Diagnosing Individual Policy Capacity for Climate Governance: Evidence From National and Subnational Institutions in Pakistan

What the paper says

Although much of the existing literature examines policy capacity as a determinant of policy performance, less attention has been paid to diagnostic assessments of individual‐level capacity at different tiers of government. This study provides a diagnostic assessment of individual policy capacity within Pakistan's climate governance system, focusing on the analytical, operational, and political competencies of policy professionals working at national and subnational institutions. Drawing on original survey data collected from climate‐related organizations, the study employs descriptive statistics, bivariate correlations, and analysis of variance (ANOVA) to examine overall capacity levels and variations across demographic characteristics, including age, education, professional experience, and governance level. The study indicates a moderate analytical capacity and relatively high operational and political capacity at the federal and provincial levels. The composite mean score findings reveal that federal and provincial‐level capacities are closely aligned. However, the ANOVA results showed within‐level differences. Capacity variation at the federal level is associated with demographic characteristics, particularly education and experience, whereas no influence was found at the provincial level, suggesting an even distribution of skills. These results underscore the importance of moving beyond aggregate or organizational‐level assessments to diagnose individual‐level capacity constraints within devolved governance systems. The study contributes to the policy capacity literature by providing empirical evidence from the Global South and demonstrating the value of diagnostic approaches in identifying capacity‐building priorities for climate governance. The findings hold practical implications for the design of targeted training, institutional support mechanisms, and intergovernmental coordination strategies in climate policy systems.