Serge Rumin

The Capacity, Integrity and Sustainability (CIS) Framework is a simple tool to help move beyond a focus on personnel skills and equipment, and towards three crucial dimensions of institutional survival (see Figure 1 below). Originally designed to look at the capacity and integrity of an institution to be effective and accountable at the individual and organisation level, the CIF has since evolved to also look at external oversight aspects, as well as at the sustainability or continuity of not only individual posts and functions (recruitment and retention), but also organisational staffing structures and resourcing.  

In analysing an institution, the CIF distinguishes between three levels of an institution:

1. Individual: an individual’s background, education, experience and aptitude that helps him/ her accomplish his/ her tasks
2. Organisational: an organisation’s mandate, resources, structures, policies and procedures
3. External: its interdependence with other institutions

The three quality dimensions of an institution are:

1. Capacity : existing resources, structures and procedures
2. Integrity : respect for basic norms and values when using its capacity
3. Sustainability : conditions for building a stable and sustainable service

For the full tool, download the pdf below, or use the online version in the Methodology section to see how the tool is used to Identify Causes in a Community Based Needs Assessment of the Criminal Justice Chain.

An 2011 blog by Alexander Meyer-Reickh developing the CIS Framework provides insight into its application.