KM in Rural & Agricultural Development: The ENRAP experience Shalini Kala, ENRAP www.enrap.org IFAD-IDRC
Jan 19, 2016
KM in Rural & Agricultural Development: The ENRAP
experience
Shalini Kala, ENRAP www.enrap.org
IFAD-IDRC
Why networking
Why ENRAP
What did it do
What changed
Why networking? Rich project knowledge exists & is being created
continuously Learning within IFAD family was limited - projects
unconnected, working in isolation
Knowledge not available in shareable form
Rapidly expanding telecommunications Weak capacity to use ICT tools for sharing – physical, funds,
human
Lack of appreciation – knowledge sharing, knowledge management & use of ICT tools
Networking to share knowledge
Why Share Knowledge?
To improve project performance through:
Improved management – planning, resource allocation & decision making
Improved monitoring
Enhanced communication capacity for community engagement & informing policy making
Innovation, replication, up-scaling
Why ENRAP?
To promote knowledge-sharing networks within projects, across projects & among rural dev. players:
Networking: IFAD projects & associated partners are making greater use of regional & country programme networks to actively share knowledge
ICT4L Research: ICT applications that have proved successful in improving rural livelihoods are accessible to network members for replication & up-scaling
What is ENRAP?
ENRAP (Knowledge Networking for Rural Development in Asia-Pacific Region) Phase I started in 1998,covered 5 countries (15
projects) Phase II (2003-07) expanded to 8 countries (40
projects) Phase III (2007-2011) covers all of Asia-Pacific IFAD-IDRC collaboration
What does KS involve?
Documentation of knowledge – needs capacity
Validation through discussion & sharing amongst various actors – needs mechanisms such as networks
Systematic approach to the above – needs capacity, mechanisms, strategy & resources
What were the challenges? Wide diversity: languages, economic status –
CONTEXT of Asia-Pacific
Modest effort to change practice substantively Lack of demand for knowledge networking
possibly due to lack of understanding of value Disinterested CPMs
Weak capacity – analysis, documentation Disparate interests Phase III: Engaging new members quickly
What were the opportunities? Corporate emphasis on KM
Recognition of knowledge needs & gaps
Common interests & needs
Country office establishment taking over the supervision function from UNOPS Appointment of Country Focal Points or
Program Officers (CPO) Increasing CPM interest
ENRAP Strategy Working from project to national to regional levels, in
parallel Demonstrating value of networks in effective/useful
knowledge sharing – creating demand Building capacity to network, share & plan for
networking/sharing: of CPOs & through them in countries Identifying and nurturing “champions”: PDs, Project and
partner staff, CPOs Engaging/Influencing CPMs by keeping them informed and
seeking their advice Engaging new members through existing ones Tracking network growth – SNA research
What Changed?
Network at 2010
Some outcomes general recognition of the value of knowledge networking
by members (CPMs, CPOs or project staff) & the role that each of them plays in making this effective
Efforts at improving knowledge networking moved from being adhoc & project specific to broad, generic & of a higher level
KM efforts at project, national and regional levels getting well-linked
KS increasingly an integral part of project & country poverty reduction efforts – improved capacities, mechanisms, resources
tested information available on the use of information and communication tools in agriculture
Some outputs KS Tools & Methods Guide
Writeshops: Guide & Cases
Systematization: Guide & Manual
Research findings: Use of ICTs in enhancing rural livelihoods
Numerous project outputs – field stories, films, websites, etc.
…
Thank You!!