Designing knowledge management interventions in agricultural research for development: methodology, experiences, and lessons learned

Abstract

The International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT, its Spanish acronym) developed a methodology by which its research programs and projects can design knowledge management (KM) plans according to their impact pathways. For 2 years, the KM group applied concepts of Theory of Change to four pilot projects of the Center’s Decision and Policy Analysis Research Area to identify, design, and implement appropriate KM interventions and derive lessons.

This pamphlet summarizes the lessons learned by the KM Group at CIAT when it participated in research projects on agriculture for development. It also discusses possible areas for KM intervention in such projects, together with the ways these interventions can contribute to the projects’ ultimate impact. The Theory of Change (ToC) for KM, developed by CIAT, is described, as are the roles of implementers, partners, and users in a project’s journey towards achieving impact. Finally, five lessons that should be considered when designing KM interventions for research-for-development projects are highlighted.