Methodology

Tags: Worldwide , Knowledge programme
Additional tags: Knowledge Programme Civil Society Building

The Knowledge Programme aims to contribute to an ongoing, iterative process of knowledge integration, including three important elements:
(1) knowledge production (research and transformation of existing knowledge)
(2) knowledge dissemination (outreach and capacity building)
(3) knowledge application (utilisation for societal problem-solving).
The following sections will briefly explain the activities based on both research and practice. It will also describe how knowledge will be transformed so that it is more accessible, relevant and action-oriented for Southern partners and actors.

The starting point of the Knowledge Programme will be the research activities undertaken by a range of different organisations and individuals, including ISS, Hivos and other regional knowledge partners. The research will be conducted at different levels with researchers from the North and South. Internships and scholarships will be offered at Hivos and partners, for (young) researchers to work within the framework of the research plan. ISS academic staff will work in collaboration with external consultants and researchers of key knowledge partners.

In addition to new research, another important element of the knowledge production activities will be the transformation of existing knowledge into more accessible forms for a range of audiences. A particular emphasis will be placed on gathering and sharing relevant information for civil society actors in the South This existing knowledge can have an academic or more practice-oriented character. Practitioners from the North and South will be invited to contribute to the wide variety of regional workshops, network seminars, and other activities of the Knowledge Programme.

In terms of outreach and capacity building, efforts will be made to transform knowledge so that it is more accessible, relevant and action-oriented for Southern partners and actors. Hivos and ISS will collaborate in the production of a variety of outputs for a wide range of audiences Practitioners from the North and South will also be asked to contribute their experiences and lessons to the Knowledge Programme's outreach media (such as the website, policy briefs, electronic newsletters, and other publications).

The activities and outputs outlined above should lead to a number of outcomes in terms of knowledge application:
• The creation of a functioning network between key actors in the development sector, resulting in regular dialogue, knowledge sharing and utilisation. This basically means that proposed activities should result in a lively network with continuous or at least regular interaction between the different actors within the core network.
• Increased outreach and impact of knowledge programme’s results, targeting the development sector, civil society organisations and the academic world. This refers to the outreach and impact that the knowledge programme will potentially have for a wider target group within the development sector.
• Increased capacities, understanding and learning possibilities within the development sector at large. Ultimately the preferred outcome would be that a wide range of organisations and individuals will have a better understanding and enhanced capacity to address societal problems related to civil society building within the sector.