International Waters learning Exchange & Resource Network

Web 2.0 Technologies and Communities of Practice Twinning

Web 2.0 Technologies & Communities of Practice (22-23 August 2007)

Participants & Projects Involved

  • Rean van der Merwe (D-List Benguela)

Host Institution

  • UN Development Programme: Bratislava Regional Centre (UNDP-BRC)

Other Funding Partners

  • UNDP-BRC

Introduction, Purpose: Why an Exchange

Stemming immediately from informal networking at the 4th Biennial International Waters Conference, this stakeholder exchange offers new promise of developing guidance for GEF International Waters projects (and associated partners and stakeholders) on utilization of a new generation of information technology to manage information and disseminate knowledge. As recently as last year, the IW:LEARN steering committee grappled with challenges faced by the project regarding online structured learning. The intent of this exchange will be in part to address the apparent lack of interest in IW project stakeholders in traditional IT solutions like online discussion forums. 

The D-List Benguela GEF IW project has enjoyed considerable success deploying innovative solutions for their stakeholders. This exchange will be in part to introduce D-List’s considerable experience and background to other related stakeholders and produce some basic guidance for other projects attempting to improve their knowledge management, including IW:LEARN itself. As host, the UNDP Regional Office in Bratislava excels in the field of knowledge management, having deployed its own innovative solutions like WaterWiki and the Water Knowledge Fair. As a regional center they are also central to the execution of a few GEF projects and in a key position to disseminate the exchange’s outputs. IW:LEARN itself will also play a role in the exchange and its findings.

Learning Objectives

  • To exchange experiences (at concept level) on existing platforms and approaches to information technology for knowledge management
  • To discuss (potential) use and application of Wikis and other “Web 2.0 technology” for knowledge management, community of practice facilitation, on-line collaboration/communities, etc.
  • To discuss opportunities and constraints in view of linking/integration of different tools and/or platforms (amongst each other and with “conventional” (e.g. UN(DP) or other project websites)

Outputs/Outcomes

1. An understanding of the various discussed platforms and IT-solutions in view of:

(a) the underlying concept (audience(s), aim, basic approach, etc.) 
(b) the specific functionalities (services, elements/modules, “exploring mechanisms”, etc. etc.) and 
(c) Strengths (potentials) and Weaknesses (constraints) of various approaches

2. New ideas and concrete recommendations for

(a) improvement of existing (WaterWiki, IW:LEARN, DLIST) and/or 
(b) creation of new (UNDP, UNSSC-Wiki, ..) platforms for CoP-management, KM, on-line collaboration, etc. 
(c) possibly using and integrating different tools and approaches

3. Maybe: An approach/concept for linking or integration of various platforms aiming at (dynamic) exchange of knowledge

4. Experience Note: Fostering Online Communities of Practice - DList-Benguela

Related content
News ItemStakeholder Participation and Engagement: Fostering a Community of Interest
FileExperience Note - Stakeholder Participation and Engagement: Fostering a Community of Interest
File DLIST-Benguela Newsletter No.1 - Marine Litter
Feed ItemValuing our Coastal Environments
FileLessons Learnt from a Web Supported Community of Practice (Van der Merwe)
FileLessons Learnt from a Web Supported Community of Practice (Van der Merwe)
FileDLIST-Benguela Newsletter No.3