This document discusses knowledge networks and their role in facilitating knowledge sharing in international development. It defines knowledge networks as communities that bring together people from different backgrounds, professions, languages and technologies to exchange information and ideas. The document outlines some best practices of knowledge networks including Dgroups and KM4Dev. It also discusses challenges of knowledge networks like linguistic and cultural barriers. It provides examples of how knowledge networks have helped bridge divides and facilitated collaboration and knowledge exchange to support international development goals.

1. Managing and facilitating
knowledge networks
Sarah Cummings
Knowledge Ecologist & K4DP
Advanced Training Course: Knowledge,
Innovation and learning
Vienna, 19 October 2017

2. Knowledge Ecologist…
 Ecology, not an economy
 Holistic: collaboration, cooperation and coordination
 ‘Social’ not biological ecology
 Relationships and connection
 Knowledge networks are crucial key aspect of the
ecology

3.  What is a knowledge network?
 Knowledge networks at the heart of international
development
 Some best practices: Dgroups and KM4Dev
 Lessons from USAID, UNDP and the EU
 Evidence
 Challenges
 Some questions for further reflection
Overview

4.  Domain, a community and a practice
 Example of ROSA on Capacity4Dev
 Synonyms: communities of ideas, formal knowledge
networks, virtual teams, virtual knowledge
communities, thematic groups and thematic
networks, communities of practice
 Online/not online
 “ The heaven and hell of facilitation” (Nancy White
and Lucie Lamoureux)
What is a knowledge network?

5.  SDG 17: Strengthen the means of implementation and
revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable
Development
 KDG 4: Knowledge Partnerships
4.1 Thematic knowledge partnerships
4.2 Complementarity between portals and networks
4.3 Urban and regional partnerships – local knowledge
partnerships
4.4 Public private partnerships
Knowledge networks at the
centre of development

6. Challenges facing development…
Cultural diversity

7. Challenges facing development…
Professional diversity

8.  Linguistic diversity: English, Spanish, French, but also
vast number of languages are the ‘grassroots’
 Technological diversity
 Multiple knowledges
Challenges facing development
Other diversity

9. www.dgroups.info
700+ networks
150,000 registered users
460,000 emails per day
50% exchanged with and within LMIC countries
Shared values
Best practice 1: Dgroups

11.  Knowledge Management for Development Community
 Started in 2000
 Information and knowledge professionals, academics,
and consultants
 Intentional and non-intentional phases
 Approx. 4000 members world-wide
 Online and face to face
 Sub-communities
Best practice 2: KM4Dev

12. …a global network of development agents who share the idea that
knowledge can contribute to the development of poor countries and
groups in a disadvantaged situation.
…a cognitive bridge for development agents worldwide..
… KM4Dev has shaped the flow of knowledge among the members of
the net.
…a high level of efficiency, providing reliable answers to development
agents at a daily basis almost in real time, and at very low costs.
Sebastiao Ferreira , Peru

13. Yes, [knowledge networks] really have broadened the way
people perceive and understand their own organization.
Now staff members don’t just refer to their own experience
but have a more regional perspective .
They have also facilitated the development of SNV as a
horizontal organization and in reducing hierarchy. It has
also facilitated SNV as a matrix organization.
Robin van Kippersluis,
The Netherlands

14. Cydney Gumann and Ashleigh Mullinax
 Defined and finite groups
 Shared agenda
 Specified time frame
 Three levels of focus: organizational, network, and activity
 Integrated approach to the knowledge cycle: knowledge
generation, capture, dissemination, and application
 Dedicated resources, such as time and cost-sharing
arrangements
 Clear and established deliverables
Heaven and hell of facilitation 1:
lessons from USAID

15. Karin Santi and Ela Chirileanu
 Dedicated Knowledge Network Facilitators
 Standardised, demand driven Products and services
 Consolidated Replies
 News Updates
 E-Discussions
 Practice Workspaces
 Referrals
 Produced and contributed to Practice/Policy
 Guidance
 Guarantee responses to CO queries - 10 days
Heaven and hell of facilitation 2:
lessons from UNDP 1

16. Karin Santi and Ela Chirileanu
 Face-to-face workshops
 “Scholarships” for active participants
 Links to Policy Analysis and Programming
 “Practice setting from bottom up” – Defining issues
 & priorities
 Analysis of contributions
 Utilising networks for peer review, identification of good
practices to feed into policy development
Heaven and hell of facilitation 3:
lessons from UNDP (cont.)

17. Ivan Kulis and Lucie Lamoureux
Benefits
 Keep users up to date with current thinking
 Questions and answers as motor of community discussions
 Build and foster reputation
 Promote network and build relations
 Foster trust and confidence in the peers
Heaven and hell of facilitation 4:
lessons from Capacity4Dev

18. Lucie Lamoureux and Ivan Kulis
Barriers
 Difficulty to ask question and share in public on sensitive
 Shifting membership reduces the sense of ownership
 Practical challenges related to the ability and opportunities
for users to engage in knowledge sharing
 High workload and low prioritisation for knowledge
sharing
Heaven and hell of facilitation 5:
lessons from Capacity4Dev

19. Community Maturity Model with four phases: no
capacity; hierarchy; emergent community; and
community (left to right)
Adapted from Community Roundtable model by Kulis and Lamoureux

20.  Facilitate exchange of information and knowledge
 Creation of new knowledge
 Improve collaboration, coordination and cooperation
 Facilitate contact across North-South divides
 Bridging development divides in terms of profession
between practitioners, researchers and policymakers
 Crossing the digital divides
 Impact at the level of project and programmes, and
organizational change
Evidence from research of Dgroups
and case studies

21.  Politics and power issues
 Purposeful management and facilitation are
necessary
 Considerable time investment required
 How to demonstrate impact?
 How to address linguistic barriers?
Remaining challenges

22.  Exchange experiences of your participation in
knowledge networks: which are good practices and
what distinguishes them?
 What sort of impact have knowledge networks
demonstrated in your experience?
 Do you think that knowledge networks can make an
important contribution to international development?
For further reflection

23.  Agenda 2030:
https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/post2015/transformingourworld
 Agenda Knowledge for Development:
https://sites.google.com/k4dp.org/k4dp/agenda-knowledge-for-
development
 Dgroups www.dgroups.info
 Research on Dgroups:
https://knowledgeecologists.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/development-
through-dialogue.pdf
 KM4Dev www.km4dev.org
 USAID http://journal.km4dev.org/index.php/km4dj/article/view/243
 UNDP http://www.who.int/pmnch/events/2007/presentationsanti.pdf?
 Capacity4Dev: https://europa.eu/capacity4dev/km-
ks/document/powerpoint-slides-cop-training-course
 ROSA network on Capacity4Dev https://europa.eu/capacity4dev/hunger-
foodsecurity-nutrition/
 Community Roundtable’s Community Maturity Model:
https://communityroundtable.com/what-we-do/research/community-
maturity-model/
Sources