Consolidating Gains and Building Momentum.pdf - Africa Adaptation ...

Africa Adaptation ProgrammeConsolidating Gains and Building MomentumBuilding Knowledge Management Systems and Knowledge Capture and Sharing Practices‘The biggest obstacle wasthe understanding of climatechange itself because theconcept is still very newdespite the fact that weare already seeing theimpacts. So capacity andunderstanding was very lowacross the board, from the topto the grassroots level. Thiswas the major obstacle whentrying to convey informationon climate change and howto address it, but I am happyto say that we are gettingthere because the level ofawareness is now high andcapacity is being built acrossthe institutions.’Faraja Ngerageza, NationalCoordinator, AAP TanzaniaThrough the AAP, countries have beenassistance in the development of theircapacity in knowledge management:promoting sharing platforms, suchas existing electronic or traditionalplatforms for knowledge sharing,including UNDP’s Teamworkswebsitepromoting the generation ofcontent by developing knowledge,codifying it for easier accessand disseminating it throughappropriate channelsproviding technical assistance inmay arise in the implementationof national programmes.Many countries have now developedthe means to ensure that relevantinformation and knowledge theydisseminated in ways practitionersand decision makers can use. Thiswork has gone far towards thecreation of region-wide knowledgeand learning mechanisms that raiseawareness, engage stakeholders,inform decision-makers and promoteexchange and cooperation amongcountries.The uptake of knowledgemanagement practices has ledto wide-range of outcomes, fromstrengthened staff capacity andaccess to knowledge platforms to theroll-out of communications strategiesand public information campaigns,the publication of a huge range ofknowledge products including climatechange manuals and guidebooks withproject management sections, andthe creation of knowledge centres andweb portals to store and coordinateaccess to climate and developmentrelatedmaterials.‘Climate change concerns allsectors, and the informationgenerated has to be shared andwe have to ensure that everyone isable to speak the same language,so that the strategies elaboratedcan be sustainable.’Babacar Diouf, AAP SenegalProject ManagerAAP teams produced an enormous amount of knowledge and information products designed to inform communities of practice about the programme's work and ensure itslessons and achievement can be built on and continued.10