Connecting ivory Connecting ivory towerstowers

Triangulation of knowledge from Triangulation of knowledge from practice, research and policy-practice, research and policy-

makingmaking

Ceres Summer SchoolCeres Summer School33rdrd July 2009 July 2009

International International developmentdevelopment

Dynamic environmentDynamic environment Complex challengesComplex challenges Emergent trends and solutionsEmergent trends and solutions Range of actors Range of actors

Need for knowledgeNeed for knowledge

Burning question:Burning question:

Move away from one-time successes toMove away from one-time successes to

establishing common ground acrossestablishing common ground across

• Policy-makersPolicy-makers• (Academic) researchers(Academic) researchers• PractitionersPractitioners

Programme workshopProgramme workshop

Introduction workshop and welcomeIntroduction workshop and welcome Knowledge landscapes: Knowledge landscapes:

• Brief overviewBrief overview

• Working groupsWorking groups

• Presentation groups and discussionPresentation groups and discussion

Who is who?Who is who?

NameName AffiliationAffiliation ExpectationsExpectations ContributionsContributions

7

Ministry of Foreign AffairsMinistry of Foreign Affairs

• Three headed organizationThree headed organization

Organization of knowledge Organization of knowledge (1)(1)

In the structure: In the structure:

1.1. Research and Communication DivisionResearch and Communication Division

2.2. Inspection and Evaluation UnitInspection and Evaluation Unit

3.3. Personnel and Organization Department Personnel and Organization Department

4.4. Documentary Information Systems Documentary Information Systems DepartmentDepartment

5.5. Policy and Operations Evaluation Policy and Operations Evaluation DepartmentDepartment

6.6. Scientific councilors (2)Scientific councilors (2)

Organization of knowledge Organization of knowledge (2)(2)

In the work:In the work:

1.1. Plans: KOS (knowledge and research Plans: KOS (knowledge and research strategies)strategies)

2.2. ‘‘informal’ knowledge groupsinformal’ knowledge groups

3.3. Advisory trajectories, policy-making Advisory trajectories, policy-making platformsplatforms

4.4. Contracted research (directly and Contracted research (directly and indirectly e.g. World Bank)indirectly e.g. World Bank)

5.5. Balance generalists - specialistsBalance generalists - specialists

Organization of knowledge Organization of knowledge (3)(3)

Engaging with the ‘outside’ world:Engaging with the ‘outside’ world:• Academics: IS academies, MDGprofsAcademics: IS academies, MDGprofs• With practitioners and academics: DPRNWith practitioners and academics: DPRN• Diners pensant: think together Diners pensant: think together

(academics and practitioners)(academics and practitioners)

Influencing the ‘outside’ world:Influencing the ‘outside’ world:1.1. Financing KM with co-financing agenciesFinancing KM with co-financing agencies2.2. Supporting southern education, research, Supporting southern education, research,

capacity building and innovation systems capacity building and innovation systems

Knowledge landscape?Knowledge landscape?

Efforts to organize for interfacing:Efforts to organize for interfacing:

• Enhance capacities to interfaceEnhance capacities to interface• Organize structures for interfacingOrganize structures for interfacing• Networking for change and for Networking for change and for

synergy: internally and externallysynergy: internally and externally

But……………But……………

• Differentiate between knowledge Differentiate between knowledge management and strategies of management and strategies of engagingengaging

• Political cycles and political Political cycles and political dimensions (pressures) complicate dimensions (pressures) complicate optimum engagementoptimum engagement

• Academics and practitioners do not Academics and practitioners do not fully grasp complexity of policy-fully grasp complexity of policy-makingmaking