Organizational Capacity for HIA

Abstract

This chapter discusses organizational capacity as a necessary factor for the successful completion and implementation of health impact assessment (HIA). Organizational capacity refers to the capabilities, knowledge, and resources that an organization needs in order to capably undertake an HIA. The chapter presents three broad categories of organizational capacity: institutional support, knowledge and resources, and outside context/climate. Institutional support is described as the structures and motivations within the organization conducting the HIA. Knowledge and resources comprise the capacity to undertake the HIA using resources from within or external to the organization. Outside context/climate refers to the need for conditions outside the sponsoring organization that are amenable to accepting and implementing the results of the HIA. The chapter concludes with a presentation of ten strategies that can help organizations reach capacity based on an evaluation of HIA successes and failures across two decades from jurisdictions around the world.