A short desk study to identify organisations involved in capacity building with southern research organisations and identify how DFID could help them to do it better. The process builds on a review paper by Tony Killick commissioned by DFID in 2000, and discussed at a meeting for social development advisers in Durban.

The study will help the Knowledge Policy Unit in DFID London to prepare a proposal, for the 2001 resource round, for more resources to strengthen southern research capacity. The study will include a review of existing literature and an internet search for information about organisations invoved in capacity building and their programmes.

Outputs will include an annotated bibliography, a simple database of organisations and a brief paper outlining the issues DFID will need to address if it wishes to support these efforts more effectively.