Harnessing Indigenous Knowledge for Development

1. Harnessing Indigenous Knowledge for Development Presentation to UNCTAD Conference on Traditional Knowledge November 1, 2000 Nicolas Gorjestani Chief Knowledge & Learning Officer Africa Region, The World Bank

2. Overview Development case for IK World Bank’s IK Program The way forward

3. Knowledge is experience, everything else is information

4. Herbal medicine is an excellent example of IK that has affected lives around the globe... IK Affects People’s Lives …but there is much more to it !

5. efficiency IK is cost effective IK uses appropriate technology effectiveness IK is locally managed IK reaches the poor sustainability IK provides for mutual adaptation & learning IK empowers local communities In the Development Process... Indigenous knowledge could help to increase:

6. raising agricultural production Indigenous soil conservation technology(Burkina Faso) increasing value of education systems Local language instruction improves literacy skills(Mali) improving quality of health care Traditional Birth Attendants help reduce maternal mortality(Uganda) good governance Local institutions lead post-conflict land re-allocation(Mozambique) In the Development Process... Indigenous knowledge could also contribute to:

7. Development organizations are not storehouses of universally applicable knowledge just waiting to be transferred. • That is why they should help: • empowercommunities to use global & local knowledge • connectcommunities to one another and to other sources of experience • learn with them what works in a given setting & facilitate adaptation with modern technology Role of Development Partners

8. Empowerment Communities shape own development agenda by • actively participating in development dialogue • determining research agendas • enhancing good governance • integrating indigenous knowledge in development

9. Enablement • Helping local practitioners and communities to: • exchange knowledge of local practices • build traditional knowledge networks • engage authorities, researchers & experts • dialogue with development partners • leverage traditional & modern knowledge

10. learn hear listen Learning from communities Empowerment through Enablement Building on traditional knowledge systems exchange engage connect Helping communities learn

11. Global Knowledge Conference 1997 vision of truly global knowledge partnership will be realized only when the poor participate as both users and contributors of knowledge Client Feed Back Surveys 40 percent “knowledge adaptation gap” look for what works in communities Partnerships (bilateral & international organizations , NGOs, CBOs) Genesis of IK Program

12. IK practices data base (>200 cases) “IK Notes” publication (26 in print & Internet) “IK Report: A Framework for Action” Multi-lingual Website: www.worldbank.org/afr/ik/default.htm Enhanced capacity of IK centers in 8 countries Capacity building to develop National IK Strategies (Uganda) Integrating IK into Bank-supported projects “Knowledge Packs” IK Topic on Global Development Gateway What we have done to date...

13. Agricultural Research & Training Project II (Uganda) Lake Malawi Environment (Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania) Conservation and Sustainable Use of Medicinal Plants (Ethiopia) Northern Savana Biodiversity Conservation (Ghana) Management of Forests and Adjacent Lands (Benin) Micro-watershed & Environment Management Program (Nigeria) Education & Community School Program (Mali) HIV/AIDS Multi-sector Project (Cameroon) IK in Bank-supported Projects

17. The Way Forward Need partnerships to help : • Develop National Strategies on Utilization of IK • Enhance capacity of national & regional IK networks • Promote community-to-community exchanges • Identify innovative mechanisms to protect IK

18. Balanced Flow of Knowledge Networks LocalGlobal

19. Building networks of IK practitioners Farmers Healers Engage Exchange Learn Influence Hunters

20. LeveragingKnowledge Networks Researchers WHO/ World Bank Specialists Ministry of Health PHC providers Traditional Healers Doctors Pharmacists Health Care CBOs/ NGOs Botanists

21. Uganda: RESCUER project in Iganga District PHCs partner with traditional birth attendants link attendants to health units thru ‘walkie-talkies’ attendants serve as referral points more women receive health services Impact: maternal deaths declined by 50% in 3 years Successful Adaptation Successful Leveraging Lesson: leveraging modern & traditional knowledge systems can help to increase development impact

22. Not all IK are patentable or subject to IPRs Documentation in written records a key to protection of IK Look for innovative forms of protection such as MTAs Emerging examples of fair& equitable benefit sharing (Cameroon) Regional agreements are potentially a cost effective form of protection (1996 Andean Pact allows prior informed consent) Community-to-community exchanges a possible platform Protection of IK: Some Principles

23. Concluding Remarks • IK is a critical factor in sustainable development • Empowerment & enablement of local communities is a key to integrating IK into the development process • Helping promote networks of traditional practitioners & community-to-community exchanges is a way to better disseminate good practices in IK • Innovative mechanisms are needed to protect IK • A regional approach is likely to be most cost effective • World Bank is looking forward to partnerships to help advance this agenda

24. Harnessing Indigenous Knowledge for Development Thank you www.worldbank.org/html/afr/ik/index.htm