Community information management

"Although the kinds and forms of information will vary, the need for information to be accurate, pertinent and accessible is consistent in the social change process". Information as a tool for social change, Roeher Institute (full reference: see below).

People need information as an integral part of community development - information about their rights as citizens and about what has worked to promote inclusive development at the community level. This raises not only the question of access, but also of peoples capacity to define for themselves what is relevant. Community resource centres can be an access point for such information, and a place to assess the community's information needs, gather local information, and develop new resources. The resources in this list aim to inform and support community resource centres so that they can fulfil their role in the exchange and repackaging of local information and indigenous knowledge.

This key list was produced to support LEPRA India's Mayurbhanj Integrated Community Health Project (MICHP). We welcome your feedback: please send comments or suggested additions to sourceassistant@hi-uk.org [1].

Selected resources

Community resource centres

Basic manual on how to operate an HIV resource centre [2]

CANADIAN HIV RESOURCE CENTRE NETWORK (CANNET)

1999

Expand view

Organising local documentation services for the water and sanitation sector : guidelines [3]

INTERNATIONAL WATER AND SANITATION CENTRE (IRC)

2004

Expand view

Guidelines for the development of local documentation centres which can be maintained with minimum effort, and provide useful information on water and sanitation to colleagues and the local community without the help of professional librarians or documentalists. Concentrates on the basic tasks needed to set up and operate a small documentation centre at the local level. This second edition has been revised to take account of the developments in information and communication technologies (ICTs) which have revolutionised information provision during the past ten years. The revised guidelines continue to cover manual systems, but also include more detailed guidance on computer applications and access to the Internet

Resource centre manual : how to set up and manage a resource centre [4]

O'SULLIVAN, Sheila

et al

2003

Expand view

Contains practical information on all aspects of setting up and managing a resource centre, from planning, fundraising and finding a suitable location, to collecting and organising materials, developing information services, and monitoring and evaluating the work of the resource centre. It assumes that most readers will use manual systems for organising information, but also explains how computers can be used in resource centres, including e-mail, Internet and databases. It describes how to select database software, and contains a detailed review of three leading database programs. It includes a list of organisations and publications that can provide further information

Streams of knowledge toolbox [5]

INTERNATIONAL WATER AND SANITATION CENTRE (IRC)

October 2001

Expand view

This set of tools draws on learning among partners in the Streams of Knowledge (SoK) coalition, who have worked to strengthen resource centres' contributions to improved water and sanitation delivery. Tools include: 1. Diagnostic study; 2. Understanding the resource centre concept; 3. Assessing the potential of a resource centre; 4. Gender scan guideline; 5. Consolidating resource centres; 6. Electronic information services; 7. Evaluating effectiveness of resource centres and their partners; 8. Self-assessment guide; 9. Improving management & control functions; 10. Quality assurance; 11. Impact Assessment

Discussion and analysis

eforums on HIV and TB : a toolkit for launching, moderating and managing a high quality eforum [6]

KISTLER, Elizabeth

et al

2009

Expand view

This toolkit aims to provide organisations working in health and development with tools to launch, moderate and manage high-quality eForums that provide a safe space for civil society focused information sharing, networking and dialogue. It has the potential to be applied to a range of health and development issues. It is intended for international, regional and national civil society organisations recognising the power of information and the significance of a transparent, broad-based communication mechanism that enhances civil society responses to HIV and TB

Information management for development organisations [7]

POWELL, Mike

2003

Expand view

The book is about managing information in the workplace rather than in a resource centre or library. It is aimed at managers of community groups and non-governmental organisations in developing countries and elsewhere. It aims to help them to think critically about what kinds of information they, their staff, and their project partners need. It discusses how they can access such information, manage it, and communicate it in the most effective and equitable way. It includes some practical tools and exercises to help readers to relate the ideas to their own situations. In this second edition, discussions of knowledge management, capacity building, institutional learning, evaluation and impact assessment, research, information products, and evidence-based work have been added, or considerably extended, together with a number of new case studies

Making health communication programs work [8]

NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE

2002

Expand view

This handbook presents key principles and steps in developing and evaluating health communication program for the public, patients, and health professionals. It expands upon and replaces two earlier publications titled Pretesting in Health Communications and Making PSA's Work. Referring primarily to the context of the United States, the guide discusses specific steps in program development and includes examples of their use. Sources of additional information on each subject are included at the end of the chapters

Revisiting the "magic box" : case studies in local appropriation of information and communication technologies (ICTs) [9]

BATCHELOR, Simon

O’FARRELL, Clare

2003

Expand view

This book looks at the way communities and groups in developing countries are appropriating information and communication technologies (ICTs) to address their needs. It finds that ICTs are being integrated into wider community-based activities and adapted to fit different contexts. It follows on from the paper "Discovering the Magic Box". It finds that there are still few examples of community-driven and locally appropriated ICT initiatives and an absence of standards or guidelines to evaluate ICT-based projects. The book includes some analytical frameworks and indicators to identify good practice and evidence of impact A significant development has been in the growth of telecommunications, in particular mobile phones, that are relatively cheap and powerful tools for poor communities, even in remote areas. The book concludes that the power of oral communication through telephones and radio cannot be underestimated. The book proposes that the main challenge is to adapt the new, usually computer-based ICTs to the needs of poor, predominantly oral-based communities so that they can be appropriated effectively and quickly

Repackaging information

Change at hand : web 2.0 for development [10]

ASHLEY, Holly

et al

June 2009

Expand view

There are dozens of emerging interactive web services and applications, sometimes referred to as the ‘participatory’, ‘social’ or ‘readwrite’ web, but more commonly known as Web 2.0. Together, they are radically changing the ways we create, share, collaborate and publish digital information through the Internet. These new technical opportunities bring challenges as well as opportunities that we need to understand and grasp. Most of the themed articles are based on presentations made at the the international Web2forDev conference, 25-27 September 2007 at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) headquarters in Rome, Italy

Development gateway [11]

DEVELOPMENT GATEWAY FOUNDATION

Expand view

The Development Gateway portal provides a space for communities to share experiences on development efforts. The portal supports the Development Gateway Foundation's knowledge-sharing efforts through services such as an online directory for information on development projects (AiDA), an electronic procurement market (dgMarket), information on major development topics (Topic Pages), and links to a growing network of country-level initiatives (Country Gateways). By offering users virtual interactive communities centered on development issues, the portal's Topic Pages encourage knowledge-sharing and help improve collaboration among development practitioners. Expert guides and global topic advisors work with their communities to highlight the most relevant and useful resources available on the Internet. The topic pages enable you to share knowledge and locate resources on a variety of development topics; build a community of experience around development topics through individual member contributions; receive free email alerts and newsletters; and make connections with thousands of registered users

Participatory rural communication appraisal : starting with the people [12]

ANYAEGBUNAM, Chike

MEFALOPULOS, Paolo

MOETSABI, Titus

2004

Expand view

Designed primarily as a field guide for development workers and extension staff, this handbook provides a simple, easy-to-follow procedure for planning cost-effective and appropriate communication programmes. Steps include: situation analysis, baseline surveys and a range of participatory tools and techniques to profile exisiting communication channels and methods, and develop appropriate communication programmes. It can be used as a reference for conducting participatory rural communication appraisal (PRCA) in the field as well as a training guide for capacity building in PRCA

Recording and using indigenous knowledge : a manual [13]

International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR)

1996

Expand view

A practical, user-friendly manual that describes how to record indigenous knowledge together with local people. It includes ten case studies and questions guides on more than 20 development issues - mainly agricultural, but including water and sanitation. Well illustrated, it emphasises working in a participatory mode and adapting techniques to suit local conditions. It is seen as useful for professionals, field staff and students in all fields of development work. The format allows easy copying for use in training

Working with indigenous knowledge : a guide for researchers [14]

GRENIER, Louise

1998

Expand view

This book provides an examination of indigenous knowledge and what it can offer a sustainable development strategy, and offers a guide to collecting, using, and assessing indigenous knowledge. Includes a review of case studies in Indonesia, Ecuador, Ethiopia, and Venezuela