The purpose of this paper is to describe the experiences of building capacity toward improved health outcomes in a rural Fijian community. The paper defines the concept of community capacity situating this within the context of health programming. The tension that exists between the two key forms of health programming, top-down and bottom-up, is also discussed in terms of its resolution through the approach of 'parallel-tracking'. A practical means of visually representing the concept of community capacity is given using the spider-web configuration. The paper will be of interest to the planners and evaluators of health programmes that aim to build and measure community capacity.