1 Nicolas Gorjestani, The World Bank Harnessing Indigenous Knowledge for Development Presentation to UNCTAD Conference on Traditional Knowledge November.

1

Nicolas Gorjestani, The World Bank

Harnessing Indigenous Knowledge

for Development

Presentation to UNCTADConference on Traditional Knowledge

November 1, 2000

Nicolas GorjestaniChief Knowledge & Learning Officer

Africa Region, The World Bank

2


Overview

Development case for IK

World Bank’s IK Program

The way forward

3


Knowledge is experience, everything else is information

4


IK Affects People’s Lives

Herbal medicine is an excellent example of IK that has affected lives around the globe...

…but there is much more to it !

9


In the Development Process...

efficiency IK is cost effective IK uses appropriate technology

effectiveness IK is locally managed IK reaches the poor

sustainability IK provides for mutual adaptation & learning IK empowers local communities

Indigenous knowledge could help to increase:

10


In the Development Process...

raising agricultural production Indigenous soil conservation technology (Burkina Faso)

increasing value of education systems Local language instruction improves literacy skills (Mali)

improving quality of health care Traditional Birth Attendants help reduce maternal mortality (Uganda)

good governance Local institutions lead post-conflict land re-allocation (Mozambique)

Indigenous knowledge could also contribute to:

11


Development organizations are not storehouses of universally applicable knowledge just waiting

to be transferred.

That is why they should help: empower communities to use global & local knowledge

connect communities to one another and to other sources of experience

learn with them what works in a given setting & facilitate adaptation with modern technology

Role of Development Partners

12


actively participating in development dialogue

determining research agendas

enhancing good governance

integrating indigenous knowledge in development

Empowerment

Communities shape own development agenda by

13


Helping local practitioners and communities to:

exchange knowledge of local practices build traditional knowledge networks engage authorities, researchers & experts dialogue with development partners leverage traditional & modern knowledge

Enablement

14


Empowerment through Enablement

Building on traditional knowledge systems

exchange

engage

connect

Helping communities learn

learn

hear

listen

Learning from communities

15


Genesis of IK Program

Global Knowledge Conference 1997 vision of truly global knowledge partnership

will be realized only when the poor participate

as both users and contributors of knowledge

Client Feed Back Surveys 40 percent “knowledge adaptation gap” look for what works in communities

Partnerships (bilateral & international organizations , NGOs, CBOs)

16


What we have done to date...

IK practices data base (>200 cases)

“IK Notes” publication (26 in print & Internet)

“IK Report: A Framework for Action”

Multi-lingual Website: www.worldbank.org/afr/ik/default.htm

Enhanced capacity of IK centers in 8 countries

Capacity building to develop National IK Strategies (Uganda)

Integrating IK into Bank-supported projects

“Knowledge Packs”

IK Topic on Global Development Gateway

17


IK in Bank-supported Projects

Agricultural Research & Training Project II (Uganda)

Lake Malawi Environment (Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania)

Conservation and Sustainable Use of Medicinal Plants (Ethiopia)

Northern Savana Biodiversity Conservation (Ghana)

Management of Forests and Adjacent Lands (Benin)

Micro-watershed & Environment Management Program (Nigeria)

Education & Community School Program (Mali)

HIV/AIDS Multi-sector Project (Cameroon)

18


19


21


The Way Forward

Develop National Strategies on Utilization of IK

Enhance capacity of national & regional IK networks

Promote community-to-community exchanges

Identify innovative mechanisms to protect IK

Need partnerships to help :

22


Balanced Flow of Knowledge

Local Global

Networks

23


Building networks of IK practitionersBuilding networks of IK practitioners

Engage

Exchange Learn

Influence

Healers

Farmers

Hunters

24


Botanists

Ministry of Health

DoctorsPharmacists

WHO/ World Bank Specialists

Researchers

PHC providers

Health Care CBOs/ NGOs

Traditional Healers

LeveragingLeveraging Knowledge NetworksKnowledge Networks

25


Uganda: RESCUER project in Iganga District

PHCs partner with traditional birth attendants link attendants to health units thru ‘walkie-talkies’ attendants serve as referral points more women receive health services

Impact: maternal deaths declined by 50% in 3 years

Lesson: leveraging modern & traditional knowledge Lesson: leveraging modern & traditional knowledge systems can help to increase development impactsystems can help to increase development impact

Successful Adaptation Successful Leveraging

26


Protection of IK: Some Principles

Not all IK are patentable or subject to IPRs

Documentation in written records a key to protection of IK

Look for innovative forms of protection such as MTAs

Emerging examples of fair& equitable benefit sharing (Cameroon)

Regional agreements are potentially a cost effective form of protection

(1996 Andean Pact allows prior informed consent)

Community-to-community exchanges a possible platform

27


Concluding Remarks IK is a critical factor in sustainable development

Empowerment & enablement of local communities is a

key to integrating IK into the development process

Helping promote networks of traditional practitioners

& community-to-community exchanges is a way to

better disseminate good practices in IK

Innovative mechanisms are needed to protect IK

A regional approach is likely to be most cost effective

World Bank is looking forward to partnerships to help

advance this agenda

28


Harnessing Indigenous Knowledge

for Development

Thank you

www.worldbank.org/html/afr/ik/index.htm

1 Nicolas Gorjestani, The World Bank Harnessing Indigenous Knowledge for Development Presentation to UNCTAD Conference on Traditional Knowledge November.

Documents

world bank ik

world bank slide

world bank knowledge

world bank empowerment

world bank overview

global local knowledge

local setting

local languages