This document discusses knowledge and Agenda 2030, the UN's sustainable development goals. It notes that while Agenda 2030 aims to create knowledge societies, knowledge is neglected in the goals. However, knowledge can play a transformational role in development. In response, the Knowledge for Development Partnership was formed and created the Agenda Knowledge for Development, which includes 13 knowledge development goals focused on issues like pluralistic knowledge societies, strengthening local knowledge, and improving knowledge strategies in organizations. The document concludes by encouraging reflection on how to implement the knowledge development goals.

1. Knowledge, KM and
Agenda 2030
Perspectives from an unusual suspect
Sarah Cummings
VU University Amsterdam & Knowledge for Development
Partnership
Workshop for UN System and IFI knowledge management professionals
Monday 30 October 2017

2.  Agenda 2030 – knowledge is neglected
 Does this matter?
 Opportunities
 Agenda Knowledge for Development
 Conclusions
Break-out session on the private sector
Overview

3.  Agenda 2030 and the SDGs are probably the most influential
international development policy for the period up to 2030
 New paradigm for sustainable development for all countries, not
only developing countries
 First universal, unified agenda covering social, economic and
environmental aspects of development
 But there is a problem relating to knowledge, despite the
aspiration to create knowledge societies
‘The spread of information and communications technology and
global interconnectedness has great potential to accelerate human
progress, to bridge the digital divide and to develop knowledge
societies, as does scientific and technological innovation across
areas as diverse as medicine and energy’ (UN, 2015: 9).
Knowledge and Agenda 2030: 1

4. The model of technology transfer - ‘… the overriding
mentality is still that developing countries are vessels to be
filled with knowledge and ideas’
Lack of reference to local knowledge and local realities as
the starting point of all development
Only one reference to local knowledge as ‘traditional
knowledge’ in Goal 2: End hunger
No reference to cognitive, cultural and spiritual aspects of
knowledge
Emphasis on private sector, data and ICTs
Mismatch between vision and goals: transformational
vision while implementation is ‘business as usual’
Knowledge and Agenda 2030: 2

5. Knowledge is an important catalyst and ingredient of
development
Knowledge can play a transformational role in
development
Important for breaking down silos and ‘natural
integrating factor’ for all stakeholders in Agenda 2030
Development organisations and national
governments are revisiting their policies and
approaches in the framework of Agenda 2030
Does this matter?

6. JIU report, recommendations taken up by General
Assembly resolution 71/243 and the policy review, and
this meeting…
Agenda Knowledge for Development
Formation of the Knowledge for Development
Partnership (K4DP) as an iNGO at the UN on 3 April
2017
Opportunities

7. Designed to complement Agenda 2030 from perspective
of knowledge
Created collaboratively over 2 year period
Launched at Global Knowledge Partnership Conference,
April 2017
13 Knowledge Development Goals with 3-7 targets each
73 individual statements from UN policymakers,
academics, KM professionals and students
Michel Mordasini and Ashwani Muthoo (IFAD), Irina
Bokova (UNESCO), Petru Dumitriu (JIU) and others
Agenda Knowledge for
Development

8.  Goal 1: Pluralistic, diverse and inclusive knowledge
societies
 Goal 2: People-focused knowledge societies
 Goal 3: Strengthening local knowledge ecosystems
 Goal 4: Knowledge partnerships
 Goal 5: Knowledge cities and rural-urban linkages
 Goal 6: Improved knowledge strategies in development
organisations
Agenda Knowledge for
Development: 1

9.  Goal 7: Capture, preservation and democratisation of
knowledge
 Goal 8: Fair and dynamic knowledge markets – the importance of
the private sector
 Goal 9: Safety, security and sustainability
 Goal 10: Legal knowledge
 Goal 11: Improved knowledge competencies and knowledge
work
 Goal 12: Institutions of higher education to play an active role
 Goal 13: Information and communication technologies (ICTs)
for all
Agenda Knowledge for
Development: 2

10. 6.1 Increasing KM competencies within the UN System and
among other stakeholders
6.2 Development organisations should be aware that can
be part of the problem which requires critical reflection on
practices and impact
6.3 International development should support self-
determined, inter-connected knowledge ecosystems and
societies
6.4 Development organisations should work with each
other to find a complementary role in the knowledge
ecosystem
6.5 Development organisations should strengthen the local
knowledge ecosystems and support the diversity of local
knowledge services
KDG 6: Improved knowledge strategies in
development organisations

11.  3.1 Strong local knowledge identities, cultures, policies,
strategies, institutions, partnerships and processes
 3.2 Healthy knowledge ecosystems are built on communication
and collaboration, on common visions and shared targets
 3.3 Knowledge development efforts have to build on local
realities and existing local knowledge
 3.4 A multiple knowledges approach recognises the importance
of individual, community, specialist and holistic knowledge, and
the role played by language.
KDG 3: Strengthening local
knowledge ecosystems

13.  Important to put KM and knowledge into the SDG process
 Agenda Knowledge for Development still open to new insights
 New personal statements requested (400 words)
 Request to consider Agenda Knowledge for Development in
your work and in the implementation of the SDGs
 Reflect on how your work and your organisation’s work effects
the broader knowledge ecosystem
 …And take part in the break-out session this afternoon on ‘The
role of the private sector in knowledge management/brokering’
Conclusions