GHKC Meeting

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Meeting Minutes

Welcome & Overview of Meeting; Introductions

Facilitator:Willow Gerber, MSH/K4Health,

The meeting began with all attendees introducing themselves, including those joining remotely (by phone). As always, there were several new faces at the meeting representing broad interest in GHKC.

Special thank you to Pathfinder International for hosting the meeting and providing breakfast!

Following attendee introductions, the facilitator went over the proposed agenda.

KM for Family Planning Share Fair and possible GHKC East Africa Affiliate

Presenter: Willow Gerber, MSH/K4Health,

The Knowledge for Health project (K4Health),based at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Center for Communication Programs (JHU∙CCP), has a mandate to support knowledge sharing and develop and share KM tools and approaches with health program managers and other key stakeholders, allowing them to access, use and adapt knowledge and information that are relevant to their own programs and practices. K4Health is planning to host a regional FP-focused share fair in East Africa in September 2014 to share knowledge around country-level FP2020 implementation best practices and build the capacity of local FP program managers to understand and use KM techniques and approaches in their own work. Preliminary results of K4Health’s KM assessment of the Eastern and Southern Africa Community (ECSA), which is currently taking place, will also be shared during this event.

Objectives: The Share Fair will bring together program managers, FP2020 country representatives, and other key stakeholders working in family planning to share KM tools and approaches, build KM capacity, and participate in growing a network of KM practitioners who work at the intersection of FP and KM in East Africa. The share fair will use KM approaches throughout the event (e.g. peer-to-peer sharing, knowledge cafés, etc.) and will offer participants the opportunity to obtain and exchange tools to integrate KM strategies in their own programs. We will structure the agenda to focus on how FP information flow and use can be supported by using KM techniques.

Specific objectives of the share fair are to:

  1. Demonstrate how the use of KM techniques can enhance FP program activities; contribute to improved family planning outcomes, and further FP2020 goals in the region.
  2. Share examples of successful and effective for family planning programming in East Africa that have used KM strategies, tools, practices and technologies and the ways in which these approaches can be more widely leveraged and/or replicated at a global level.
  3. Build the capacity of FP program managers in the design, implementation and evaluation of KM for family planning programs.
  4. Foster a community and make connections among those working at the intersection of knowledge management and family planning – particularly in the East Africa region.

Audience: The event will host approximately 50-75 participants. We will be inviting FP program managers, from both the public and private sector. The audience will also include policy makers, FP2020 working group leads from EA, and other professionals who influence, or have the potential to influence FP programs. KM champions working on non-FP focused activities in East Africa will also be invited to share their experience and discuss how it could be applied in a FP context.

Prior to the event, a targeted questionnaire will be distributed to potential attendees to determine FP implementation challenges. An agenda will be built around the outcomes of this survey.

Share Fair Principles:

  • Focuses on learning
  • Values participatory approaches
  • Incorporates collaborative KM tools and methods (e.g., graphic facilitation, knowledge cafes, peer-assist, open space, etc.)

Potential Topics:

  • Why do FP donors value KM within FP programming?
  • What are FP knowledge sharing gaps within East Africa and how can KM help?
  • What is the community doing to engage around FP 2020 goals?
  • What is the collaborating, learning and adapting (CLA) process?
  • What is a knowledge worker/champion? How can they help you improve your FP programs?
  • What are some innovative and effective knowledge sharing tools and processes being used in FP regionally?
  • What is the purpose of a KM needs assessments and how does it help improve FP programming?
  • How do you measure the contribution of KM to health outcomes at various levels?
  • How can you strengthen FP capacity through knowledge sharing?
  • How can the formation of a peer-to-peer regional network help you with your work?

Auxiliary meetings may occur on the days before and after the Share Fair and could be sponsored by FP2020 or IBP, etc. An auxiliary session on forming a GHKC East Africa Affiliate group is already in the works.

Breakout Session/Brainstorming on Possible GHCK East Africa Affiliate

The group broke into 5 groups to brainstorm about important considerations for a possible GHKC East Africa Affiliate:

  • The GHKC and the possible GHKC EA affiliate are really about network building.
  • The EA GHKC group could put KM in their context
  • What will the structure be like? ---
  • A series of live meetings or not, like we do with the current GHKC.
  • Peer to peer mentorship
  • Build a webpage just for them
  • How would their affiliate interface with ours
  • Value having them on Knowledge Gateway and webpage (doing both would seem like a lot!)
  • Help them with webinar tools: Skype/Adobe connect
  • Will they have Rotating Chairs?
  • Make sure they know what the reality is; that for a long time it will be a small group of true believers! They are in a position to be the thought leaders.
  • Members of this GHKC affiliate---do they want it or does EA want the group?
  • Making sure there is a clear membership. They need to have people there who own and run it and pull ideas together.
  • A lot of what happens with the learning is that we can get together but quite another thing for people in the field to come from another country and how likely could they do that? So have country groups meet quarterly and then full group meet once a year perhaps.
  • Make sure there’s a clear bridge to us so we can learn from them! To the extent we can get direct feedback from them? Interested in getting as much learning from there. Triads of mentorships----so partner with someone from this group.
  • Figure out how to tie into the DOCs and Missions. Their buy-in will have a lot to do with how much we could do in East Africa.
  • Good to do an audit at the Share Fair to see if its needed, what are sources of info, more locally generated directive.
  • The vehicle: could we piggy back on other country or regional meetings? We could identify some of those meetings for them.
  • Beth/Sarah H.---expand from communications: Booth at the conference as part of the exhibit. People sign up for 30 min slots; example” of the communication consulting booth” where they wrote down what kind of help they might need and we paired them up with an expert. A working meeting---good use of resources---individual peer assist on a small budget.
  • ID networks that exist in the region (journalists, or others already in communication; professional associations; very few information officers exists). Some could be technical meetings.
  • Value added: people are hyper-interested in doing Word Press sites. Many have side businesses.
  • Overall purpose: need for local ownership. Are there regional groups that have a KM mandate that could tie into the mission of this group for local or regional goals?
  • Who specifically would these people be? CBOs; local IP groups/INGOs---so what type of structure would encourage sharing at that level? Start maybe as a country affiliate and if there’s success, leverage that.
  • Theresa: If there’s a leader, identify how that leader acquires the knowledge to lead the same way it’s led here. Need to mentor a leader who can get this going.
  • Resources needed: If leader wants to step up, how do they charge their time (adobe connect license; pay for a venue . . . ) Are there ways to explore options before getting time covered but to at least cover the leader?
  • Start involvement with in-person gatherings to build the relationships.
  • Our own orgs can be the first to reach out to staff in those offices. Targeted outreach to staff with KM responsibilities.
  • Margie: recognizing that the information officers don’t necessarily have a dedicated group. Librarian group (HILA)---maybe expand membership beyond USAID-funded groups.
  • Jobs in Africa---people come up and in from journalism and demography. If built for sustainability---take journalism schools (ROADS, etc)---they graduate people and we could tell them what skills they’d need to do KM. You hire people out of these two strains and then you have to train them and they’d also have to be trained in KM to work at a project level. Advantage of having it institution-based---Mission could have some convening power for them for a natural COP in the capitals perhaps. Where are they? What commonalities do they have?

Possible Topics for GHKC Webinar Series

Presenters: Lorine Ghabranious, MSH,

Willow Gerber, MSH/K4Health,

Possible topics for the GHKC webinar series that members are interested in:

-Low bandwidth techniques for knowledge exchange and groups

-Different meeting formats – virtual and face to face collaborations, Knowledge cafes

-World Population Day--- if not too late, have June meeting collaborating around World Population day- Theme is Youth.

-KM for FP share fair coming up in September

-End of projects---those that have come to a close. What are the best ways to share what they’ve learned?

-Fail Fairs- something that happened that didn’t go according to plan.

-Transitioning from one project to another.

-Graduating countries and KM sharing- the role that KM plays for the beginning, middle, and end and how it changes over time.

-Who is funding KM?

  • Next steps:
  • Add these to the idea list and find interested presenters for each topic.

Touchbase on GHKC Website; Case Studies Task Team; and KM Toolkit Task Team

Presenter: Sarah Harlan, JHU∙CCP

Sarah Harlan presented a brief overview of select GHKC Sub-groups and discussed the last case study, which is almost ready for dissemination.

The KM Case Studies are available on the Case Studies tab of the K4Health and Development Toolkit located at and also on the GHKC website at:

There are a total of seven KM case studies available, each three pages long:

  1. Applying KM Lessons Learned from an Online Discussion Forum
  2. Using an Online Community of Practice to Encourage Peer Learning and Knowledge Exchange Among Health Professionals in Diverse Settings
  3. Using Knowledge Management to Maximize the Impact of a Film
  4. Applying KM Techniques to Promote Learning: the Uganda National Quality Improvement Conference
  5. Health Care Providers Gain Access to Up-To-Date Guidelines
  6. The New Partners Initiative Timesheet Module: E-Learning to Support Knowledge Management
  7. Management to Improve the Performance of Global Fund Recipients: The Grants Management Solutions Project
  • Important to find out how people are using the case studies – please promote them among your organizations and we can do a survey to see how they are being used.
  • Consider developing a case study on Learning Collaboratives

We are currently maintaining both the GHKC website ( as well as the KM Toolkit ( The former was established last year – it is specific to the GHKC and has info about our group, resources, webinar recordings, blog posts, etc. The latter was launched in 2011 as a comprehensive collection of resources for KM professionals.

The GHKC website has a blog, which is updated regularly and includes a number of authors. If you would like to contribute – either original content or cross-posted content from your organizational website – please contact Sarah Harlan at .

The KM Toolkit is updated regularly to keep the technical content current. We have a group of “tab champions” that we reach out to for help. If you are interested in contributing to/helping with this update, please contact Sarah Harlan.

Brainstorm on Joint GHKC/HIPNET Fall Meeting

Presenters: LeahC. Wyatt Gordon, URC,

Laura Raney, Jhpiego,

Ideas for the joint GHKC/HIPNET meeting in the Fall of 2014

Share out- GHKC/HIPNET

-Definition of various terms so that we can all be on the same page.

-Examples of different structures- panel of how different organizations do things- and have a discussion around that.

-Practical issues that we all face but contrast that with a visionary speaker. Switchpoint to think outside the box but then also have a toolbox that has the practical tools.

-GroupJazz- Lisa Kimball- different ways to start out the meeting- innovative ways to meet people in the beginning of the meeting. Interactive way to share ideas in a short period of time.

-Defining a career path for KM- there isn’t one now- would be helpful.

-Advocating for KM with indicators. Pointing out to groups that they probably are already doing KM and can formalize it without it being a big undertaking.

-How to make KM sustainable abroad.

-Communication/KM interactions. Have Communications for KM and KM for Communications. Looking at the overlap and where they touch upon each other.

-Looking at collective historical role (Comms, KM, Global Health)- consultants still brought in at a national level. How to draw in our expertise- how to use these in country levels. What could be discussed that advanced the capacity at a country level.

-Idea of mapping and communication flow- where is the need. Service providers and advocates. Where would we map ourselves with the information flow? Analysis of where the needs are- addressing the issues and helping to define them. Case studies, etc.

-Review- top ten hits/ resources. People might not be aware of the tools that are available.

-Skills matrix- who are those who are the experts in each field- those who are the “go to people” that can used. Peer assist. People could self-identify if they wanted to help.

-Communication= channels; KM= tools. KM overlaps with M&E.

-How to insert yourself as a KM person without a KM role- usually have a Communications role and where do they overlap.

-Crossing the internal and external role. What is the external overlap- mandate for knowledge transfer?

-Not important to define the different between Communications and KM- but important to say the “So what”. How to people learn and obtain the information. Right time, right person, right format.

-How to package so the person can do their job effectively.

-If you take communications and add the learning piece- it is the knowledge. CLA- Collaboration, learning and adaption.

-Speaker on design thinking.

-How knowledge exchange is impacted by social media.

-Internal external media- use the same tools but difference in how you structure them. How would you describe what you do- internal/externally focused?

-Organizational learning---as corporate strategy? Does your company have a strategy for this?

“The Art of Knowledge Exchange” Version 2---by the World Bank

Presenter: Shobha Kumar, Senior Knowledge and Learning Officer and Cluster Leader, Mainstreaming South-South Knowledge Exchange, The World Bank,

Shobha Kumar presented on the “The Art of Knowledge Exchange”Version 2. The second version of this document covers five steps in the knowledge exchange process- moving beyond the 3 steps that were initially included in version one. Shobha also explained how the combination of instruments and activities could be used to create a more comprehensive idea of desired intermediate outcomes. A link to “The Art of Knowledge Exchange” Version 2 and the “Toolbox” are below.

“The Art of Knowledge Exchange” Version 2:

Toolbox:

Wrap-up
  • The next GHKC meeting will be held as a joint meeting with HIPNET in the fall. URC-CHS will host the meetingat 7200 Wisconsin Ave. Ste 500, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA.

GHKC Meeting Attendees – May 21, 2014

First Name / Last Name / Organization / Gender
1 / Willow / Gerber / Management Sciences for Health/K4Health / F
2 / Lorine / Ghabranious / Management Sciences for Health / F
3 / Sarah / Harlan / JHU·CCP / F
4 / Lynora / Williams / USAID Knowledge Services, KM / F
5 / Lauren / Alexauderson / JSI / F
6 / Emily / Forsyth Queen / University Research Co – Center for Human Services / F
7 / Bethany / Saad / University Research Co – Center for Human Services / F
8 / Laura / Raney / Jhpiego / F
9 / Wayne / Nissly / Management Sciences for Health / M
10 / Ados / May / Pathfinder/IBP Initiative / M
11 / Leah D. / Wyatt / UNC / F
12 / Kris / Horvath / IntraHealth International / M
13 / Sabina / Behague / University Research Co – Center for Human Services / F
14 / Liz / McLean / Management Sciences for Health / M
15 / Angela / Nash-Mercado / JHU·CCP / F
16 / Alexandra / Shaphren / Save the Children / F
17 / Margie / Shiels / Ipas / F
18 / Beth / Robinson / Futures Group / F
19 / Jessica / Ziegler / University Research Co – Center for Human Services / F
20 / Saori / Ohkubo / JHU·CCP / F
21 / Lani / Marquez / University Research Co – Center for Human Services / F
22 / Rebecca / Oser / University Research Co – Center for Human Services / F
23 / Elizabeth / Romanoff-Silva / University Research Co – Center for Human Services / F
24 / Theresa / Norton / Jhpiego / F
25 / Sarah / Burns / Pathfinder / F
26 / Adele / Clark / Catholic Relief Services / F
27 / Christian / Young / EGPAF / M
28 / Becca / Simon / JHU·CCP

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