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 Insight
Local content, local people, local languages
Poor people must be able to express and communicate locally relevant knowledge in local languages if they are to shape the decisions that affect their livelihoods.
The Open Knowledge Network (OKN) is a human network, which collects, shares and disseminates local knowledge and is supported by flexible technical solutions. OKN is not something new. It is a synthesis of tried and tested ideas; building on what is already happening in different fields and joining up the dots.
Poor people must be able to express and communicate locally relevant knowledge in local languages if they are to shape the decisions that affect their livelihoods. Local content development is closely tied to human development, and the ultimate aim of OKN is the empowerment of local communities.
OneWorld International coordinates
the OKN programme, which is funded by the UK Department for International Development, the Canada Fund for Africa and CATIA (Catalysing Access to ICTs in Africa).
How does it work?
Using the OKN system, people in Africa, Asia and Latin America can create digital
content in their own language, which is exchanged with others through networks
of existing community Access Points staffed by what OKN calls ‘Community Reporters’.
Community Reporters play a very important role in OKN, serving as ‘infomediaries’,
and linking the community with OKN and vice versa. Reporters carry out content
needs analyses in their communities, assist in content generation and dissemination,
and link the OKN system to other community media as well as to key people and
organisations in the community. The reporters generally enjoy working with OKN,
stressing upon the fact that they have more opportunities to interact with people
in the community. Others stress the international dimension and enjoy being part
of something global.
The Access Points channel their content to and from ‘Hub’ organisations for wider
exchange. As most of the Access Points are not online on a regular basis, exchanging
information with the Hubs happens with the help of a range of technologies including
satellite transfer or short bursts of email or internet connectivity. OKN is
designed to be compatible with all kinds of information and communication technologies,
both low and high tech.
The Hubs are located in existing organisations that support the exchange of knowledge
at grassroots level, and are staffed by what OKN calls ‘Knowledge Workers’ (a
mixture of sub-editor, electronic librarian and development worker). The Hubs
are linked to each other through shared standards and open source software tools.
Interested?
Read the complete article here.
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