1. UNESCO: A Knowledge Broker? Castries - 2004 - 1 UNESCO: A Knowledge Broker? Training Workshop for Documentalists of National Commissions of the Caribbean Castries, St. Lucia, 1-3 December 2004 Axel Plathe UNESCO, Information Society Divisionn a.plathe@unesco.org

2. UNESCO: A Knowledge Broker? Castries - 2004 - 2 Content What is knowledge? UNESCO’s mandate UNESCO acting as a Knowledge Broker UNESCO enabling Knowledge Brokers ICTs and knowledge management Managament proposals

3. UNESCO: A Knowledge Broker? Castries - 2004 - 3 What is Knowledge? “The learning and knowledge that we have, is, at the most, but little compared with that of which we are ignorant” (Plato) “A body of facts and principles accumulated by mankind in the course of time” “Making sense of information”/ “digested information” Your suggestion?

4. UNESCO: A Knowledge Broker? Castries - 2004 - 4 What is a Knowledge Broker? “An intermediary that links the people who use knowledge and those who create it”

5. UNESCO: A Knowledge Broker? Castries - 2004 - 5 What kinds of knowledge exist? Scientific Knowledge Local and indigenous knowledge “Sets of understandings, interpretations and meanings are part and parcel of a cultural complex that encompasses language, naming and classification systems, resource use practices, ritual, spirituality and worldview”

6. UNESCO: A Knowledge Broker? Castries - 2004 - 6 What are the characteristics of Quality Knowledge? Quality Knowledge is crediblerelevanttimely

7. UNESCO: A Knowledge Broker? Castries - 2004 - 7 What kind of knowledge-related actions exist? Knowledge Creation Knowledge Preservation Knowledge Mining Knowledge Utilization Knowledge Sharing

8. UNESCO: A Knowledge Broker? Castries - 2004 - 8 Is Knowledge Brokerage foreseen in UNESCO’s mandate? Constitution, Article 1: Purposes and functions “Collaborate in the work of advancing the mutual knowledge and understanding of people” “Maintain, increase and diffuse knowledge”

9. UNESCO: A Knowledge Broker? Castries - 2004 - 9 Is Knowledge Brokerage foreseen in UNESCO’s mandate? 31 C/4: UNESCO as a “Clearing House” as one of its 5 essential functions “Gathering, transferring, disseminating and sharing available information, knowledge and best practices in its fields of competence” “Identifying innovative solutions” “Testing solutions through pilot projects”

10. UNESCO: A Knowledge Broker? Castries - 2004 - 10 Advance mutual knowledge and understanding of the people Contribute to development based on knowledge in its areas of competence Examples of development needs: 840 million undernourished people 1.5 billion people without access to safe drinking water 860 million illiterate adults 130 million people out of school Identify innovative solutions Promote Knowledge Societies Why should UNESCO be a Knowledge Broker?

11. UNESCO: A Knowledge Broker? Castries - 2004 - 11 What are potential clients of UNESCO as a Knowledge Broker? Researchers … Political decision makers Professional Communities Interested public at large Civil society

12. UNESCO: A Knowledge Broker? Castries - 2004 - 12 A) UNESCO acts itself as a Knowledge Broker What are UNESCO’s concrete actions so far? B) UNESCO enables others to be Knowledge Brokers

13. UNESCO: A Knowledge Broker? Castries - 2004 - 13 A) UNESCO itself as a Knowledge Broker (1) UNESCO’s In-house information services UNESCO Library UNESCO Archives 66 Information Services located at Headquarters and in the Field Offices 32 bibliographic, referral and full text databases produced by UNESCO in its domains of competence

14. UNESCO: A Knowledge Broker? Castries - 2004 - 14 A) UNESCO itself as a Knowledge Broker (1) UNESCO as a scientific publisher Monographs, e.g. WSIS Publication Series Periodicals, e.g. Museum International World Reports, e.g. World Science Report Proceedings, e.g. Infoethics Proceedings Directories, e.g. Asia Pacific Arts Directory

15. UNESCO: A Knowledge Broker? Castries - 2004 - 15 UNESCO Web services “Knowledge Portal” Observatory on the Information Society Ocean Portal Heritage Portal Web access to full texts of official UNESCO documents (20,000) photobank (10,000 images) worldwide translations database (1,3 million bibliographic records) thesauri links directories, e.g. worldwide portals for archives, libraries, poetry e.g. A) UNESCO itself as a Knowledge Broker (2)

16. UNESCO: A Knowledge Broker? Castries - 2004 - 16 UNESCO as an organizer of scientific conferences International Symposium on the Temple of Bayon UNESCO as organizer of expert advise dissemination Reports Missions e.g. A) UNESCO itself as a Knowledge Broker (3)

17. UNESCO: A Knowledge Broker? Castries - 2004 - 17 Example: UNESCO Archives Portal Organized information on issues related to archives and record management Service to a specific group of UNESCO’s stakeholders Directory of links to outside resources Organized in categories Maintained and updated A) UNESCO itself as a Knowledge Broker (4)

18. UNESCO: A Knowledge Broker? Castries - 2004 - 18 In Education UNITWIN / UNESCO Chairs Network Establishing and reinforcing strong and durable linkages amongst higher education and scientific institutions worldwide, and facilitating the transfer of knowledge while combating the brain drain. In Natural Sciences International Centre for Synchrotron Light for Experimental Science and Applications in the Middle East (SESAME) Establishing the Middle East's first major international research centre as a cooperative venture by the scientists and governments of the region. B) UNESCO enabling others to be Knowledge Brokers (1) e.g.

19. UNESCO: A Knowledge Broker? Castries - 2004 - 19 In Social Sciences Management of social transformations (MOST) Promoting international, comparative and policy-relevant research on contemporary social transformations and issues of global importance In Culture Network of Copyright Chairs Promoting international university cooperation in the areas of copyright and neighbouring rights In Communication & Information INFOYOUTH Centres Establishing information centres for young people e.g. B) UNESCO enabling others to be Knowledge Brokers (2)

20. UNESCO: A Knowledge Broker? Castries - 2004 - 20 Effects of ICTs on UNESCO’s role: Are ICTs leading to a paradigm shift in UNESCO’s role as a Knowledge Broker? Higher efficiency Wider scope Greater outreach Higher relevance Lower costs Timeliness

21. UNESCO: A Knowledge Broker? Castries - 2004 - 21 Management proposals (1) Make UNESCO an exemplary actor in Knowledge Societies Refocus UNESCO’s priorities on Knowledge Broker functions in its areas of competence Concentrate on the use of ICT for Knowledge Broker activities Provide adequate resources to Knowledge Broker activities (staff, hard- and software)

22. UNESCO: A Knowledge Broker? Castries - 2004 - 22 Establish efficient and effective methodologies Identify relevant knowledge Index relevant knowledge Disseminate relevant knowledge Establish a coherent structure for Knowledge Broker activities across all sectors (“Knowledge Portal”) Management proposals (2)

23. UNESCO: A Knowledge Broker? Castries - 2004 - 23