Policy capacity workshop

What is it about?

This article describes a practical workshop for helping civil servants understand “policy capacity”—the mix of people, skills, relationships, knowledge, institutions, and resources that governments need to develop and implement effective public policy. Based on a workshop delivered through the Government of Prince Edward Island’s Policy Capacity Learning Series, the article explains how participants worked together to map their own policy environment. Rather than teaching one narrow skill, such as research or consultation, the workshop helped public servants see how different parts of policy work connect. The article is written for people who teach, train, or support policy workers, including governments and public administration educators. It shows how collaborative, learner-centred activities can make abstract policy concepts more concrete and useful. It also offers practical guidance on how similar workshops could be planned, adapted, and improved in other jurisdictions and learning settings, while supporting future training in public administration.

Featured Image

Photo by Brooke Cagle on Unsplash

Photo by Brooke Cagle on Unsplash

Why is it important?

This article is important because it offers a practical way to help public servants understand and strengthen policy capacity. Policy capacity is often discussed as something governments need, but it can remain abstract or difficult to apply. By describing a hands-on workshop, the article shows how public servants can collectively map the skills, relationships, knowledge, institutions, and resources that shape policy work. This makes the concept more concrete and useful for training, reflection, and organizational learning. The article is especially valuable for governments, educators, and trainers looking for practical approaches to policy learning.