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RESOURCE CENTRE NETWORK (RCN)DEVELOPMENT PROJECT AN INITIATIVE TO PROMOTE

Join the initiative to promote information and knowledge sharing in the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene sector through modern library systems, ICT collaboration, and strategic dissemination efforts for sustainable development. Efforts outlined, challenges identified, and proposals for strengthening knowledge management in Ghana and beyond.

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RESOURCE CENTRE NETWORK (RCN)DEVELOPMENT PROJECT AN INITIATIVE TO PROMOTE

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  1. RESOURCE CENTRE NETWORK (RCN)DEVELOPMENT PROJECT AN INITIATIVE TO PROMOTE INFORMATION AND KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT WITHIN THE WASH SECTOR

  2. ‘Modern’ Library Your people Genererateknowledge ICT systems Collaborate & communicate Disseminate Storing knowledge Political and policy stakeholders Knowledge management

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. 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

  10. 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

  11. 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

  12. 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.

  13. FOR MORE INFORMATION • CONTACT RCN Secretariat • awumbei@yahoo.com • www.ghana.watsan.net (from 1 Oct)

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