This paper examines the importance, and some of the critical mechanics and means for building, over the long-term, a critical mass of professional indigenous researchers, policy analysts and economic managers who are able to better manage the development process in their respective developing countries. The paper also emphasizes the need to make better use of the existing indigenous capacities and institutions. Although coverage is broader, particular emphasis is placed on Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where the magnitude of the problem of low absorptive capacity has been quite telling. The paper starts by setting up the problem and defining the concept of capacity building. In this section, it also examines a number of factors that have frustrated capacity building efforts in SSA. Section two reviews some selected past and existing capacity building initiatives, and presents lessons drawn from these experiences. The last section discusses the implications of capacity building for die recently initiated research programmes funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Royal Netherlands Government in a number of Southern countries, including Tanzania.
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