Course Overview

Organizations are the vehicles through which strategies, programs, and policies are delivered. Understanding and assessing organizational capacity is essential for evaluators, funders, and leaders working to improve the effectiveness and sustainability of those interventions. This course introduces participants to organizational capacity assessment (OCA) through a heuristic, systems-based approach that connects conceptual frameworks with hands-on practice.

Designed for individuals who conduct, commission, manage, or use OCA results, the course guides learners through when and why to use OCA, how to adapt assessments to context, and what tools and approaches support learning and action. Participants will gain a practical foundation for planning and implementing OCAs that are credible, context-aware, and useful.

What You Will Learn

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the purpose, value, and phases of organizational capacity assessment
• Apply a four-step model to scope, design, conduct, and follow up on an OCA
• Compare commonly used OCA frameworks and tailor them to different contexts
• Use tools for stakeholder engagement, facilitation, and learning throughout the process
• Support organizational change and decision-making through effective follow-up

Course Format

This course includes three live, online, instructor-led modules (or 1.5 days in-person). Each session combines conceptual guidance, real-world examples, and practical tools that participants can adapt to their own work. A certificate of completion is provided to all participants who complete the full course.

Module Breakdown

Module 1: An Overview of OCA and the Scoping Process

The course begins with a foundational introduction to organizational capacity assessment—what it is, why it matters, and when it can be useful. Participants will explore how OCA connects to evaluation and organizational learning goals, and what makes an OCA credible and practical. The session introduces a four-step model for OCA: scope, design, conduct, and follow up. Participants will focus on the scoping phase, including how to determine whether an OCA is appropriate and how to frame the assessment for success. A structured set of scoping questions will be shared as a practical tool for future use.

Module 2: Moving from Scoping to Designing the OCA

Building on the scoping phase, this module focuses on designing the OCA itself. Participants will examine stakeholder mapping and leadership considerations, then turn to the selection and adaptation of OCA frameworks. Several common frameworks will be reviewed and compared, with discussion of how different organizational types may call for different approaches. Rather than promote a single model, the session encourages a flexible, context-driven mindset that allows practitioners to choose and shape frameworks that suit the realities of each organization.

Module 3: Conducting the OCA, Reporting, and Following Up

The final module explores how to conduct an OCA using facilitation techniques, data collection tools, and adaptive strategies to support meaningful engagement. Participants will consider how to manage challenges, guide sensemaking and analysis, and support the integrity of the process. The session concludes with approaches to reporting and follow-up, emphasizing how to translate findings into organizational learning, decision-making, and ongoing development.

Who Should Attend

This course is ideal for:

• Evaluation specialists conducting or managing organizational assessments
• Program staff and organizational development practitioners
• Funders and commissioners who oversee or use OCA processes and results
• Anyone seeking to support organizational effectiveness through structured assessment

Prerequisites

No prior experience with organizational capacity assessment is required. All tools and materials will be provided during the course.