Building capacity through a collaborative international nursing project.
OBJECTIVE
To discuss: (a) physical, human, organizational, social, and cultural capital and (b) empowerment as two theoretical foundations for building capacity.


METHODS
These theoretical notions are examined in an analysis of a joint project between the Department of Nursing, University of Ghana and the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Alberta, Canada.


RESULTS
Capacity for the management of international development projects was enhanced at both sites. Building capacity required mutual trust, tolerance of ambiguity, and a willingness to step into the unknown.
Ogilvie
Linda
L
3rd Floor, Clinical Sciences Building, Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada, T6G 2G3. linda.ogilvie@ualberta.ca
Allen
Marion
M
Laryea
Joanna
J
Opare
Mary
M
D000416:Alberta; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D004511:Education, Nursing, Graduate / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005869:Ghana; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D007393:International Educational Exchange; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D011209:Power, Psychological; D016730:Program Development / Q000379:methods; D011582:Psychological Theory; D012579:Schools, Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012945:Social Values; D035502:Trust