Capitalisation

Capitalisation is a process that helps improve the design and implementation of development policies and actions, identify the lessons learned from previous interventions, make information accessible, create frames of reference and share experiences. Iram is constantly developing the institution’s experience and practices in individual projects and programmes, and its work on cross-cutting questions or themes common to several projects. We also support partners that are in the process of building on their own experiences.

Transforming information into shareable knowledge

Capitalisation takes tacit knowledge and information and uses written documents, CD-ROMs, websites, videos, conferences and debates, etc. to make it explicit and shareable.

This process is essential, in order to:

  • remember experiences and retain knowledge
  • support learning processes
  • improve intervention strategies and methods
  • communicate about actions and pass on skills
  • share experiences.

The capitalisation process may relate to different levels of intervention – project, country or region – and specific intervention themes or sectors.

Expertise

Iram aims to develop appropriate solutions to concrete situations through a combination of contextual analysis, theoretical references and practical analysis. The institute shares its field practices and draws on the lessons learned from its development experiences in different regions around the world.

Iram helps programmes and projects build on their experiences by:

  • developing capitalisation plans
  • preparing documents such as thematic files and dossiers, brochures, etc.
  • organising workshops
  • producing a range of materials, from films and websites to documents, collective works, etc.
  • disseminating the results of the capitalisation process.

As an institution, Iram develops its own thinking through cross-cutting work developing particular issues or themes that are common to several projects. It works with field staff and other actors and resource persons on different actions, which include:

  • Iram study days: annual opportunities to discuss and reflect on the institute’s practical experience in various aspects of development.
  • Thematic publications: thematic analyses that combine the lessons learned from practical experience with theoretical reflection at various levels – research bodies, technical services, donors, operators’ networks, civil society organisations, etc. Iram publishes collections of thematic papers and methodological and procedural studies.
  • Supporting capitalisation processes and prospective reflection on partners’ experiences and actions in various thematic fields (national and regional institutions, NGOs, States, donors, etc.). This includes helping define intervention strategies and future programmes, running workshops, etc.
  • Developing various materials to build on the results of capitalisation: organising and running conferences and debates, creating digital and filmed materials, preparing thematic notes and conference proceedings, producing collective works … In accordance with its practice and thinking, Iram has developed an ‘Information systems and capitalisation management tool’ with  Terre Nourricière, which can be used to create dedicated websites to monitor and build on the results of capitalisation, and link in with prospective projects and thematic processes.