Making Knowledge Networks Work for the Poor

Published by Intermediate Technology Consultants, Ltd. (a programme of The Schumacher Centre for Technology and Development), this 29-page report describes the results of an initiative that "seeks to improve the integration and co-ordination internationally of information and knowledge resources on appropriate technology".

From the Executive Summary

The overall aim of the project is 'to improve the integration and co-ordination internationally of information and knowledge resources on appropriate technology', and the purpose of the preliminary study was to consider the role of a network in
bringing about this aim.

The project emerged out of a recognition by both development practitioners
and donors that poor men and women face a series of problems in locating
and using other people’s knowledge and information for their own benefit.
In particular, information about new technical options is required both to
enable adoption of appropriate technologies, and to facilitate technology
adaptation and development.

The project undertook a number of activities including the following:

1. A preliminary investigation of key centres of knowledge resources on
   technology and poverty reduction available on the internet;
2. Discussions on effective and sustainable networks at WSSD;
3. Case studies of organisations working with the poor in Peru, Zimbabwe
   and Sri Lanka;
4. A workshop to identify requirements for an appropriate technology
   information and knowledge to contribute to the information systems of
   poor people and to brainstorm the concept of a co-ordinating network.

The research confirmed that:

• there is poor co-ordination amongst information providers;
• poor people have difficulty accessing the right kind of information;
• many of the information systems that do exist to provide information to
  the poor are not demand-driven, they overlook local knowledge, they do
  not understand or ignore the role of intermediaries, and they do not
  monitor usage;
• the ICTs revolution provides opportunities but can undermine traditional,
  local communications, by taking attention away from them and supplanting them.

The main findings of the project were:

• The proliferation of networks is itself a problem. Development
  practitioners complain of ‘information overload’, and there is confusion
  about the role of each network with respect to another.
• Networks are themselves ‘not networked’, so that information users
  cannot get an overview of what information is available, and where.
• Networks do not incorporate and strengthen the systems that people
  already use to access information (e.g. social networks), and
  consequently do not understand why they do not reach their target
  audience.
• It is also important to recognise and value local knowledge and
  information channels, through participatory approaches.
• Organisations do not always communicate effectively with their
  constituencies, and are often guilty of confusing information
  dissemination with communication.
• Development practitioners and those engaged in the provision of

  information services aimed at reducing poverty, emphasise that 'face to
  face' communication is the most effective mode of transferring
  information. The challenge, therefore, is how any information system or
  network can engage with this mode of communication.

• The role of the information intermediary is key in addressing this
  challenge, but they are little understood and quite often overlooked.
• Participation in knowledge networks can be influenced by institutional
  competition for resources, especially when knowledge and information
  is seen as an organisational asset.

The creation of a new network would not necessarily resolve these issues,
unless it attempted to consolidate and provide additional facilities not
already on offer to users. However, there was doubt amongst project
participants and informants about the need for another network. Rather, it
was suggested the focus should be on making existing networks work
better. The need for better co-ordination between information generators
and providers was recognised, as was the need for sharing of good practice
in information services and systems. This suggests that there is a role to be
played as a 'broker of (AT information) brokers', and to be a catalyst for
better communication and co-ordination within networks and between
network members.

Such an initiative should work with infomediaries to unlock and facilitate the
transfer of local knowledge and complement it with external information,
appropriately packaged and disseminated using innovative and appropriate
communications techniques as defined by users.