Developing an auditing tool to measure community capacity of using market based instruments

Community capacity is essential for the design, development and implementation of MBIs, therefore it is important to be able to measure and monitor it over time. Community MBIs capacity audit is a means to identifying, developing and harnessing a community’s capacity to strengthen and develop stakeholder’s MBI awareness, and support local groups in achieving positive NRM and environmental outcomes. In this paper, an auditing tool is proposed to profile and increase communities’ capacity of using MBIs. The assessment provides sound quantitative results and graphic outputs that are easy for community individuals, groups and organizations to access and interpret. The profile allows a wide range of stakeholders to self-assess their MBIs capacity, from which will form the basis for community MBIs capacity-building strategic planning (eg, initiating relevant and targeted training and education programs).