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To build capacity, build confidence

The history of attempts to spread scientific know-how beyond western centres of excellence is littered with failures. Capacity building needs long-term commitment, a critical mass of trainees, and a supportive home environment.

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References

  1. Building Scientific Capacity for Development HC377 (Science and Technology Committee of the House of Commons, 2012); http://go.nature.com/rtnwWr

  2. Scientific and Institutional Capacity Growth (Africa Climate Research for Development, 2015); http://go.nature.com/OhihQz

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Acknowledgements

The input from long-term discussions with J. Padgham (System for Analysis, Research, and Training; START), C. Jack and A. Steynor (Climate System Analysis Group (CSAG) at the University of Cape Town), A. Pirani (Climate and Ocean: Variability, Predictability and Change; CLIVAR), and many others are greatly valued in helping the evolution of the ideas presented here.

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Correspondence to Bruce Hewitson.

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Hewitson, B. To build capacity, build confidence. Nature Geosci 8, 497–499 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo2465

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