ICM and KSS in IWM as evidence-based DSS to inform Policy and Investment decisions

By:

Prof. Bancy M. MatiPresented at the:

CTA Annual Seminar:On:

Closing the Knowledge Gap: Integrated Water Management for Sustainable Agriculture

Johannesburg, South Africa

22nd-26th November 2010

Basic Terms /acronyms

• ICM – Information, Communication & Management • KSS – Knowledge Support Systems• DSS – Decision Support Systems• ICT – Information and Communication Technologies• IWM – Integrated Water Management• IPCC – Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

CONTENTS

1. Status of knowledge share & ICM for IWM in Africa

2. Typologies of Decision Support Systems

3. Knowledge needs for Policy & Investment support

4. Components of ICM

5. Simple KM technologies

6. DSS tools to inform policy on IWM & Agric

7. Schematic presentation of the IWM Process

8. Upgrading IWM through KSS & ICM

Status of knowledge share & DSS in Africa

• Africa is a continent fragmented by national boundaries, languages and cultural barriers

• Technologies and practices for IWM exist but in localized “islands”

• Researchers chase to publish papers in foreign international journals

• Policy makers rarely consult local scientists and/or farmers• Research agenda rarely emanates from local needs• Even with the internet, knowledge flow intra-Africa is weak• Capacity has been growing among Africans.....

Why sit on knowledge?

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As a result…..Knowledge Gaps in Policy & Investment decisions

Knowledge and experiences from decades of research and project implementation are not filtering up-wards to influence

policy, are poorly infiltrating downwards to

impact on poverty among smallholder farmers, and

are not spreading outwards rapidly enough to reach many people quickly.

Information and Knowledge

• Information is data that is organized so as to have meaning

• Data is numerical or at least quantifiable information

• Knowledge is “information that is relevant, actionable, and based at least partially on experience”.

• ICT consists of information processing and communication technologies.

Typologies of Decision Support Systems (DSS)

Origins of computer aided DSS is fairly recent - 1967 (Morton’s dissertation in Harvard).

Can Distinguish six types of DSS

1. Model-driven DSS - use limited data and parameters provided by decision makers

2. Data-driven DSS – use large quantities of data

3. Communications-driven DSS – utilize ICTs

4. Document-driven DSS e.g. uses computer storage and processing for info retrieval and analysis

5. Knowledge-driven DSS : are person-computer systems with specialized problem-solving expertise

6. Web-based DSS – e.g. Imagine life without Google?

Typical target Stakeholders for ICM. For example

1. International Institutions – e.g. UN, WB, IFAD,

2. Regional Institutions - COMESA, SADC, AMCOW

3. National Institutions – Ministries of Water, Agriculture

4. National Knowledge Institutions – e.g. universities,

5. Para-governmental Orgs e.g. RBAs, parastatals

6. Private Sector – banks, equipment manufacturers

7. Funded Programmes & Projects -

8. NGOs, WUAs, SHGs, CBOs

9. Farmers, fishers, pastoralists and other land users.

Knowledge needs for Policy & Investment support

• Determine what information needs to be communicated

• Be sensitive to the needs of Policy makers• Determine the medium of communication. • Determine who will be sending out this

communication & who is receipient.• Identify the purpose of the communication • Demand driven or push it?• Determine the frequency of communication

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IWM interventions having simple improvements which yield visible impacts

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Knowledge about inputs, not just costs …

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Community mobilization and participation in development programmess

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Advice on “quick wins” that utilize local materials

Photo by B. Mati

Sand-filled bags for dam embankment in Nyando, Kenya Zai pits for maize crop in Mbeere, Kenya

Available DSS tools to inform policy & Investment decisions

• National & regional IWM research information systems• Indigenous knowledge systems before they disappear.• Developing information systems of matured /tested

technologies that have proven successful (farmer K)• Case studies and success stories (local, borrowed)• Audio-visual knowledge capture e.g. photos, broadcasts,

videotapes• GIS supported information bases • Websites and blogs• Equip institutions with ICT hardware& software.

Examples of DSS tools for IWM & Agric to inform policy

• Early warning systems e.g. Geo-spatial data shared by FEWSnet, WMO-EA

• IFPRI’s Strategic Analysis Knowledge Support System" for agricultural and market analysis

• WFP/FAO’s Standardized Monitoring and Assessment of Relief and Transitions (SMART) for needs assessment

• IPPC’s Global Circulation models for climate change adaptation

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Institutionalizing sustainability in KSS for IWM

• Devising mechanisms for self-financing

• Working with service providers

• Enhancing ICT communication

• Getting political goodwill and support

• Devising a reward system for ICM work

• Having long-term goals and objectives which are

SMART

• Creativity and innovation to capture new knowledge

and make use of it.

Example: Climate Change Decision support tools

Source: The Economics of Climate Change. Stern Review, 2007.

Source: The World Bank Group Genderstats Database of Gender Statistics (2004), and ILO Global employment Trends Brief (2006)

• A pen and notebook - • Writing (newspapers, magazines, report), • Audio-visual systems (radio, TV , doc films)• Public speaking forums, • Electronic media e.g. telephone, fax, e-mail, • Internet search engines e.g. Google or Yahoo• e-learning tools, Wordpress• Social computing tools e.g. SMS, blogs , wikis

Simple KM technologies

Example: SMS as a DSST at farmer level

• In Kenya, farmers have an easy, low risk DSST through SMS technology & M-PESA. e.g....

• Sale & purchase of farm products• Receipt sent via SMS to farmer’s cell phone• Tailored farm advice messages sent directly to

farmer’s cell phoneTherefore....• SMS is the new community gathering. • SMS is the new source of information• SMS is a means for farmers to connect with a

larger network of people.

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Challenges: how to change age-old practices e.g. introducing SRI (System of rice intensification)

IWM for cross-sectoral uses

Photo by B. Mati

Water for Community services Water storages for livestock

Photo by Naphtali Mbanda, Rwanda

Components of ICM

• What: Determine what knowledge is needed, its management information structures, and objectives.

• Who: identify who to share knowledge with, e.g. networks, authorities, individuals, practitioners, collaborators or the entire World Wide Web.

• How: Organize how the knowledge will be shared, e.g. by networking, consulting, collaborating, sharing, researching, reflecting, developing, testing, training, innovating, managing, or simply posting on the Internet.

• Why: e.g. activity planning, strategic planning, learning, awareness raising, feedback, or simply for information.

• Where: Identify the sources and destinations of the knowledge e.g. strategic positioning, planning, and coverage.

• When: Determine the timelines associated with knowledge capture, processing and sharing, e.g. timing, pacing, planning, scheduling, context, live or recorded.

• If: Identify the utility of knowledge as a decision support tool.

Incentives for supporting ICM• Making available increased knowledge content • Facilitating and supporting innovation and organisational

learning.• Acknowledging and managing intellectual capital and

intellectual assets• Improving communications and IT connectivity• Leveraging the expertise through training, • Facilitating interaction between members,.• Solving intractable issues as soon as they arise.

Promoting policy and investment support for IWM

• Develop workable Strategies considering river basin mgt.

• Review national laws for IWM policy development.• Facilitate participation of all stakeholders at all levels of

IWM, with special attention to gender and youth.

• Improve structures and processes for consultation at all levels

• Better co-ordination and institutional strengthening to overcome fragmented responsibilities in the field of IWM.

• Resource mobilization, especially self-financing mechanisms

• Increase information, awareness and communication.

• Formation of multi-stakeholder forums e.g. WUAs, AgWA• Advocacy and generating goodwill

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ICM to bridge the knowledge needs of a cross-section of “Decision Makers”

Key Water & Water-related Policies/Inst.

Resources Assessment &

Analysis

Use Assessment & Analysis

Resource Development &

Management Plan

Implementation & Monitoring

Resource Allocation Strategy

Review & Evaluation

CountryDevelopment

Objectives

Schematic of the IWM Process • Stakeholder Input• Investor Input• Public Sector Input

Upgrading IWM through KSS & ICM

• Using KSS to achieve “decisively” designed projects and/or incorporating IWM into existing ones.

• Embedding the five capitals (N, P, H, F, S) into IWM.

• Ensuring that policy and legal instruments for IWM are in place (at local, national & regional levels)

• Linking IWM with indigenous knowledge.

• Identifying likely barriers and opportunities (research).

• Infuse science & technology in IWM implementation

• Build capacity for IWM (school kids, farmers, scientists...)

• Making IWM understood by leaders (whose decisions affect resource allocation for the poor).

Desired outcomes of IWM

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Thank you

“Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do" ….Goethe