Presentation to APQC’s Fourth Knowledge Management Conference San Antonio, Texas May 26, 2000

1. Using Indigenous Knowledge to Adapt Global Best Practices to Local Conditions:The World Bank Experience Presentation to APQC’s Fourth Knowledge Management Conference San Antonio, Texas May 26, 2000 Nicolas Gorjestani

2. What we will share today Part I: World Bank’s Knowledge Framework Who we are, what we do Evolution of knowledge sharing strategy Lessons of experience Part II: Learning from the Client Role of Indigenous Knowledge The process of adaptation

3. Who we are... International organization Owned by 180 governments 9000 staff; 100+ nationalities Regional offices in 100+ countries ~40% operational staff in the field

4. What we do... Help design/finance development programs reconstruction of Europe developing countries fighting poverty Leverage ideas and financial resources Largest single source of development finance Raise funds from capital markets/contributions

5. Our competitive advantage... Knowledge of development practices over 50 years 100+ countries variety of sectors Largest source of development knowledge under one roof

6. World Bank mission statement To fight poverty with passion and professionalism for lasting results To help people help themselves and their environment, by providing resources, sharing knowledge...

7. The age of pioneers (1995-1996) Scaling up the “Knowledge Bank” (1997-99) The ageof integration & adaptation (2000 >) How we got here... Three Phases

8. Knowledge management Knowledge sharing = Jargon Plain English

9. October/November 1998Public expenditure reviewMadagascar: Tax policy and administration thematic group In the past:“We’ll get back to you” Should VAT (value added tax) be applied to medicines?

10. October/November 1998Public expenditure reviewMadagascar: should VAT (value added tax) be applied to medicines? Tax policy and administration thematic group

11. Late October1998Public expenditure reviewMadagascar: should VAT (value added tax) be applied to medicines? Tax policy and administration thematic group University of Toronto Retired ECA Region MNA Region DEC Task manager in Madascar: how desirable are specific reforms to the VAT (value added tax) that the client was contemplating? Indonesiafield office Within 72 hours...

12. In the new financelaw, medicines areexempted from VAT October/November 1998Public expenditure reviewMadagascar: should VAT (value added tax) be applied to medicines? The advice receivedshaped the Bank position as communicated to Govt, IMF and donors Tax policy and administration thematic group

13. KMS Global experience on exemptions from VAT The experience will be edited for re-use and entered into the knowledge base Expected

14. KMS Global experience on exemptions from VAT Future Increasingly The client can get this kind of material in minutes How to make this real ?

15. Retired ECA Region MNA Region While technology is a facilitatorSharing depends on community University of Toronto DEC Indonesiafield office AFR Region

16. don’t know what we know we don’t know what we don’t know we don’t know know what we know we know what we don’t know we know know don’t know Knowledge & Learning FrameworkWhat we Know & Don’t Know?

17. Knowledge & Learning FrameworkHow to Share & Learn? learn from peers, clients share with, learn from global networks external knowledge sources share with clients, partners learn from each other by sharing internal internal external knowledge users

18. The evolution of knowledge sharing Knowledge baseknowledge objects Initially, the focus was on building a knowledge base

19. The evolution of knowledge sharing Knowledge baseknowledge objects Communities of practice100+ thematic groups Then the focus shifted to knowledge communities

20. Agriculture partners Transport partners Private sector partners Education partners Health partners External partners The evolution of knowledge sharing

21. Community of practice: the thematic group

22. Some staff are anchors Most members are in Regions External partners Community of practice: the thematic group TGs are front-line practitioners 100+ thematic groups

23. Doing while learning Learning while doing Knowledgesharing Learning Connecting through communitiesof practice Collecting knowhowand sharing Sharingknowledgewithin the team Informal learningclinics Distancelearning Computer basedlearning Study tours

24. Ecological approach Engineeringapproach Information management Intellectual capital Knowledge sharing Learning

25. Ecological approach Engineeringapproach Information management Intellectual capital We need all four approaches Knowledge sharing Learning Knowledge as an asset Knowledge as information Knowledge as as an activity Knowledge as people

26. It’s a long journey >need relentless repetition It’s not one “thing” > it’s a series of small steps Sharing & learning >two sides of samecoin It’s not about tools > it’s about people/communities It will stay a “fad” >integrate K into core business It’s not about rules > it’s about behaviors Adapt K to setting >key to client satisfaction What we have learned...

27. Integrate knowledge into quality process • Road Map for Leveraging Knowledge • Systematic process to: • Learn before, during, and after the task • Provide teams with timely best advice • Ensure that the advice is used

28. Core Elements of the Road Map 1. Roles and responsibilities 2. Assessment of knowledge needs 3. Resource allocation 4. When and how advice is given 5. Ensuring that advice is used 6. Adapting global practices 7. Capturing lessons of experience

29. Institutional context of global practice? Setting where practice is to be replicated? Indigenous knowledge systems to build on to make global practice relevant to the community? Adjustments to global practice, phasing or local institutions to make the practice work well? 6. Adapting knowledge to the local setting Learning from the client and helping the client learn

30. Part II: Adapting global practices Role of Indigenous Knowledge The adaptation process

31. GK 97 Conference in Toronto Vision of truly global knowledge partnership will be realized only when the poor participate as both users and contributors of knowledge Learning from clients & helping them learn Client Feed Back Surveys 40 percent “knowledge adaptation gap” Genesis of IK Program

32. Traditional authorities and local administration managed 500,000 land transactionsand settled 5 million refugees and displaced personsin two years Used only local knowledge and capacity no external assistance from government, donors or NGOs no conflicts over land and rights Impact: small holders re-launch agricultural growth What IK Achieved in Mozambique Case of post-conflict resettlement How long would it have taken government & donors?

33. Adult education course by TOSTAN apply literacy to solve a community problem learn about the consequences of circumcision on the health of girls abolish the practice after sharing experiences within the community Exchange experiences with other communities involve male spiritual leaders obtain presidential approval for the “Oath of Malicounda” Impact: More than 16 communities abolish the practice within 18 months Senegal officially abolishes practice in December 1998 What IK Achieved in Senegal Case of women of Malicounda

34. Learning in local languages 15,000 learners in Gulmancema language (41% women) 4,000 literacy centers (3,000 schools using French) 52% of the successful literacy center students were women Impact Higher literacy rates than in French Writing and numeracy  correspondence, record keeping Preserving cultural heritage What IK Achieved in Burkina Faso Case of local language literacy centers

35. Indigenous Knowledge is . . . • Embedded in Culture • Critical Element of Global Knowledge • Foundation for Human and Social Capital • Gateway to Empowerment • Key to Sustainable Development

36. IK practices data base (120 cases) “IK Notes” publication (20 in print & Internet) “IK Report: A Framework for Action” Website: www.worldbank.org/html/afr/ik/index.htm First local language website Enhance capacity of IK centers in countries Funding of IK resource persons for task teams “Knowledge Packs” Tools to capture & integrate IK

38. Agricultural Research & Training Project II focuses research activities on local practices disseminates successful IK practices National Strategy on Utilization of IK establishes national focal point for IK organizes national forum to draft IK policy integrates IK in poverty alleviation strategy Integrating IK in Development Programs Case ofUganda

39. Building local communities of practice Farmers Healers Engage Exchange Learn Influence Hunters

40. LeveragingGlobal & Local Knowledge Networks Researchers WHO/ World Bank Specialists Ministry of Health PHCproviders TraditionalHealers Doctors Pharmacists HealthCareCBOs/NGOs Botanists

41. Balanced Flow of Knowledge Networks LocalGlobal

42. The new knowledge frontier Adaptation

43. Adaptation Practices Institutions Behaviors

44. Adapting Behaviors curiosity listening empathy hearing learning humility patience trusting ...and It’s a mindset thing…..

45. Adapting Behaviors …ask the right questions !?

46. Providing a framework within which adaptation occurs in a consultative and participatory manner to facilitate ownership and eventual sustainable adoption Adapting Institutions

47. Testing, complementing, substituting, or altering a technologies or processes, to make them fit within the physical, social and economic conditions and the utilization purposes of a local community Adapting Practices

48. Recipient Enabler Provider Adaptation Process Recipient Degree of Involvement Enabler Provider Time

49. Enabler’s role varies over time... Nature Intensity Instruments

50. external external K -source K -source local local local local external external K- use K- use Adaptation Framework