Promoting PRS and MDGs in Africa ECAs Enhanced Knowledge Sharing Project

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Promoting PRS and MDGs in Africa ECAs Enhanced
Knowledge Sharing Project

• ICE Meeting
• Bujumbura, Burundi

Elizabeth Woldemariam and Amal Redwan United
Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA)
April 16, 2007
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Background

• This project builds on the activities of the
  ECA-initiated African Learning Group on the
  Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers
  (PRSP-LG),established in 2000
• The PRSP-LG is a forum for African peer learning
  and information sharing on the PRSP experience
  within the continent

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Background

• The Learning Group has met 3 times since 2001.
• Based on the success of the Learning Group, in
  the 2003 meeting this project was conceived
• This project aims to develop electronically
  enhanced mechanisms for ongoing interactive
  knowledge sharing and peer learning on national
  strategies for growth and poverty reduction in
  Africa.

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Background

• Cairo Plenary (2006).
• The Project was show cased in Cairo
• The Plenary suggested need to setup an electronic
  knowledge sharing platform on PRSs and MDGs

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The Components

• Country Team Knowledge Network
• ? national PRS/MDG country teams
• Electronic Roundtable
• ? think-thanks, Diaspora, researchers, CSOs,
  private sectors, parliament, donors, other
  stakeholders
• Research and Training Support

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The Tools

• Knowledge Audits
• E-knowledge sharing website
• Assessment of CoP performance

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The Knowledge Audit - Objectives

• Identify KS gaps between current and desired
• ? knowledge needs/topics
• ? knowledge resource persons/practitioners
• ? knowledge sharing mechanisms
• ? knowledge documentation, format, source
• ? knowledge sharing capacity of ICT skill,
  material

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The Knowledge Audit - Objectives

• Identify KS gaps among practitioners
• in-country national PRS/MDG country teams
• national PRS/MDG country teams across African
  countries
• PRS/MDG practitioners outside Africa
  (think-thanks, Diaspora, researchers, CSOs,
  private sectors)
• donors

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The Knowledge Audit - Instrument

• Methodology
• sample size 118 practitioners
• Questionnaire quantitative and qualitative data
• Data collection interviews during country
  missions (15 countries)
• Data analysis and report

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The Knowledge Audit Findings
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Relevance of PRSP-LG Themes
? Action Include the above topics in the CoP
discussions and documentation
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Relevance of PRSP Topics
? Action Include the above topics in the CoP
discussions and documentation
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PRS/MDG Discussion among practitioners
? Action Create e-discussion forums for
experience/knowledge sharing with practitioners
in OAC and OA
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Availability of PRS/MDG practitioners
PRS experts and researchers
PRS experts and researchers
Res. Rep and advisors
Dept. Heads
? Action Increase the network and involvement of
PRS/MDG practitioners in OAC and OA
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Availability of PRS/MDG Documents
? Action Create an online database and increase
the accessibility of PRS/MDG documents shared
with OAC and OA
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Documents Shared with other African countries
? Action Increase the accessibility of PRS/MDG
documents shared with OAC, especially BP, LL and
UNECA reports
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Sources of documents from other African countries
? Action Increase the use of PRS/MDG knowledge
shared with OAC, especially in electronic format
accessible on Internet
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Knowledge sharing mechanisms with other African
countries
? Action Provide a virtual experience sharing
CoP with low cost, fast access and continuous
participation with OAC via e-discussions/emails
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Knowledge sharing behavior with other African
countries
? Action Develop a technical guidelines/framework
to support effective knowledge and experience
sharing practices with OAC
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Access and use of ICTs
? Action Increase the use of e-discussion
forums, an online documents DB and efficient
search engine on a web-based platform
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E-platform to bridge KS gaps

• Knowledge Sharing Network (KSN) website
• - continuous KS of PRS/MDG national country
  teams
• Electronic roundtables (ER)
• - periodic KS of all PRS/MDG practitioners
• PRS/MDGs Communities of Practices (KSNER)
• -e-discussions and documents by CoP

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Demand-driven KS plateform (KA)

• Relevant Topics e-discussion and documents
• Network key resource persons/practionners
• Categorized documentation types and topics
• Technical guideline for PRS/MDG CoP
• Demand-based research and training

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The Knowledge Sharing Network website

• Demo of KSN website
• E\UNECA_2007\PRSP2.EXE or
• http//www.uneca.org/africanprsp/index.asp
• Demo of MDG Maps
• http//geoinfo.uneca.org/mdg/

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The way forward

• Training CoP and PRS/MDGs
• Start KS of PRS/MDG national country teams (78
  members todate)
• Assess effectiveness of CoP
• Conduct more country missions
• Improve website based on feedbacks and
  recommendations

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Thank you.Merci.

• Contact us at
• elizabethw_at_uneca.org or
• Aredwan_at_uneca.org