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JOURNAL ARTICLE

Communities of Practice: the missing link for KM on implementation issues in low-income countries?

The implementation of policies remains a huge challenge in many low-income countries. Several factors play a role in this, but improper management of existing knowledge is no doubt a major issue. In this article, the authors argue that new platforms should be created that gather all stakeholders who hold pieces of relevant knowledge for successful policies. To build their case, they capitalize on experience in their domain of practice, health care financing in sub-Saharan Africa. They recently adopted a community of practice strategy in the region. More in general, they consider the platforms as the way forward for knowledge management of implementation issues.

In an effort to inform people of the many ways they can follow MEASURE Evaluation, I chose to incorporate the project’s web address and links to social media channels to my email signature. I think its starting to look a bit ridiculous. Check it out and leave a comment. Tell me:

1. What you would change?
2. Is it all necessary?
3. How would you (re)format it?
4. What does yours look like?

“Knowledge Management for Data Use and Decision Making in International Public Health” captures strategies that facilitate sharing knowledge, building skills and using data for decision making. This topic paper is intended for international health program managers and researchers whose role includes a communication or knowledge management component.

Anna Schurmann, Lisa Mwaikambo, and I examine ways in which knowledge management can increase engagement between research, policy-making and public health practice to close such gaps. We base our understanding on the notion that improved knowledge sharing will lead to wider understanding, enhanced cooperation, more effective use of good practices and better health outcomes. KM is important as it can provide cost-effective ways to access knowledge and engagement between different stakeholders—therefore making knowledge sharing more possible.

Examples of communication platforms used as part of larger KM strategies presented in this paper come from organizations such as Nike Foundation, Measurement, Learning and Evaluation project, USAID, WHO, Population Reference Bureau, Intrahealth, K4Health, AIDSTAR-One, MEASURE Evaluation and many others.

About the Authors:

Anna Schurmann

A maternal and reproductive health consultant.

Leah D. Gordon

Lisa Mwaikambo