Outcomes

In the short run, AKNF will:

  • Create a permanent mechanism for promoting a dialogue among all networks and institutions of higher learning.

  • Document the experience and value added results of networking, including highlights of best practices in the region, as well as lessons learned through trial and error, gaps, or critical knowledge centers left out of the current network configuration. In this regard, a strategy for targeting the vast pool of African expertise in the Diaspora, will be a particularly welcome output.

  • Identify substantive focus areas for further networking of networks, or institutions, in order to add value. In this regard, identification of network expertise to carry forward the research leading to four specific outputs of ECA in the four sub- themes of the first AKNAF will launch the process;

  • Contribute to three well researched ECA publications on regional integration, Africa in the global economy as well as gender and governance;

  • Represent the AKNF’s interests in the drawing up of a business plan for ECA’s Information Technology Centre for Africa.

  • Produce a medium term strategy and budget, and resource mobilisation strategy for the forum.

  • Draw up and adopt the Forum’s Work Plan for 2000/2001 and agree on a strategy for its implementation.

In the long- run, the outcome of the Africa Knowledge Networks Forum is a "federation" of the networks with a strong supporting database. This will lead to stronger research and analysis capacity, particularly as it pertains to policy decision-making, through greater availability and more effective use of indigenous research by African decision- makers. By linking African research networks, policy- makers and higher- level training institutions, and by supporting centers of African expertise and African think- tanks, the Forum will facilitate the pooling of resources for knowledge production, and enhance its use. The feedback loops between knowledge- production and knowledge- use created by the AKNF will strengthen applied research and advisory services to African policy makers, civil society organisations and the private sector. By creating and regularly updating a comprehensive database of location of particular expertise across disciplines, the Forum will be an important knowledge intermediary linking the supply of different knowledge- types to points of demand in the continent.

Follow up

There will be three follow- on activities in the first year, which will lay a foundation for, and reinforce the goals of AKNF.

  • Research within the knowledge networks focusing on the four sub-thematic areas of AKNF 2000, following the Preparatory Workshop leading to:

  • Policy paper for the November 2000 Joint Policy Conference of Africa’s Finance and Trade Ministers;

  • Annual Report on Integration in Africa;

  • Annual Report on Africa in the Global Economy;

  • The Economic Report on Africa 2001

  • The African Development Forum, October 2001 theme paper; and

  • The Annual Report on Gender and Development

  • Researching and building a comprehensive database of African professional networks and expertise, building on the work carried out by the Rockefeller Foundation.

  • A field needs- assessment to establish the state of electronic connectivity and draw up a plan to strengthen connectivity among networks (or key non- networked institutions) and between networks and the ITCA, which, among other things will host IT- enhanced regional statistical databases. ITCA will be the central node linking knowledge sources to end- users.

  • The incorporation of the AKNF’s work-plan into the broader business plan for the ITCA to ensure the responsiveness of ITCA to AKNF’s needs.