Knowledge Sharing Update: Aligning Priorities ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY PRACTICE REGIONAL COP MEETING September, 2007, Bratislava, Slovakia Angelica Shamerina, E&E Knowledge Network Facilitator

AGENDA 1.E&E Community of Practice Update: What’s new since the last CoP meeting? 2.CoP members feedback: How we can work better together? 3.Group discussion 4.CoP refresher 1.E&E Community of Practice Update: What’s new since the last CoP meeting? 2.CoP members feedback: How we can work better together? 3.Group discussion 4.CoP refresher

CoP Innovation Fund UPDATE

CoP Innovation Fund Winners UPDATE

External Advisory Groups UPDATE

EENet: 2006 Contributions by Region Total contributions: 284 UPDATE

EENet: Participation of ECIS COs in 2006 Total contributions: 26 UPDATE

New Incentive: Scorecard UPDATE scorecard.undp.org/

Survey results Members’ Feedback 2006 HQ PPS: COs are highly satisfied (70%) with the quality of information shared, but a drop from 82% satisfaction in HQ PPS: Satisfaction with EENet dropped slightly in the ECIS (from 77% in 2005 to 64%in 2006). Benchmarking Survey: EENet performs well at an organizational level, but is rated low on individual factors, particularly in learning and knowledge sharing. EE COP performed below the UNDP average, placing 7th overall 2006 HQ PPS: COs are highly satisfied (70%) with the quality of information shared, but a drop from 82% satisfaction in HQ PPS: Satisfaction with EENet dropped slightly in the ECIS (from 77% in 2005 to 64%in 2006). Benchmarking Survey: EENet performs well at an organizational level, but is rated low on individual factors, particularly in learning and knowledge sharing. EE COP performed below the UNDP average, placing 7th overall

Problems highlighted Members’ Feedback Disconnect between the needs of the CoP members and KM products and services currently provided by HQ KM is seen as a burden and senior managers are “ambivalent about KM as a corporate tool” Complex managerial issues associated with GEF projects cycle and separate tools and communication channels used by GEF. EE-Net became too large and formal Lack of technical training materials and resources available online through workspace and the network. “Useful UNDP products and publications are impossible to find on the workspace or intranet” Need for external expertise Language barrier Disconnect between the needs of the CoP members and KM products and services currently provided by HQ KM is seen as a burden and senior managers are “ambivalent about KM as a corporate tool” Complex managerial issues associated with GEF projects cycle and separate tools and communication channels used by GEF. EE-Net became too large and formal Lack of technical training materials and resources available online through workspace and the network. “Useful UNDP products and publications are impossible to find on the workspace or intranet” Need for external expertise Language barrier

Members’ Suggestions Members’ Feedback Better alignment of EE-Net and practice objectives with corporate strategies and core global advisory work Increased senior management engagement Greater role of EENet in providing training and learning products and tools Less formal EE-Net – “a lot of rules” Clearer communication and “more information about what the network is meant to achieve and how the different members can contribute”. More face to face events More user-friendly workspace Sub-communities around thematic areas Language translation to remove language barrier to participation Addition of expert roster Better alignment of EE-Net and practice objectives with corporate strategies and core global advisory work Increased senior management engagement Greater role of EENet in providing training and learning products and tools Less formal EE-Net – “a lot of rules” Clearer communication and “more information about what the network is meant to achieve and how the different members can contribute”. More face to face events More user-friendly workspace Sub-communities around thematic areas Language translation to remove language barrier to participation Addition of expert roster

Our recommendations Members’ Feedback Participation of GEF and EEG advisors providing practical advice through the network (RCA, time dedicated). Develop tracking mechanism to track the use of network products Create segments to discuss thematic and GEF-related issues to narrow focus and avoid the confidentiality problem. Provide services outside of the scope of GEF focal areas, e.g. cross-practice linkages. Utilize external advisory groups Make EE-Net less formal: use Skype, consider simplifying CR format, posting smaller queries and individual messages (without information overload) Language translation pilot Participation of GEF and EEG advisors providing practical advice through the network (RCA, time dedicated). Develop tracking mechanism to track the use of network products Create segments to discuss thematic and GEF-related issues to narrow focus and avoid the confidentiality problem. Provide services outside of the scope of GEF focal areas, e.g. cross-practice linkages. Utilize external advisory groups Make EE-Net less formal: use Skype, consider simplifying CR format, posting smaller queries and individual messages (without information overload) Language translation pilot

Brainstorming: Achieving Full Potential  Do you agree with the problems identified?  Which of them can be solved primarily by the facilitation team?  Where should the members get involved?  What issues should be considered as constraints?  Do you agree with the suggestions and recommendations?  Which ones would you commit to implementing?  Do you have any additional suggestions/recommendations?  Do you agree with the problems identified?  Which of them can be solved primarily by the facilitation team?  Where should the members get involved?  What issues should be considered as constraints?  Do you agree with the suggestions and recommendations?  Which ones would you commit to implementing?  Do you have any additional suggestions/recommendations? Group Discussion

Brainstorming: Tools and Products  What new technological tools can benefit the community: skype, forums, wikis?  What do you think of CRs and News Updates regarding formatting, level of detail and research?  Do you belong to any online communities and why?  What do you think of using GEF workspace? Is it more relevant and user-friendly?  How can technical training be provided through CoP tools?  Can/should we use expert roster?  Suggestions on community building initiative using available funds  What new technological tools can benefit the community: skype, forums, wikis?  What do you think of CRs and News Updates regarding formatting, level of detail and research?  Do you belong to any online communities and why?  What do you think of using GEF workspace? Is it more relevant and user-friendly?  How can technical training be provided through CoP tools?  Can/should we use expert roster?  Suggestions on community building initiative using available funds Group Discussion

What are Communities of Practice (CoPs)?  Connect Practitioners and Experts with common professional interests  Identify commonalities and strategic priorities  Provide opportunities and incentives for collaboration  Connect Practitioners and Experts with common professional interests  Identify commonalities and strategic priorities  Provide opportunities and incentives for collaboration COPs utilize: Face-to-face Meetings Virtual knowledge networks Collaborative Workspaces CoP Refresher

Different Levels of COP  Global COPs are based around UNDP broad practice areas  Country-level COPs - aligned with national development priorities & targets, including MDGs  Regional COPs - more focused on specific issues: the service lines or specific needs  How to achieve global/regional synergy and coordination?  Global COPs are based around UNDP broad practice areas  Country-level COPs - aligned with national development priorities & targets, including MDGs  Regional COPs - more focused on specific issues: the service lines or specific needs  How to achieve global/regional synergy and coordination? CoP Refresher

UNDP’s Practice Communities (CoPs) Practice Networks: 1.CPN – Coordination Practice Network 2.CPR-Net – Crisis Prevention and Recovery 3.EE-Net – Environment and Energy 4.DGP-Net – Democratic Governance Practice 5.HIV/AIDS-Net 6.MPN – Management Practice Network 7.PR-Net – Poverty Reduction Cross-cutting Networks: 1.CD-Net – Capacity Development 2.Eval-Net – Evaluation 3.Gender-Net 4.HDR-Net – Human Development Report Practice Networks: 1.CPN – Coordination Practice Network 2.CPR-Net – Crisis Prevention and Recovery 3.EE-Net – Environment and Energy 4.DGP-Net – Democratic Governance Practice 5.HIV/AIDS-Net 6.MPN – Management Practice Network 7.PR-Net – Poverty Reduction Cross-cutting Networks: 1.CD-Net – Capacity Development 2.Eval-Net – Evaluation 3.Gender-Net 4.HDR-Net – Human Development Report CoP Refresher Sign up at:  Knowledge Networking

EENet: Environment and Energy CoP’s Network  Launched in 1999 – now has over 1200 members  Connects all UNDP staff interested in environmental issues  Offers services for members and helps to collect and codify organizational knowledge  Community-building beyond way forward Innovation fund, interagency networks, spin-off CoPs  Impact: Building UNDP staff capacity 86% - participation in a knowledge network benefited their professional development; 92% - participation in a knowledge network benefited their office  Launched in 1999 – now has over 1200 members  Connects all UNDP staff interested in environmental issues  Offers services for members and helps to collect and codify organizational knowledge  Community-building beyond way forward Innovation fund, interagency networks, spin-off CoPs  Impact: Building UNDP staff capacity 86% - participation in a knowledge network benefited their professional development; 92% - participation in a knowledge network benefited their office CoP Refresher

How does it work? 1.EENet member sends in a query 2.Facilitation team reviews and clarifies, and shares with the network 3.We contact: Members with comparative experiences Experts in the field 4.We identify additional resources 5.We summarize responses and provide additional research (including technical input from Policy Advisors and RTAs) 6.Consolidated Reply is sent out on EENet – within 15 days 1.EENet member sends in a query 2.Facilitation team reviews and clarifies, and shares with the network 3.We contact: Members with comparative experiences Experts in the field 4.We identify additional resources 5.We summarize responses and provide additional research (including technical input from Policy Advisors and RTAs) 6.Consolidated Reply is sent out on EENet – within 15 days CoP Refresher

Responding to a Query “QUERY: how non- motorised transport (NMT) elements integrated into transportation policies, acts and regulations in other parts of the world?” “Shared: -Draft concept note of proposed GEF- funded project to promote sustainable transport” “Consider: -Integrating NMT into overall city planning” “Consider: -Gender- specific requirements for walking and public transport links” “Shared: -Lessons learned from the UNDP-GEF Gdansk Cycling Project” “Shared: -Chapter on NMT from the City of Cape Town’s Integrated Transport Plan” “CONSOLIDATED REPLY ” Knowledge Networks CoP Refresher “Consider: Lessons learned from new review of 65 GEF SGP environmentally sustainable transport projects, including: -Complementarity: the objectives should complement other Government policies, e.g. job creation -PPP & CSO partnerships stimulate integration where each partner plays a specific role, e.g. safety -Local leadership. ” “Shared: - summary of the project Promotion of Environmentally Sustainable Transport in the City of Valencia” “Provided: -advisory services from local governance and decentralization perspective”

KNOWLEDGE NETWORKS in action “The GEF-SGP presents an additional dimension and added-value which we probably would have missed. We are now considering additional partners to work on add-on features … and received some interesting insights from Cape Town where there is a significant emphasis on a rights-based approach to transport.” Leonard Dikobe, E&E Programme Specialist, UNDP Botswana E&E CoP

CoP Refresher: Products and Services News Updates E-discussions Consolidated Replies

EENet’s Additional Services 1.Expert referrals – consultancy announcements; access to expert rosters 2.Technical Backstopping – info requests, requests for TORs 3.Community-building initiatives – Innovation Fund, face-to-face meetings 4.Focal Points Database – new resource we can update and utilize together: environment/whoswho 1.Expert referrals – consultancy announcements; access to expert rosters 2.Technical Backstopping – info requests, requests for TORs 3.Community-building initiatives – Innovation Fund, face-to-face meetings 4.Focal Points Database – new resource we can update and utilize together: environment/whoswho CoP Refresher: Products and Services

Workspaces CoP Refresher: Products and Services  Access Resources and Tools  Build Knowledge  Collaborate with members