Strengthening and Coordinating
Communities of Practice
Spaghetti Bowl of CoPs in Asia
• Asia Pacific Adaptation
Network (APAN);
• Low Carbon Research
Network (LoCarNet);
• Sustainable Mekong
Research Network
(Sumernet);
• Asian Environmental
Compliance and
Enforcement Network
(AECEN);
• Promotion of Sustainability
in Postgraduate Education
and Research (ProSPER.Net)
GMS Working Group on Environment
PEMSEA; COBSEA; ERIA etc. etc.
What Works?
• A dedicated CoP
Coordinator, with
abundant energy (and
plenty of caffeine);
• A clearly defined
community – relatively
narrow interests in
common; and
• Regular (daily?) contact
and easy lines of
communication.
What Doesn’t Work
• Assuming that the
Secretariat knows what
the CoP really needs;
• Blogs and passively
feeding information, no
matter how relevant;
• Inconsistent contact –
allowing time to forget;
and
• Never meeting face-toface.
What Can SDplanNet Do?
• Conduct regular surveys
(using SurveyMonkey) on
CoP user needs/interests;
• Start online debates for
short duration on topics of
interest, with a synthesis at
the end; and
• Highlight a member of the
CoP and their achievements.
Better Coordination?
• Continuous mapping of the key actors in related CoPs;
• Avoiding creating new networks and new website
every time a new project starts;
• Providing core funding to CoP secretariats, so they are
not constantly searching for project funds;
• Increased face-to-face meetings where personal
relationships can be developed and coordination issues
openly discussed; and
• Constant feedback from CoP members and user
communities on coordination problems as they arise –
knowing there is a problem is key to solving it.
How Will We Know If a CoP Works?
• Use Google Analytics;
• Conduct phone
interviews of members;
• Conduct face-to-face
meetings at least once a
year; and
• Ask for examples of CoP
members using the
highlighted tools.
Thank you for your attention!
Peter King
SDplanNet-AP
[email protected]