Next Steps in Developing an Asia-Pacific Knowledge Network on Decent Work

During the Asian Employment Forum: Growth, Employment and Decent Work, Beijing August 2007 constituents expressed support for an initiative by the Region that improves access to knowledge, tools, and guidelines related to realizing decent work. As a follow-up to this request, the Regional Office reviewed the various options and modalities available to share knowledge in a manner which can support our constituents’ tripartite endeavours in this field. Actions to be taken fall into two main areas:

• Building effective knowledge sharing networks for constituents
• Improving the relevance and accessibility of ILO information on decent work

These two issues are closely linked and mutually reinforcing. Both require the involvement of constituents but in different ways: in the first, through active participation in networks; for the second, in helping to define their knowledge needs more precisely.

Knowledge Networks:

Responding to information overflow and the fact that knowledge nowadays is being created as well as outdated at an unprecedented speed, the ILO is increasingly taking up the role as a knowledge broker, connecting the right people with each other and directing them to the information they need. Thus, the Office intends to develop knowledge networks anchored on decent work topics of particular interest to Asia-Pacific constituents. Through a number of pilots, the Office already works with constituents to understand the ways that such networks can be built and sustained to ensure maximum benefit to participants. The first pilots will be on the following issues:

• Youth employment: With youth employment being one of the key regional priority areas of the ILO, the Asia-Pacific Knowledge Network on Youth Employment (APYouthNet) - (pdf, 198Kb) has been established as a community of practice that connects youth employment experts from across the region. APYouthNet aims to bring together the ILO, Constituents and others engaged in designing and implementing policies and programmes which promote decent and productive work for young women and men and provides a platform to exchange and build on available experience and expertise on the topic.
• Skills development: The existing Regional Skills Network is reviewing its strengths and weaknesses and the members will have an opportunity to discuss improvements. This will be undertaken through a survey of all members and a meeting of representatives of the network from all countries in early 2008.
• The East Asian Industrial Relations Network or East Asia IR is a pilot network of national researchers, academics and experts working in Asia that started off with an ILO organized consultative workshop among national Industrial Relations experts. The Network combines information with knowledge sharing events for field practitioners.

Findings from these three pilots and the knowledge management survey will inform both the ongoing development of these networks and the formation of others.

Better Quality Information on Decent Work:

Another important point of discussion amongst constituents has been the need to improve the quality, relevance and accessibility of ILO information on Decent Work. Constituents have called for information that enables them to make progress on Decent Work by drawing on experiences, guides and results from other countries. Discussions at Busan suggested a number of issues of interest and forms in which information can be most readily used and applied as knowledge. To specify this demand and to ensure that we have the views of a wider range of constituents, the Office conducted the knowledge management survey among its Constituents (see below).

In addition to gathering constituent’s views of their knowledge needs, the Office is undertaking a number of immediate actions to improve its management of knowledge. The Office website is being redesigned to allow for quicker updating of relevant material and a more user-centred layout. We will be seeking regular feedback on the effectiveness of this site. The stocktaking of available knowledge on regional priorities is close to finalization. Resource kits are being compiled using computer-based media and the website. A preliminary snap-shot - (pdf, 141Kb) of the design is available. The Asia-Pacific Offices are reviewing document and information handling practices, and developing staff capacity and managing for improved performance in knowledge management. These activities are ongoing and will be reported in the context of the ILO-wide strategy indicators.

Constituent Survey:

The knowledge management survey has been developed as one of a number of ways to involve constituents in developing improved knowledge networks and knowledge management in the Asia Pacific Region. Between November 5 and December 5 2007, 43 respondents from governments, workers’ and employers’ organization completed the survey on knowledge management and knowledge networking in the region. While modest, the sample size is substantial enough to inform decisions affecting knowledge sharing in the region and guiding design and focus of the ILO knowledge network on decent work. The main findings of the survey can be accessed on the website. For more information please download full summary report - (pdf, 369Kb) or contact Ulrich@ilo.org