Coumba Fall, executive director of WARF gave a presentation on FIDAfrique network's successes and challenges to date. She reminded the participants of the objectives and scope of the network:
- increase the impact of IFAD-funded activities by harvesting and sharing knowledge with the IFAD-funded projects and programmes and other partners and stakeholders
- serve as a tool to support knowledge management and knowledge sharing to add value to the work of IFAD-funded projects and programmes
She mentioned that"we all produce knowledge" and proceeded with walking the participants through a SWOT analysis (Strengths, weakeness, opportunities and threats). Below is a summary of the network's successes:
- the creation of a website which not only is hosting the content generated by the network but also hosts thematic e-discussions
- training in knowledge harvesting (capitalization), conducting thematic capitalization
- training on web editing and web content management
- training on how to engage and participate in strategic thinking exercise
- facilitating and providing backstopping in the organization of an innovation fair which show cased numerous innovative rural development projects
- KM focal points not always played a faciliation role
- Lack of understanding of KM
- Project programme work and budget did not necessarily include KM activities
- Low participation by communities in knowledge capturing/harvesting activities
- KM was often considered as non-priority activities
- Little or no learning and sharing culture
- Language diversity
- Lack of access to ICTs and web, because of insufficient infrastructure (electricity, broadband etc)
- Computers and other ICT-related tools are not adequately widespread within projects and often reside only with the project managers, which means other project staff do not necessarily have access to these tools
- KM strategy to be included in project design
- Workshops, face-to-face meetings, exchange visits as an opportunity to share and learn
- KM to contribute to policy dialogue
- Including KM in project programme of work and budget can lead to increasing efficiency and help better design future projects
- Direct supervision and implementation support provides an opportunity to systematically capture learning and knowledge and share this both at project, national, regional and international level
- Blend ICT and non-ICT tools to reach different audiences
- put in place a network steering committee
- put in place a coordination mechanism - with two regional coordinators
- appoint two national focal points
- identify avenues to ensure financial sustainability of the network