Knowledge Transfer
Introducing science and technology into sustainable community development projects is more effective when two-way communication bridges the boundaries between knowledge and action. This will help the end user understand the evidence behind an Evidence-Based Best Practice, the relevance the activity has for them, and that the activity is culturally appropriate for their community.
Communities of experts and end-users have different norms and expectations. Bridging these requires open channels of communication, but also requires that participants understand each other - understanding that is often hindered by jargon, language, and experience.
A bottom-up approach encourages, supports and strengthens communities' existing abilities to identify their own needs, set their own objectives, and monitor and evaluate them. It builds on two-way communication and a joint commitment to what works for the community.
In appropriate knowledge transfer, insiders, with support from outsiders, can be active in decision making, can identify their problems and the solutions, set objectives and activities, monitor and evaluate progress to see these are being achieved and are still relevant. This participatory approach is showing encouraging results which hold great potential for sustainable development.
When community members make decisions about solutions, they must have good information available. Field staff need to have access to an information system that can respond to what insiders need to know - and that is timely, relevant, understandable and accurate.
There are a number of resources on this website about Participatory Needs Assessment:
Participatory Needs Assessment
Culturally Appropriate Illustrations
Adapted from: the FAO Participatory Community Toolbox Part 1, and Knowledge Systems for Sustainable Development by: David W. Cash, William C. Clark, Frank Alcock, Nancy M. Dickson, Noelle Eckley, David H. Guston, Jill Jager, and Ronald B. Mitchell.