANEP members.