What Sustains Regional Action?

Assuming that there is some value in continuing, regional practitioners need to build the capacity to move forward. In addition to satisfying the principles presented earlier, practical experience suggests that the following capacities are necessary to sustain a regional initiative:

Demonstrated Progress and Success

• Frame problems or opportunities
• Find and implement solutions
• Capture and share lessons
• Document, communicate, and celebrate progress

Adaptive Capacity

• Renew and revise your scope of work
• Regroup around new opportunities and challenges
• Recruit new leaders and participants

Leadership Capacity

• The commitment and continuity of key people
• The ability to recruit and engage new leaders
• People with vision, passion, and an ability to get things done
• Individual and organizational champions

Civic Capacity

• Broad-based support to help determine what needs to be done.
• Citizens, businesses, non-government organizations, higher education, agencies, neighborhoods, diverse demographic groups, political decision makers

Organizational Capacity

• A sensible legal structure suited to the region
• A business plan

Fiscal and Technical Capacity

• Funding (preferably from diverse and long-term sources)
• Research, education, and communication resources
• Accessible, use-friendly databases or information materials