Abstract

Recognising the need for research-based practical information to enable Capacity-Building Activities (CBAs) policy makers, programme managers, and trainers to improve their performance, the Yokosuka Council on Asia-Pacific Studies (YCAPS) undertook the development of a best practice guide for maritime security CBAs in the Indo-Pacific. This handbook presents the work of a team of researchers who synthesized information, observed CBAs, and assessed best practices in various locations across the Indo-Pacific. It specifically identifies transferable actions that should be considered by CBA leaders when developing and implementing maritime security CBAs in the region and provides policy recommendations for those seeking to pursue a more coordinated approach to Indo-Pacific capacity building.

This handbook is divided into two parts. Part A lays the foundations for the subsequent observations and recommendations. Here, we synthesize information from published sources including academic reviews, practical guides, and government publications to provide an overview of the current state of maritime security CBAs. We discuss the challenges and limitations that prevent capacity-building optimisation. We then review previous studies of maritime security capacity-building to catalogue best practices.

Part B provides guidelines for implementing maritime security CBAs. The guide looks to research from the fields of international education and training, intercultural communication, and programme evaluation to aid practitioners in developing educationally sound CBAs. Next, observations of current CBAs administered by a range of agencies in the Indo-Pacific inform detailed, pragmatic best practice strategies to implementing CBAs. The final section of the guide turns to policy-level CBA planning issues and examines how CBAs can be made more effective at the interface between policy and practice.

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