Presentation to MDG-F KM focal points meeting

Coordinating Knowledge Management Across the UN and

EnhancingCollaboration

unite and deliver effective support for countries

Ian Thorpe Team Leader, Knowledge Management, UN DOCO


A brief history of interagency KM…

• UNDG Working group on knowledge management (2004-2007)

• JIU report 2008 • UNDG KM mapping 2010• UNDG knowledge fairs 2010• DOCO KM team created 2011


UNDG Key Outcomes 2010-2012

• Outcome 1: Accelerated national achievement of MDGs/IADGs and treaty obligations

• Outcome 2: Strengthened UN coherence and coordination at the country level

• Outcome 3: UN Development System More Effectively Deploys Knowledge and Know-how


KM in DOCO

• New (small) unit created in 2011• Main responsibility for managing knowledge

around UN coordination• Strong emphasis on data, information, results• Many basic IM/KM systems not yet in place• No formal DOCO responsibility or UN

working mechanism for UNDG/UN wide KM


DOCO KM priorities in 2012

• Revised reporting system on UNDG and UNCT progress,

especially on co-ordination and UN reform

• Deployment of a common UNDG expert roster system

• Redesign of UNDG website, information base and tools

• Revitalize Coordination Practice Network (CPN) and other

networks

• Documenting and sharing case studies, innovations, lessons

learned and good practice “what works in co-ordination”

• General support for UNDG working mechanisms

• Improving internal KM within DOCO (mainly document

management)


UNDG Workstreams• UNDAF/Common Country Programming• Common Services and Harmonized Business

Practices • Joint Communication • Common Premises • Joint Resource Mobilization/Common budgetary

framework • Organizational change – leadership, structure,

skills, culture


UNDG “Normative Areas”

• Post-Crisis Transition• Delivering as One• Aid Effectiveness• Human Rights Mainstreaming• Gender Mainstreaming


Not current DOCO priorities!

• Support in KM to UN country teams (internal or external)

• Co-ordination or harmonization of KM work across UN system

• KM around substantive programme areas (who does/should do this ?)


Informal Interagency Interaction


• KM focal points network• “KM within the United Nations” Teamworks

space• UN KM Yammer• Ad-hoc partnerships and joint initiatives

Challenges to inter-agency KM


• Lack of common vision on role of KM in UN• Weak inter-agency sharing and collaboration• No-one with formal coordinating role in KM• Capacity gaps• Diverse approaches• Platform competition• Creating our own knowledge silos

Prusak’s three ages of knowledge management


• Information/Knowledge repositories• Individual knowledge• Collective knowledge

Are we stuck in the information age?


4 knowledge roles


Knowledge enablers


Moving into the era of collective knowledge?


• UN as a knowledge convener and platform provider

• Greater openness and external/service focus• Inter-operability of approaches and systems• Knowledge as capability not repository• Focus on developing knowledge capacity of

partners

Discussion questions


• How can we ensure the knowledge generated from MDG-F can be put to use in the UN?

• How can we foster greater cross-UN collaboration on KM?

• How can we maintain and build on the networks you have developed?

• What is the catalytic role MDG-F and you as individuals can play?

Coordinating Knowledge Management Across the UN and Enhancing

Collaboration

Thank you!


Ian Thorpe Team Leader, Knowledge Management, UN DOCO

Resources


• UNDG website: http://undg.org• UNDG toolkit: http://toolkit.undg.org• “KM within the UN” teamworks:

https://one.unteamworks.org/node/63792

• UN KM Yammer:https://www.yammer.com/unknowledgemanagement/

• Knowledge Sharing toolkit: http://kstoolkit.org/

http://undg.org/

http://toolkit.undg.org/



https://www.yammer.com/unknowledgemanagement/



http://kstoolkit.org/

Education

Presentation to MDG-F KM focal points meeting