The document discusses plans to create a more effective platform for sharing research knowledge globally through several key activities. It aims to connect organizations that facilitate knowledge sharing, build their capacity to aggregate research, and create an enabling environment for open sharing of content. The proposal includes scoping the current intermediary sector, developing a global network of these organizations, opening up systems and data through an API, supporting collaborative technology, and promoting standards and advocacy to encourage open access and sharing of research.

1. “ More effective platforms for sharing research knowledge globally” MK4D Output2 19 November 2010

2. Output 2 - what’s it all about? Linking up and building up the development intermediary sector Creating a more enabling environment for connecting up content, systems and people sustainably Building the capacity of the sector to share and aggregate research knowledge in meaningful and demand-led ways

3. Output 2 – the proposal rationale

4. Output 2 – key features of activities All partnership based – about facilitating, connecting up Linkages with other MK4D activities - especially in Output 1 Work streams may cut across output 2 activity groupings, MK4D, projects from other funders and/or with other partners MK4D may be the funder and enabler not an implementing actor in some activities 3 groupings – Scoping, Systems, Behaviours

5. Output 2 activity areas

6. Output 2 – Scoping Scoping and mapping the intermediary sector Content sharing capacity audit – global network analysis Content bases, systems, standards, people Make available as a tool for the sector Enable intermediaries to identify potential collaborators and content streams Keep updated Resources will cover English language scoping only Will inform other MK4D activities

7. Output 2 – Networks: The I-K-Mediary Network an emerging global network of organisations that play a knowledge and information intermediary role in development 67 individuals from 27 organisations (research institutes, networks, government and international organisations in Asia, Africa, Europe, and Oceania) aims to enhance and enable the positive impacts of information and knowledge intermediary work by increasing the effectiveness of members and creating a more enabling environment for their work learn, innovate, support professional development, collaborate, advocate, develop capacity, build greater understanding of “infomediary” role

8. Output 2 – Systems Open API open Application Programming Interface opens up to the MK4D services’ content base to programmatic use by others for new applications powerful potential to combine multi-source content in innovative ways cross-platform opportunities workshop in Delhi earlier this week

9. Output 2 – Systems Enabling collaborative support and/or development of ICT systems for content sharing Supporting intermediaries to produce outputs for sharing online

10. Output 2 – Behaviours Working group(s) on behaviours to enable content sharing , to develop and promote agreed standards, protocols, policies, and tools open access – licensing, Creative Commons, global copyright release indexing, content formats, technologies Targeted advocacy for promoting uptake of standards for data sharing and quality assessment Lobbying / campaigning for Open access, Open API, Open Standards sponsoring participants in debates to get southern perspectives

11. Output 2 – Behaviours Working group(s) on behaviours to enable content sharing Targeted advocacy for promoting uptake of standards for data sharing and quality assessment

12. Main activity areas Scoping and mapping the intermediary sector Intermediaries networks building , facilitation and events Open API Enabling collaborative support/development of ICT systems for content sharing Supporting intermediaries to produce outputs for sharing online Working group on behaviours to enable content sharing Targeted advocacy for promoting sharing