ENHANCING CAPACITY BUILDING THROUGH RESEARCH SKILLS DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

Capacity building and research skill development are fundamental to strengthening institutional effectiveness, advancing knowledge creation, and fostering sustainable development across disciplines. This chapter examines the conceptual foundations, strategic approaches, resource constraints, skill gaps, inequitable access to research opportunities and practical mechanisms for enhancing research capacities at individual, organizational, and systemic levels. It highlights the role of targeted training, mentorship, collaborative research networks, and enabling environments in cultivating critical research competencies, including problem formulation, methodological rigour, data analysis, ethical practices, and scholarly communication. By strengthening research skills and institutional capacities, the chapter underscores how sustained investment in capacity building can enhance research quality, promote innovation, and contribute meaningfully to evidence-informed decision-making and societal advancement.