ENHANCING INFORMATION AND KNOWLEDGE ENHANCING INFORMATION AND KNOWLEDGE SHARING FOR POVERTY REDUCTION IN SHARING FOR POVERTY REDUCTION IN

AFRICA: AICAD EXPERIENCEAFRICA: AICAD EXPERIENCEA Paper Presented at the International Conference on A Paper Presented at the International Conference on

Globalization: Challenges and Opportunities for Science and Globalization: Challenges and Opportunities for Science and Technology held in Yokohama, Japan 23-24 August 2006Technology held in Yokohama, Japan 23-24 August 2006

byby   Prof. Andrew B. GidamisProf. Andrew B. Gidamis  

Executive DirectorExecutive DirectorAfrican Institute for Capacity Development (AICAD)  African Institute for Capacity Development (AICAD)  

P. O. Box 46179, Nairobi, KenyaP. O. Box 46179, Nairobi, Kenya

CONTENTSCONTENTS

n Globalization: the Term and System Globalization: the Term and System n Globalization, Knowledge and Information Globalization, Knowledge and Information

SharingSharingn Sharing indigenous Information and Sharing indigenous Information and

knowledge in Africaknowledge in African AICAD contribution to Information and AICAD contribution to Information and

Knowledge sharing in AfricaKnowledge sharing in African ConclusionsConclusionsn AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

Globalization: the Term and SystemGlobalization: the Term and System

Globalization implies a world systems developed Globalization implies a world systems developed extensively between nationsextensively between nations

The term came into common usage in the The term came into common usage in the 1980s, t1980s, though in reality it is as old as mankindhough in reality it is as old as mankind

It has revolutionized all aspects of human life It has revolutionized all aspects of human life worldwide: trade, markets, access and flow of worldwide: trade, markets, access and flow of information, international justice, political and information, international justice, political and cultural integrationscultural integrations

Globalization: the Term and SystemGlobalization: the Term and System cont’dcont’d

It is both a source of repression and a catalyst It is both a source of repression and a catalyst for global social justice and emancipationfor global social justice and emancipation

It embraces many disciplines both in temporal It embraces many disciplines both in temporal and spatial dimensionsand spatial dimensions

It poses many contradictions, variations, and It poses many contradictions, variations, and interpenetrationsinterpenetrations to those who attempt to to those who attempt to understand itunderstand it

Among many forms of globalization there is Among many forms of globalization there is information and knowledge access and sharinginformation and knowledge access and sharing

Globalization, Knowledge and Information Globalization, Knowledge and Information SharingSharing

For long time information and knowledge For long time information and knowledge were silent in globalization players at were silent in globalization players at national and international levelsnational and international levels

To date information and knowledge access To date information and knowledge access and sharing are the most globalizedand sharing are the most globalized

Advances inAdvances in ICT, ICT, knowledge and knowledge and information sharing have catalyzed information sharing have catalyzed globalizationglobalization process making the world a process making the world a “global village”“global village”

Globalization, Knowledge and Information Globalization, Knowledge and Information SharingSharing Cont’dCont’d

Information and knowledge access have enhanced Information and knowledge access have enhanced economic, political and cultural globalizationeconomic, political and cultural globalization

Without sufficient information access and sharing Without sufficient information access and sharing other forms of globalization are bound to make other forms of globalization are bound to make slow progressslow progress or even failor even fail

With ICT markets and advertisement are sought With ICT markets and advertisement are sought and done globally in e-commerceand done globally in e-commerce

ICT has high potentials of making globalization ICT has high potentials of making globalization succeed faster than otherwise expectedsucceed faster than otherwise expected

Information and Knowledge Sharing In Information and Knowledge Sharing In AfricaAfrica

Globalization extends its economic forces to all Globalization extends its economic forces to all parts of the world controlling means of production parts of the world controlling means of production and marketing mechanismsand marketing mechanisms

In this way no part of the world, including Africa In this way no part of the world, including Africa is left outis left out

Africa is therefore part and parcel of globalizationAfrica is therefore part and parcel of globalization However, Africa’s involvement in globalization is However, Africa’s involvement in globalization is

at a great disadvantage considering ICT as major at a great disadvantage considering ICT as major player in globalizationplayer in globalization

Information and Knowledge Sharing In Information and Knowledge Sharing In AfricaAfrica Cont’dCont’d

Due to lack of sufficient ICT elements to Due to lack of sufficient ICT elements to participate fully Africa finds itself on the participate fully Africa finds itself on the periphery of globalization developmentperiphery of globalization development

The limited ICT activities Africa participates in, The limited ICT activities Africa participates in, exposes it to uncontrolled exploitationexposes it to uncontrolled exploitation

Africa’s lack of ICT does not only mean it misses Africa’s lack of ICT does not only mean it misses out on sharing world information, but also fails to out on sharing world information, but also fails to share its own information and knowledge.share its own information and knowledge.

Sharing indigenous Information and Sharing indigenous Information and knowledge in Africaknowledge in Africa

Africa is not short of indigenous information, Africa is not short of indigenous information, knowledge and technologies to address the odds of knowledge and technologies to address the odds of povertypoverty

However, it is short of means to harness, organise, However, it is short of means to harness, organise, control and share its indigenous information and control and share its indigenous information and knowledgeknowledge

Indigenous communities participate in research by Indigenous communities participate in research by providing data but are never given relevant providing data but are never given relevant feedbacksfeedbacks

In some cases the feedbacks given to them by experts In some cases the feedbacks given to them by experts are highly sophisticated and technical and as such are highly sophisticated and technical and as such could not be easily applied by local communitiescould not be easily applied by local communities

Sharing indigenous Information and Sharing indigenous Information and knowledge in Africaknowledge in Africa Cont’d Cont’d

The delivery methods tend to be autocratic The delivery methods tend to be autocratic without room for the input from the communities.without room for the input from the communities.

This leads to failed communication and in most This leads to failed communication and in most cases rejection to new knowledge by the cases rejection to new knowledge by the communitiescommunities

Failed communication leads to more knowledge Failed communication leads to more knowledge and information gaps and in such cases poverty and information gaps and in such cases poverty deepens due to failed interventions.deepens due to failed interventions.

Sharing indigenous Information and Sharing indigenous Information and knowledge in Africaknowledge in Africa Cont’d Cont’d

Horizontal information and knowledge sharing Horizontal information and knowledge sharing among peers, seems to work well, but not among peers, seems to work well, but not verticallyvertically

For vertical information and knowledge sharing to For vertical information and knowledge sharing to succeed between grassroots and experts and vice succeed between grassroots and experts and vice versa, experts have to respect grassroots inputs versa, experts have to respect grassroots inputs and tolerate their viewsand tolerate their views

The failures in communication is largely The failures in communication is largely responsible for the contradictions and the responsible for the contradictions and the prevailing poverty patterns in Africaprevailing poverty patterns in Africa

AICAD contributions to AICAD contributions to information/knowledge sharing in information/knowledge sharing in

Africa-AICAD LocationAfrica-AICAD Location

AICAD contributions to AICAD contributions to information/knowledge sharing in information/knowledge sharing in

Africa-Africa-AICAD NetworkingAICAD Networking

AICAD contributions to information AICAD contributions to information sharing in Africasharing in Africa- Approach- Approach

AICAD aims at poverty reduction through human capacity AICAD aims at poverty reduction through human capacity developmentdevelopment through:through:

Research and Development in unveiling missing links in Research and Development in unveiling missing links in information, knowledge and technologiesinformation, knowledge and technologies

Training and Extension to impart information and Training and Extension to impart information and technologies into grassroots for poverty reductiontechnologies into grassroots for poverty reduction

Information, Networking and Documentation to facilitated Information, Networking and Documentation to facilitated dissemination and sharing to empower communitiesdissemination and sharing to empower communities

Intermediaries to interpret information in appropriate Intermediaries to interpret information in appropriate communication media to grassrootscommunication media to grassroots

Grassroots to implement the information, knowledge and Grassroots to implement the information, knowledge and technologies application activities for poverty reductiontechnologies application activities for poverty reduction

AICAD Conceptual Frame for AICAD Conceptual Frame for Knowledge and technologies Knowledge and technologies

Dissemination and applicationDissemination and application

Poverty Reduction

INTERMEDIARIESPub. & priv. Univs, NGOs, CBOs, Govs,

Research and Extension institutions

COMMUNITIESRural and Urban

Poor in Africa

AICADIdentify, Generate, Translate

and Transfer Appropriate Knowledge & Tech.

Indigenous Knowledge & Tech

Interaction of Knowledge & Tech

Effective Linkage

Human Resources Dev.

Training and Extension Activities At Training and Extension Activities At Regional and Country LevelsRegional and Country Levels

Poverty Alleviation Information and Poverty Alleviation Information and Knowledge System (PAIKS) Database to Knowledge System (PAIKS) Database to

Facilitate DisseminationFacilitate Dissemination

Database in a Portal Arrange for Database in a Portal Arrange for

Sharing informationSharing information

Research Model Showing Researchable Research Model Showing Researchable Areas and Application of FindingsAreas and Application of Findings

AICAD activities at the GrassrootsAICAD activities at the Grassroots

The Intermediaries comprise experts from The Intermediaries comprise experts from Universities, Research Institutions Universities, Research Institutions Government Departments, NGOs, IGOs, Government Departments, NGOs, IGOs, INOs, CBOs, FBOs, Extension Workers and INOs, CBOs, FBOs, Extension Workers and Community Opinion Leaders.Community Opinion Leaders.

AICAD coordinates experts’ work among the AICAD coordinates experts’ work among the communities to develop human capacity to communities to develop human capacity to reduce povertyreduce poverty

ConclusionsConclusions

AICAD acknowledges the power of information, AICAD acknowledges the power of information, knowledge and technologies in poverty reduction.knowledge and technologies in poverty reduction.

Puts an emphasis on disseminating and imparting Puts an emphasis on disseminating and imparting information into the community for application in poverty information into the community for application in poverty reductionreduction

In so doing globalizes information, knowledge and In so doing globalizes information, knowledge and technologies acquisition and application among the technologies acquisition and application among the communities involved in poverty reductioncommunities involved in poverty reduction

Once the communities shared the knowledge and Once the communities shared the knowledge and information for poverty reduction, production and information for poverty reduction, production and marketing improvemarketing improve

This leads to further integration with larger communities This leads to further integration with larger communities hence entering the globalization processhence entering the globalization process

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

Finally on behalf of AICAD and on my own Finally on behalf of AICAD and on my own behalf I wish to thank the United Nations behalf I wish to thank the United Nations University (UNU) and UNESCO for the University (UNU) and UNESCO for the invitation and support to attend this invitation and support to attend this important workshop on Globalization and important workshop on Globalization and present AICAD experience in facilitating present AICAD experience in facilitating information and knowledge sharing in information and knowledge sharing in Africa.Africa.

Thank youThank you