Knowledge Marketplace

"What is South-South Knowledge Exchange?"

3 Stages

1. Research & Analysis of Market and Customer Needs.

2. Design & Co-Creation with Customers, Experts and Stakeholders.

3. Implementation of New Services and Products.

Research

Phase 1 - Customer Needs and Market Opportunity

We map the network of organizations and people engaged in knowledge exchange initiatives through workshops, interviews, field visits and desk research, categorizing the needs, behaviors, connections and influence of players in the market. (mock visu… — We map the network of organizations and people engaged in knowledge exchange initiatives through workshops, interviews, field visits and desk research, categorizing the needs, behaviors, connections and influence of players in the market. (mock visualization)

Phase 2 - Lessons from Industry Leaders

I win a grant to learn from the brightest leadership at IDEO, NASA, Stanford, Berkeley and several accelerators in Silicon Valley. In the spirit of open learning I create a blog and have the team share live insights with our World Bank colleagues. (… — I win a grant to learn from the brightest leadership at IDEO, NASA, Stanford, Berkeley and several accelerators in Silicon Valley. In the spirit of open learning I create a blog and have the team share live insights with our World Bank colleagues. (click to view blog)

Designing Open Knowledge for the World Bank

Knowledge is now recognized as one of the most valuable global commodities and when applied, a key source of competitive advantage and economic growth. To remain relevant, the World Bank realized it needed to become a “Knowledge Bank” and help countries find more effective solutions to their most pressing challenges.

Challenge. How to "open knowledge" and turn an invisible activity into a main line of business? In 2009 the World Bank was dedicating roughly 700M USD to initiatives aimed at exchanging knowledge. But these services and projects were ad-hoc, disjointed and hidden. Countries had no way to easily learn about each others' failures and successes, resulting in inefficiencies, wasted resources, unnecessary costs affecting millions battling poor health, education, transportation, violence and rampant corruption.

Approach. Customer-centered and co-created, we turned knowledge into learning by making it visible, accessible and applicable. With a team of 34 across 5 continents, we partnered with the UN, G-20, BRICS and worked alongside experts, ministers, project managers and even hackers across the world. I developed and managed networks and partnerships, conducted research analysis, facilitated workshops and digital integration, and prepared strategic communications.

Results. Five years and the shift is outstanding.

A Knowledge Bank: Knowledge Exchange metrics and indicators are being streamlined into World Bank operations.
Access to Financing: Instituted a 10M USD finance mechanism that has invested in over 150 initiatives across 85 countries.
A How-to Guide: Pioneered the Art of Knowledge Exchange: a how-to guide for design of knowledge exchanges that has been adopted by leading institutions and trained thousands through handbooks, e-learning and workshops.
A Solutions Market: Created a visual display of country solutions where 25,000 visitors have accessed maps, resources and contacts.
Community-led Political Momentum: Set the agenda at the G-20 and UN Aid Effectiveness meetings by mobilizing the professional community through an online platform and in-person meetings to spearhead the political cause for country-led solutions.
Knowledge Hubs Worldwide: Supported the growth of knowledge hubs in China, Indonesia, Brazil, Singapore, Korea, and Mexico.