Knowledge Networking: How Networks Influence Policy By Aly Z. Ramji

Knowledge Networking: How Networks Influence Policy “Millennium Development Goals” announced by the UN at the Millennium Summit in September 2000 “Millennium Development Goals” announced by the UN at the Millennium Summit in September 2000 The eighth Millennium goal outlined the need to “develop a global partnership for development” The eighth Millennium goal outlined the need to “develop a global partnership for development” the need to integrate western actors to assist developing World for debt relief & poverty reduction the need to integrate western actors to assist developing World for debt relief & poverty reduction WSSD outcomes, the idea of Type 2 organizations or partnership networks based on trans-governmental or “networked governing” concepts WSSD outcomes, the idea of Type 2 organizations or partnership networks based on trans-governmental or “networked governing” concepts Function as implementation mechanisms, multistakeholder partnerships that collaborate, coordinate and cooperate on projects that serve the collective interest of parties in the public, private and civil society sectors. Function as implementation mechanisms, multistakeholder partnerships that collaborate, coordinate and cooperate on projects that serve the collective interest of parties in the public, private and civil society sectors.

Knowledge Networking: How Networks Influence Policy What are they: What are they: Strategic alliances grouped into a network of actors that focus on increasing the transfer of information and knowledge to create leverage and efficiency in executing tasks – include governmental, NGO, Civil Society & Corporate institutions Strategic alliances grouped into a network of actors that focus on increasing the transfer of information and knowledge to create leverage and efficiency in executing tasks – include governmental, NGO, Civil Society & Corporate institutions The traditional role of actors has shifted to collaborating institutions The traditional role of actors has shifted to collaborating institutions can be networks made up of research institutes, policy institutes or even developmental organizations. can be networks made up of research institutes, policy institutes or even developmental organizations. Inter-institutional collaboration that emphasize the combined sharing and creation of knowledge for new research and aim to implement knowledge strategies by engaging decision makers in policy Inter-institutional collaboration that emphasize the combined sharing and creation of knowledge for new research and aim to implement knowledge strategies by engaging decision makers in policy

the ability to empower and engage actors to disseminate information to help create knowledge the ability to empower and engage actors to disseminate information to help create knowledge improve network proficiency in using information and communication technologies improve network proficiency in using information and communication technologies determining the individual characteristics, competence and abilities determining the individual characteristics, competence and abilities Emerging themes – Organizational Management

What they aim to accomplish Aim is to influence key political actors Aim is to influence key political actors Many networks, therefore include actors who have close affiliations with political constituents Many networks, therefore include actors who have close affiliations with political constituents By learning from one another, knowledge transfers between different actors and aids in ensuring sound communication forums that assist members to achieve their goals By learning from one another, knowledge transfers between different actors and aids in ensuring sound communication forums that assist members to achieve their goals

Strong social bonds and proper information management between knowledge intensive actors is imperative to promote efficiency in partnerships aiming to influence policy Strong social bonds and proper information management between knowledge intensive actors is imperative to promote efficiency in partnerships aiming to influence policy The issue at hand is building trust The issue at hand is building trust How to Influence Policy

Improve internal productivity for org’s to help them distinguish good information from bad information; Improve internal productivity for org’s to help them distinguish good information from bad information; This builds trust This builds trust Knowledge management needs the dynamics of organizational learning, administering, nurturing, promoting, containing and exchanging information Knowledge management needs the dynamics of organizational learning, administering, nurturing, promoting, containing and exchanging information Improves human intellectualism and institutional capacity Improves human intellectualism and institutional capacity Organizational Management Colin Powell at UN meeting prior to attack on Iraq

To analyze the level of trust, conduct a Social Network Analysis To analyze the level of trust, conduct a Social Network Analysis Organizational Management

SNA determines how much social capital is built SNA determines how much social capital is built To impact policy, members must build strong bonds To impact policy, members must build strong bonds trust initiates a secure and collective exchange of information transaction, thereby adding to the overall level of social capital – this capital can be used to engage influential actors to “get the job done” – most of this is done over coffee and getting wasted at a bar. trust initiates a secure and collective exchange of information transaction, thereby adding to the overall level of social capital – this capital can be used to engage influential actors to “get the job done” – most of this is done over coffee and getting wasted at a bar. The analysis would determine individual effectiveness, from the context of “who you know” or “what you know” The analysis would determine individual effectiveness, from the context of “who you know” or “what you know” Social Network Analysis

Knowledge Networks in dictating policy Over the past two decades there have been a number of development challenges addressed to national governments, NGO’s and the private sector towards creating participatory approaches in solving problems in policy related issues Over the past two decades there have been a number of development challenges addressed to national governments, NGO’s and the private sector towards creating participatory approaches in solving problems in policy related issues World Bank created SWAps – Sector Wide Approaches World Bank created SWAps – Sector Wide Approaches formed on the basic logic in which partners and donors work cooperatively within a specific country to achieve more relevant and effective policies, more efficient management formed on the basic logic in which partners and donors work cooperatively within a specific country to achieve more relevant and effective policies, more efficient management

World Commission on Dams (WCD), or the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) are two governing alliances that use a “trisectoral” sourcing of knowledge World Commission on Dams (WCD), or the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) are two governing alliances that use a “trisectoral” sourcing of knowledge Eg. Sustainable Forestry: African Union, Member Countries, IDS Univ. of Sussex Eg. Sustainable Forestry: African Union, Member Countries, IDS Univ. of Sussex Knowledge Networks in dictating policy

Institutional & Policy Support Team – African Union The NEPAD Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP) The resolution by heads of State and Government made during the Maputo Summit, to spend at least 10% of their national budget Extra-Ordinary Summit is an opportunity for African leaders to discuss the strategies for revamping and accelerating agricultural production activities and the development Third World Network Africa is a Non Governmental Organisation which carries out Research and Advocacy on issues of social and economic policy the coordination of actors within networks would increase the informal exchange of knowledge, over time creating an “evolutionary policy formation”, possibly preventing jurisdictional conflict the coordination of actors within networks would increase the informal exchange of knowledge, over time creating an “evolutionary policy formation”, possibly preventing jurisdictional conflict

With regard to knowledge networks and their influence on policy, it is important that network managers or secretariates engage actors in a manner to sustain long- term relationships, thereby building trust and social capital. This is the foundation of any network, and remains to be the sole support to efficient knowledge management Conclusion

Questions and Answers Thank you.