This document discusses coordinating knowledge management across the UN to enhance collaboration. It provides a brief history of UN knowledge management efforts and outlines DOCO's KM priorities, such as deploying a common expert roster system and documenting lessons learned. However, challenges to inter-agency KM include a lack of common vision, weak collaboration, and diverse approaches. The document argues for moving towards an era of collective knowledge by focusing on knowledge capacity building with partners.
1. unite and deliver effective support for countries
Coordinating Knowledge
Management Across the UN and
Enhancing
Collaboration
Ian Thorpe
Team Leader, Knowledge Management, UN DOCO
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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
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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
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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
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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)
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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
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UNDG “Normative Areas”
• Post-Crisis Transition
• Delivering as One
• Aid Effectiveness
• Human Rights Mainstreaming
• Gender Mainstreaming
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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 ?)
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Informal Interagency Interaction
• KM focal points network
• “KM within the United Nations” Teamworks
space
• UN KM Yammer
• Ad-hoc partnerships and joint initiatives
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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
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Prusak’s three ages of knowledge
management
• Information/Knowledge repositories
• Individual knowledge
• Collective knowledge
Are we stuck in the information age?
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Knowledge enablers
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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
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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?
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Coordinating Knowledge Management
Across the UN and Enhancing
Collaboration
Thank you!
Ian Thorpe
Team Leader, Knowledge Management, UN DOCO
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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/unknowledgemanage
ment/
• Knowledge Sharing toolkit: http://kstoolkit.org/