Many voices in the CGIAR are calling for a new emphasis in the work of the international agricultural research centers on knowledge sharing, learning, and innovation. Between 2004 and 2006, the Knowledge Sharing (KS) Project of the CGIAR’s ICT-KM Program has demonstrated concretely how we can collectively bring about this change. The project was conducted jointly by CIAT, CIFOR, CIMMYT, and IWMI, in partnership with the Bellanet International Secretariat at the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) in Canada.

Building on previous efforts, the KS Project has pioneered new approaches, built KS capacity in the centers, and formed valuable partnerships.

Transforming events into entry points for KS

Major meetings offer an important opportunity for introducing KS attitudes and approaches into R&D organizations. Such events allow participants to discover and experiment with new ways to establish collegial relationships and foster more creative scientific collaboration.

“We’ve broken the mold – we’ve changed the way in which meetings have been traditionally run within CIMMYT. That’s a huge leap forward.” (Dave Hodson, CIMMYT)

Through pilot initiatives at four CGIAR centers, the KS Project successfully transformed key center events into entry points for KS. Pilot initiatives at CIAT and CIFOR resulted in a new way for the centers to organize and conduct their annual staff meetings, while that at CIMMYT contributed to the formation of a well-integrated team of scientists who share knowledge and information and work towards common goals. At IWMI, the pilot initiative centered on a KS-focused workshop to launch a KS-in-Research Pilot Project.

Pilot Projects

• CIAT's KS Week
• Wheat Scientists Meet to Deliver Best Science
• Introducing KS Approaches into CIFOR's Center-wide Meeting
• IWMI's KS in Research Pilot Project
  

A core team of KS champions

The pilot activities have given staff with a vocation for KS valuable opportunities to gain experience, build new skills, and connect with one another. Their capacity and contagious enthusiasm are key for deepening and spreading culture change in the CGIAR.

Capacity building and more

The KS Project joined forces with the CGIAR’s Institutional Learning and Change (ILAC) Initiative to offer training in facilitation – a vital skill for implementing KS approaches – to staff from about 10 centers. The objective of the courses was to build participants’ skills in conducting meetings, working with teams, managing conflict, and building consensus. Participants found the training extremely useful, and many are applying their new skills in their daily work.

“I would like to give the facilitation workshop the strongest endorsement I can. I felt, and I think others felt, that it was the most useful event they'd attended since joining the CGIAR.” (Paul O’Nolan, IRRI)

Download the evaluation report from the ILAC Web site.

The KS Project and the ILAC Initiative also carried out a joint study on the role of human resources policies and practices in fostering KS and organizational learning to gain a better knowledge of the issues and to identify key areas for future intervention. The study examined six CGIAR centers as well as six other organizations that are regarded as leaders in KS and organizational learning.

Download the study: Human Resources Policies and Practices, Knowledge Sharing and Institutional Learning and Change in the CGIAR (921 kb)

An innovative on-line toolbox to support KS initiatives

The project has devised a Web-based “toolbox” – presenting a selection of methods – for KS practitioners in the CGIAR. Short descriptions of each tool are drawn from the most relevant sources, and step-by-step guidelines are provided for their use. The toolbox also includes links and references to more information as well as to stories relating different individuals’ and organizations’ experiences in the use of particular tools. Finally, the toolbox offers contact information for persons who have used specific tools and are willing to share their experience and expertise.

Visit the toolbox at: http://www.ks-cgiar.org/toolbox/

Strong ties with a community of practice that has valuable KS expertise

The project has cultivated a strong relationship with the KM4Dev community, a network of development practitioners who share their experiences on knowledge management through on-line communication and annual meetings. Staff of the KS Project contributed importantly to the community by guest-editing the second issue of its peer-reviewed, on-line KM4Dev Journal. The theme of this journal issue, to which the KS Project also contributed a case study, was “Approaches to promote knowledge sharing in development organizations.”

CGIAR-CSO engagement

The project has supported the CGIAR with the implementation of its CSO engagement strategy. Using KS tools and methods, various events have been organized in connection with the CGIAR Annual General Meeting 2006 (AGM06), held in Washington, D.C., during early December. These events – the Virtual Conversation, Innovation Marketplace and CSO-CGIAR Forum – gave rise to a constructive dialogue among CGIAR stakeholders.

Read more at: http://www.cgiar.org/csos/index.html