Part IV Communicating findings 13.4.2. Capacity gap analysis Capacity gap analysis works on the basic assumption that rights are not realized because rights-holders lack the capacity to claim their rights and/or duty-bearers lack the capacity to meet their duties. The analysis starts by pinpointing what capacity is needed and then compares this with what capacity currently exists. The difference between the required capacity and actual capacity is the “capacity gap”. “Capacity” is defined here in a broader sense, incorporating the following five components. Concept Description Responsibility, motivation, commitment, and leadership This focuses on the personal knowledge, beliefs and motivations of individual duty bearers. For example, does the duty bearer acknowledge that they should do something about a specific problem? Have they accepted and internalized their duty in legal or moral terms? If not, what could convince them to do so? Authority Does the duty bearer have the permission to take the action that is needed? Does the rights holder have standing to challenge official actions? Laws, formal and informal norms and rules, tradition and culture largely determine what is and is not permissible. Access and control of resources Does the rights holder and/or duty bearer have the resources to act? The resources available to individuals, households, organizations and society as a whole may generally be classified into: human resources, economic resources and organizational resources. Rational decision making and learning Is the duty bearer able to act on the basis of logical, informed, evidence-based decisions? Communication capability Does the rights holder and/or duty bearer have the capability to communicate and to access information and communication systems? Communication is also important in “connecting” various key actors in the social fabric into functional networks able to address critical development issues. A simple capacity gap analysis template lists the rights holders and relevant duty bearers, what action they should be taking and the “gaps” that prevent them from doing so. When using capacity gap analysis as a tool for assessing broader contextual factors, it is important to bear in mind that: • Gap analyses often do not adequately recognize or value existing capacity, nor factor this into recommendations for change • The statement of the “ideal situation” can sometimes be far too ambitious to be helpful in setting realistic goals and objectives for future action • Effective gap analyses identify more than simply “hard” capacities (e.g. resources) and pay attention to “softer”, less tangible capacities (e.g. influence, good will, personal connections). 13.4.3. Political economy analysis Political economy analysis is concerned with the interaction of political and economic processes in a society. It is a tool that examines the distribution of power and wealth between different groups and individuals, and the processes that create, sustain and transform these relationships over time. In this respect, it is more comprehensive than power mapping and capacity gaps assessment. Chapter 13: Evaluating contextual factors | 133