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RESOURCE CENTRE NETWORK (RCN)DEVELOPMENT PROJECT AN INITIATIVE TO PROMOTE INFORMATION AND KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT WITHIN THE WASH SECTOR. ‘Modern’ Library. Your people. Genererate knowledge. ICT systems. Collaborate & communicate. Disseminate. Storing knowledge.
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RESOURCE CENTRE NETWORK (RCN)DEVELOPMENT PROJECT AN INITIATIVE TO PROMOTE INFORMATION AND KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT WITHIN THE WASH SECTOR
‘Modern’ Library Your people Genererateknowledge ICT systems Collaborate & communicate Disseminate Storing knowledge Political and policy stakeholders Knowledge management
Sector Efforts to Strengthen KM • Advocacy workshop held in May 2004 to raise profile of KM and decide on priority actions • May 2004 workshop led to the establishment of an interim Task Force (TF). Periodic meetings hosted and chaired by CWSA. • Task Force was tasked with development of framework for long term development of KM within the Sector • TF has Developed framework for KM in Water Sector (Concept Paper) • Task Force carried out KM management Scan and detailed studies • Key output was a Concept Paper outlines scope of interventions, institutional requirements and financing options.
Situation with KM in Ghana • Little effort to institutionalise Knowledge Management • Generally Capacity for KM in the Sector is weak. • Lack of awareness about importance of information and knowledge management • Little research and lack of documentation means little information to share within Sector (few publications and ICT based information) • Currently commonest ways of KM sharing are through verbal channels eg. Through training, workshops, seminars, sector fora etc. (ICT often more efficient) • Inadequate infrastructure (ICT, libraries, archives etc) and trained personnel for knowledge management • A general lack of financial support for KM activities from Donors, Governments and from organisations.
KEY CHALLENGES FOR KM DEVELOPMENT More effort and resources are required to achieve the ff: • Strengthen Coordination of KM activities - Establish and equip the RCN Secretariat - Strengthen the roles of RCN, Steering Committee. RCN Secretariat, Promote learning alliances • Improve resourcing of KM activities - Core funds for RCNS, Steering Committees and LAs - Increased funding for Knowledge Development - Cost recovery for KM services? • Intensify efforts to change attitudes towards KM - Institutionalise documentation within CWSA - Intensify Knowledge sharing - Incentives for knowledge management • Ongoing effort to Improve infrastructure for KM - ICT, Resource Centres, Archives etc. • Development of KM at Decentralised Levels
RESOURCE CENTRE NETWORK - GHANA WRI KNUST/ DCE WaterAid TREND Institutional Set-up of Resource Centre Network in Ghana: KM -STEERING COMMITTEE Steering Committee: the governing body. Anchored in the MWH’s Water Directorate. Other members: government agencies, private sector representatives and NGOs Secretariat: admin and information distribution function. Housed in CWSA. Resource Centre Network: management and operational body on sector KM. KM-Secretariat Learning Alliances at national level Integrated Water Resource Management Academic-research – pre-service training in: IWRM, Utilities, engineering Pro-poor rural and urban Water supply and sanitation Resource Centre (incl in-service-training) on Community and small town water and sanitation PROPOSED STRUCTURE FOR RCN
PROPOSALS FOR RCN MANAGEMENT • Secretariat will be anchored in the MWRWH, initial proposal is for it to be housed in CWSA Head Office. • Specific Roles of the RCN Secretariat will include: • Planning and coordinating of Steering Committee and RCN activities, • Facilitating communication between the Steering Committee and the RCN partners, • Fundraising for KM activities • Coordinating and facilitating knowledge product development, in cooperation with the Resource Centres, • Administration of RCN contracts, bookkeeping for the KM Initiative • Monitoring RCN process and Promoting RCN at key sector events
PROPOSALSFOR RCN MANAGEMENT The Steering Committee • The Steering Committee will constitute a coordination group to oversee the implementation of various core KM activities. • Will steer policies, strategies, frameworks and projects, define new action plans and approve new memberships. The Resource Centre Network: Key Roles of Resource Centres will be: • Developing new knowledge and information to fill critical gaps; • Providing information, knowledge services and products; • Promoting the effective use of knowledge among sector institutions and stakeholders. • Constituting a sector memory in a country or a region where they operate. • Initially comprised WaterAid, WRI/WRC, TREND, KNUST • More members expected as more organisations adopt KM TheNational Level Learning Alliance
OVERVIEW OF THE CURRENT EFFORT Key Objectives: • To Strengthen Coordination of KM activities - Establish and equip the RCN Secretariat - Strengthen the roles of RCN, Steering Committee. RCN Secretariat, Promote learning alliances • Improve resourcing of KM activities - Core funds for RCNS, Steering Committees and LAs - Increased funding for Knowledge Development - Cost recovery for KM services? • Intensify efforts to change attitudes towards KM - Institutionalise documentation within CWSA - Intensify Knowledge sharing - Incentives for knowledge management • Ongoing effort to Improve infrastructure for KM - ICT Facilities, Resource Centres, Archives etc. • Development of KM at Decentralised Levels
Expected Outputs of Current Effort • KM is institutionalised within the Sector: • A KM Coordinator has been appointed • A well functioning and recognised KM Secretariat is in place • The KM Secretariat is coordinating and facilitating operations of the • Steering Commitee • Resource Centre Network • Learning Alliances • Knowledge Products and Services • Sector website (www.ghana.watsan.net) • Regularly updated Blue Pages
Expected Outputs of Current Effort • Promotional Materials on Knowledge Management • Information Products: Factsheets, Newsletters, policy briefs • Enquiry Services, Structured Training, • Knowledge gathering, dissemination institutionalised • Development of walk-in and virtual libraries • Support given to promoting KM in various sector fora (with regard to KM) • Long term strategy/ Business Plan developed/update and implemented • Funding strategy developed and implemented • Communication and Advocacy strategy developed and operationalised
WHERE ARE WE NOW? Some Progress has been made • RCN Coordinator is in place • More funding for KM initiatives from projects focusing on KM initiated in the sector (WASHCOST, SWITCH, TPP, WSMP) all provide a basis for Knowledge development • Organisations like WaterAid, CONIWAS, WRC, CWSA all devoting more resources to KM But Major Challenges lie Ahead • ICT situation still weak in most organistaions • Challenges in dealing with the MMDAs • Attitudes about documentation and sharing of • Big challenges with sustainability of the current effort unless level of funding improves.
FOR MORE INFORMATION • CONTACT RCN Secretariat • awumbei@yahoo.com • www.ghana.watsan.net (from 1 Oct)