Development Aspects Impressum Editors

Knowledge sharing websites: www.cap-net.org

Websites designed for knowledge sharing facilitate open access to information on resource centres, courses, tools, references and training materials.

	English	Spanish	French	Portuguese	Other	Total
IWRM as a tool for climate change adaptation	832	172	108	129	Chinese 4	1,245
Conflict resolution and negotiation skills for IWRM	1,608	267	49			1,924
Economics in sustainable water management	687	96	55	13		851
IWRM for RBOs	858	661	62	82	Indonesian 831	2,494
IWRM plans	827	209	242	208	Russian 112	1,598
Why gender matters	227	17				244
Hydro-climatic disasters in water resources management	98					98
Water integrity	586					586
Streams of law	465					465
Groundwater in IWRM	1,419					1,419
Water resources Assessment in sub-Saharan Africa	14					14
Total	7,621	1,422	516	432	112	10,938

Table 1: Level of access to Cap-Net’s developed training materials for IWRM, for the period January-November 2011

The figures in table 1 show the level of outreach of the site and how these types of website help to make knowledge accessible on a free basis. With over 10,000 downloads, the resulting number of people benefiting from this manual is signifi- cantly higher.

Training materials in English have been downloaded 7,621 times, while for other languages the number of downloads is 3,317. However, if we take into con- sideration that 5 out of 11 training materials come only in English, we may estimate that the number of downloads for non-English materials may grow if more transla- tions are made available.
Findings from Cap-Net’s Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Plan (MELP) report (Cap-Net, 2011c) show that the most visited page of the website is the “network members database”, showing the significance of openly posting this in- formation for inclusive approaches to capacity development and interdisciplinary thinking.

These types of website, and their valuable information sharing is key for open- ness, knowledge sharing and demand responsiveness for capacity development aiming for local impact.

6. Capacity-building networks and the Green Economy

Networks constitute innovative and cost-efficient collective strategies to facilitate the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and to reinforce sustainable development. Through their structure, networks are in accordance with the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and support local ownership and development by anchoring knowledge and responding to demands.

Being open and inclusive, networks drive participatory decision-making (Ger- man Agency for Technical Cooperation, 2006). Networks membership rests on centres of excellence, which provide the base knowledge and specific views to build interdisciplinary thinking and problem-solving. Through the use of innovative ICT tools and web-based knowledge platforms, networks work towards univer- sal access to information and communication technologies to facilitate access and knowledge transfer to multiple target groups.
Through their decision-making and operational frameworks, networks enable capacity development in line with the basic principles of the Green Economy: re- sources efficiency, social inclusivityand low carbon.

1. Resources efficiency

Experience from capacity-building networks associated with Cap-Net UNDP dem- onstrates how networks are sustainable and cost effective by generating a sig- nificant multiplier effect and co-funding. Networks are an efficient and effective investment in capacity development.

Strategies such as training of trainers (ToTs) put forward a process of replica- tion at the local level which attracts multiple funding and in-kind contributions in a cascade effect for an increased outreach and demand response.
Capacity-building networks are made up of existing institutions responsible for capacity-building. These institutions are sustainable in their own right. When knowledge availability is increased, shared and adapted for local relevance, and transferred into local target groups, sustainability is secured through strengthening locally owned capacities which anchored and available.
Networks are vehicles to enhance cooperation and mutual benefit, and would not exist unless benefit came to members. This is why members bring in funds and are willing to share costs, making the network strategy cost-effective and efficient.
Cost also follows local schemes and as delivery is done through strengthened local institutions, the need for external consultants is diminished, and only applied as part of a knowledge management strategy to cover specific gaps.

2. Social inclusivity

Networks are driven by the principle of working through open partnerships to overcome capacity constraints (Cap-Net, 2002). They are also designed to con- tribute to sustainable water management and thus recognize multiple water users and a variety of institutions which represent water governance and need to be attended.

Key principles such as equity, gender balance and environmental sustainability are cross-cutting issues included in management structures and knowledge con- tent. Without this inclusive component networks would be unable to operate as limited participation will harm the most important asset and contributors networks have: their membership.
Networks such as the Latin America Water, Education and Training Network (LA-WETnet) have a management structure which functions as a small facilitating organization, supporting and strengthening regional capacity-building institutions in their delivery and linking the network with the global community. The LA-WET- net secretariat is a vehicle to operationalize the network objectives, building capac- ity at the bottom by means of a regional partnership and shared activities. Network activities are always carried out by network members. The secretariat only acts as a facilitating body in charge of putting forward an active collaborative process, in the form of a knowledge management cycle. Since its formation in 2002, LA-WETnet has delivered 48 training courses, in almost all countries in Latin America, covering more than 10 subjects related to sustainable water resources management, and directly involving more than 120 institutions.¹

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