Background
In 2006-07, the Carcross/Tagish First Nation, Kwanlin Dün First Nation, and Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation participated in a capacity assessment of their lands, heritage and natural resource departments funded through the Regional Economic Development branch of the Government of Yukon.
In 2007, the Government of Yukon, in partnership with the above mentioned three First Nations governments, successfully received Northern Strategy funding for the Capacity Assessment and Development for First Nations Lands and Resources Management and Development Project. This tool is created out of the recommendations from this project and existing capacity assessments.
In 2009, representatives from the First Nation governments met to review their experiences with the capacity assessment tools based on a Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) review. The feedback from that review has been incorporated into this tool.
How to use the tool
The Capacity Assessment Tool can be used with this online-interactive work book, the hardcopy work book (Download work book as a PDF) or a combination of both.
There are five steps to consider and each step guides the department through a capacity assessment process.
- Organize and Plan helps with planning before conducting the assessment. It also involves determining and identifying a facilitator.
- Conduct Capacity Assessment is the work you need to do to complete a capacity assessment.
- Summarize and Interpret Results pulls all the information gathered into one organized document.
- Implement Recommendations moves actions forward and helps determine who is responsible for those actions.
- Evaluate allows participants to evaluate the assessment and determine how well it worked for the department.
Why do a Capacity Assessment?
Capacity
Capacity is the power of a person, system or government to perform or produce. It is the ability of individuals or government units such as departments, to perform functions successfully.
Capacity Assessment
Capacity assessment is a process to determine the existing ability of the government and its ability to perform required government functions.
The findings of a capacity assessment process can be the foundation for any of the following:
To inform future planning:
- Strategic plan
- Budget plan
- Work plan
To identify requirements for departmental realignment (to meet goals and objectives of a strategic plan) operations, improvements or areas of strength:
- Staff
- Skills
- Departmental knowledge
To plan for future change:
- Transition
- Succession planning
- Reorganization
- Project planning
- Enhance staff training
- Educational
- Partnerships (First Nation government, Yukon College, Government of Yukon, etc.)
