waterwiki an opportunity for un-wide collaboration jürg staudenmann undp water governance advisor,...

WaterWikiWaterWiki

An opportunity for An opportunity for UN-wide collaborationUN-wide collaboration

Jürg Staudenmann Jürg Staudenmann UNDP Water Governance Advisor, UNDP Water Governance Advisor,

Bratislava Regional CentreBratislava Regional Centre

UNESCO, Paris (09 October 2008) UNESCO, Paris (09 October 2008)

UNESCO, Paris - 09 Oct 200833

The “Wiki-experiment”The “Wiki-experiment”

Wikipedia started “small and simple”; Wikipedia started “small and simple”; grew in short time to one of the most grew in short time to one of the most important on-line resources. important on-line resources. (The humble vision: “(The humble vision: “capturing the worlds capturing the worlds

knowledgeknowledge”…) ”…)

Practice proofs: Approach and tool Practice proofs: Approach and tool conducive to conducive to – encourage hundred-thousands to share their encourage hundred-thousands to share their

individual knowledge individual knowledge – Despite skepticism from many deliver Despite skepticism from many deliver

exponentially increasing knowledge resources exponentially increasing knowledge resources of use to hundreds of millions of users of use to hundreds of millions of users


The “Wiki-idea” – Underlying The “Wiki-idea” – Underlying principlesprinciples

Decentralized contributions & content Decentralized contributions & content responsibility (democratic + self-responsibility (democratic + self-responsibility + peer control) responsibility + peer control) Limited format or structure prescribed (Limited format or structure prescribed (let it let it grow !grow !) ) ““Tags” and hyperlinks as backbone (instead Tags” and hyperlinks as backbone (instead of folders & hierarchy)of folders & hierarchy)Allow/promote ANY knowledge in ANY Allow/promote ANY knowledge in ANY format, files, pics, etc. format, files, pics, etc. But restrain opinions / viewpoints (use other But restrain opinions / viewpoints (use other fora for that) fora for that) Coaching & support, rather than supervision Coaching & support, rather than supervision and control and control


What’s WaterWiki ? What’s WaterWiki ?

UNDP’s UNDP’s Knowledge exchange and on-line Knowledge exchange and on-line collaboration platformcollaboration platform for water practitioners for water practitioners Alternative to official UNDP / project sites Alternative to official UNDP / project sites A continuously growing knowledge base that A continuously growing knowledge base that – improves with each individual user-contribution improves with each individual user-contribution – allows sharing and discussing of “true knowledge” allows sharing and discussing of “true knowledge”

(success, failures, lessons, (success, failures, lessons, – is owned by the community is owned by the community

What it is What it is not ?not ?– A “normal website” A “normal website” – Under responsibility or control of UNDPUnder responsibility or control of UNDP– A pure database or “Content Management System” A pure database or “Content Management System”


Background (How comes…) Background (How comes…)

WaterWiki emerged from the real WaterWiki emerged from the real NEEDNEED– to systematically map & document projects, reports to systematically map & document projects, reports

& key documents, organizations, “who-is-who and & key documents, organizations, “who-is-who and does what”, does what”,

– to codify UNDP-relevant “knowledge on water” to codify UNDP-relevant “knowledge on water” – for an on-line collaboration workspace for an on-line collaboration workspace

APPROACHAPPROACH chosen chosen – Web-based (instead of “storing it on C:-drive”) Web-based (instead of “storing it on C:-drive”) – Interactive (instead of “central delivery”) Interactive (instead of “central delivery”) – Real-time (instead of “thanks, please wait for Real-time (instead of “thanks, please wait for

publication”) publication”) – Possibility for joint collaboration on knowledge Possibility for joint collaboration on knowledge

products products – ““Something like Something like WikipediaWikipedia, decentralized, that that , decentralized, that that

works like a “Potluck-cooking party” rather than a works like a “Potluck-cooking party” rather than a restaurant visit” restaurant visit”


How does it work ? How does it work ? Like Like WikipediaWikipedia … … – On-line collection of info, knowledge, files, links … On-line collection of info, knowledge, files, links … – Entire content is free for use, editing, complementation, Entire content is free for use, editing, complementation,

linkinglinking– Every change is tracked to revert previous versions if needed Every change is tracked to revert previous versions if needed

… … * BUT:* BUT: While entire content is visible to anyone, While entire content is visible to anyone, only registered & only registered &

logged-in users logged-in users can create new or edit existing can create new or edit existing pages/articles, upload files, insert links, pics, videos pages/articles, upload files, insert links, pics, videos (YouTube), rate or discuss contributions ... (YouTube), rate or discuss contributions ...

What about quality control?What about quality control? – Self-responsibilitySelf-responsibility: Each contributor is attributed to his/her : Each contributor is attributed to his/her

contributions contributions – Peer-controlPeer-control: users mutually monitor, comment and directly : users mutually monitor, comment and directly

edit each others contributions edit each others contributions – FacilitationFacilitation: “Knowledge farmers” assist users, guide or : “Knowledge farmers” assist users, guide or

selectively complement contributions, to maximize selectively complement contributions, to maximize usability/benefit usability/benefit

– Red-buttonRed-button: If necessary, users can be blocked and every : If necessary, users can be blocked and every change undone change undone


EvolutionEvolution of of WaterWikiWaterWikiStarted “bottom-up” in Aug 2005:Started “bottom-up” in Aug 2005: – zero budget (but 100% commitment + 2 interns) zero budget (but 100% commitment + 2 interns)

Aug 05 – Mar 06 (1/2 year): Aug 05 – Mar 06 (1/2 year): – From 0 to 600 From 0 to 600

visitor/day visitor/day – Some 200 pages Some 200 pages

(incl. 32 “country-pages”, (incl. 32 “country-pages”, 25 projects, 50 reports, 25 projects, 50 reports, 40 practitioners, …) 40 practitioners, …)

Today: Today: – Almost 2,000 pages + 850 uploaded filesAlmost 2,000 pages + 850 uploaded files

(incl. 101 projects, 287 reports, 192 practitioners & 58 (incl. 101 projects, 287 reports, 192 practitioners & 58 contacts, 97 thematic articles, 39 experience write-ups / contacts, 97 thematic articles, 39 experience write-ups / case-studies, 127 organizations & networks, 213 case-studies, 127 organizations & networks, 213 definitions/concepts, …) definitions/concepts, …)

– Current average:Current average: 700-900 genuine visitors/day 700-900 genuine visitors/day (approx. 15,000 page-views/day) (approx. 15,000 page-views/day)


Demo (http://WaterWiki.net) Demo (http://WaterWiki.net) WelcomeWelcome – navigation, Help, recent changes, search …navigation, Help, recent changes, search …– How to edit How to edit (tag-cloud, links) (tag-cloud, links)

Reports Reports – HDR 2006 HDR 2006 (Overview, Chapters, Link to MDGs) (Overview, Chapters, Link to MDGs)

Experience / Case Studies Experience / Case Studies – Uzbekistan - “Uzbekistan - “Celebrating Communities for WSSCelebrating Communities for WSS” ” – Category “Category “ExperienceExperience” (” (

Comparative Experience Water CouncilsComparative Experience Water Councils) )

FAQs / Toolkits: FAQs / Toolkits: – New HRBA programme New HRBA programme – FAQs on FAQs on IW managementIW management

Country, River Basin, and other “Portal-pages” Country, River Basin, and other “Portal-pages” – Countries (Countries (Uzbekistan/Central AsiaUzbekistan/Central Asia) ) – Amu Darya Basin (with Amu Darya Basin (with ““transclusiontransclusion” from CAREWIB” from CAREWIB))– Projects (Projects (““transcludedtranscluded” list from UNDP homepage” list from UNDP homepage) )


User feedbackUser feedbackClient survey 2007: Client survey 2007: – WaterWiki has greatly improved access to WaterWiki has greatly improved access to

information and knowledge on water in the information and knowledge on water in the region (region (“Our own little Britannica““Our own little Britannica“) )

– Used by practitioners & experts as (a) Used by practitioners & experts as (a) info-baseinfo-base, , (b) (b) learning resourcelearning resource (!), and (c) “ (!), and (c) “to stay to stay connectedconnected to other practitioners” to other practitioners”

– People like the “look and feel” of WaterWiki People like the “look and feel” of WaterWiki (recognition effect due to Wikipedia) (recognition effect due to Wikipedia)

– High flexibility in terms of content, structure, High flexibility in terms of content, structure, presentation, continued change & development presentation, continued change & development

An easy-to-use platform, An easy-to-use platform, broad enoughbroad enough to to cover all relevant information sources, yet cover all relevant information sources, yet focused & specific enoughfocused & specific enough to remain to remain relevant, selective, “to-the-point” and of real relevant, selective, “to-the-point” and of real practical use practical use


Prospects for the Future Prospects for the Future 3 years piloting experience, success, 3 years piloting experience, success,

recognition:recognition: We’re We’re on the right trackon the right track. That’s how . That’s how knowledge management & experience knowledge management & experience exchange can work exchange can work There’s a There’s a confirmed needconfirmed need for “a WaterWiki” for “a WaterWiki” (user reviews; peer-discussions; consultations) (user reviews; peer-discussions; consultations) It’s time to “It’s time to “spread the wings and flyspread the wings and fly”: ”: – (i) scale-up(i) scale-up: globalize within UNDP – and beyond : globalize within UNDP – and beyond – (ii) open up(ii) open up: broaden institutionally : broaden institutionally – (ii) professionalize(ii) professionalize: define (& occupy) niche, review : define (& occupy) niche, review

structure, upgrade functionalities, enrich basic structure, upgrade functionalities, enrich basic content content

– (iii) possibly “re-/de-brand”(iii) possibly “re-/de-brand”: (no visible (UN-) brand : (no visible (UN-) brand also legally a “slim solution”) also legally a “slim solution”)

BUT KEEP THE THEMATIC FOCUSBUT KEEP THE THEMATIC FOCUS: Water (& Sanitation) : Water (& Sanitation)


Upgrading (on-going)Upgrading (on-going)

Upgrade with Upgrade with useful useful ((and attractive!and attractive!) ) functionalities: functionalities: – WYSIWYG | Google Maps | YouTube | “Rate this WYSIWYG | Google Maps | YouTube | “Rate this

page” | “e-mail / link / print this page” | … page” | “e-mail / link / print this page” | … – RSS-feeds and ”mesh-ups” (link with other e-tools RSS-feeds and ”mesh-ups” (link with other e-tools

like e-mail groups, blogs, social networks (facebook like e-mail groups, blogs, social networks (facebook / LinkedIn/…?), SKYPE, news or meta-pages, etc.) / LinkedIn/…?), SKYPE, news or meta-pages, etc.)

Improve Improve structure, navigation, search structure, navigation, search – Additional “exploring mechanisms” (portals, Additional “exploring mechanisms” (portals,

“transclusions”, cross-linking virtual toolboxes) “transclusions”, cross-linking virtual toolboxes) – Tag-clouds and keyword-automated listings, Tag-clouds and keyword-automated listings, – Cross-references (What’s new? | What’s popular? | Cross-references (What’s new? | What’s popular? |

Who’s been active | What’s related | …) Who’s been active | What’s related | …) – Monitoring & alert functions (e-mail alert, Monitoring & alert functions (e-mail alert,

syndication, bookmarking / referencing) syndication, bookmarking / referencing)


Further planned improvementsFurther planned improvements

Increase support, guidance, “feel & Increase support, guidance, “feel & look” look” (= incentives for active participation):(= incentives for active participation):– Wizards for user-contributions (“Add new page”, Wizards for user-contributions (“Add new page”,

“upload video”, “Related wanted pages”…) “upload video”, “Related wanted pages”…) – Contributor recognition & visibility (“last 3 Contributor recognition & visibility (“last 3

authors” | “this month’s top contributors” | authors” | “this month’s top contributors” | – Indicators that contributors’ shared knowledge is Indicators that contributors’ shared knowledge is

actually viewed & accessed (like “video actually viewed & accessed (like “video watched” on YouTube) watched” on YouTube)

Promote & supporting Promote & supporting community-tools community-tools – for for on-line collaborationon-line collaboration (e.g. for joint drafting (e.g. for joint drafting

of case studies, essays, etc.) of case studies, essays, etc.) – for networking … for networking …


WaterWiki’s potential value WaterWiki’s potential value and use for the UN-Water familyand use for the UN-Water familyTo mapTo map what UN-Water partners do, know, are working what UN-Water partners do, know, are working on on As joint knowledge base As joint knowledge base complementingcomplementing (!) official (!) official UN-Water & agency websites UN-Water & agency websites As “One-Stop-Shop” As “One-Stop-Shop” linking to existing data- and linking to existing data- and knowledge bases (of UN-Water and/or beyond) knowledge bases (of UN-Water and/or beyond) For development For development of “joint UN knowledge on water” of “joint UN knowledge on water”

like glossary & definitions, indicators, case studies, joint reports like glossary & definitions, indicators, case studies, joint reports and/or spin-offs, common facts & info on water basins, etc. and/or spin-offs, common facts & info on water basins, etc.

As workspace As workspace for UN-Water working groups for UN-Water working groups (e.g. for development & discussion of position papers or (e.g. for development & discussion of position papers or guidelines)guidelines)

““GGlue”lue” between existing sites and an opportunity between existing sites and an opportunity for for active and continuous inter-agency collaboration on active and continuous inter-agency collaboration on developing and refining a wide range of knowledge developing and refining a wide range of knowledge

productsproducts


Opportunity for UN-Water Opportunity for UN-Water members members

Can build onCan build on– Existing Wiki-platform (and momentum) for Existing Wiki-platform (and momentum) for

water practitioners water practitioners – Established structure, info & knowledge baseEstablished structure, info & knowledge base– 3 years of practical experience in developing, 3 years of practical experience in developing,

testing, maintaining of a Wiki platform testing, maintaining of a Wiki platform – UNDP’s offer to support (& co-fund) UNDP’s offer to support (& co-fund)

development of a joint scale-up development of a joint scale-up – … … and of courseand of course the enormous breadth of the enormous breadth of

knowledge & experience within the collective knowledge & experience within the collective UN-Water agency W&S staffUN-Water agency W&S staff

Interest expressed already by colleagues Interest expressed already by colleagues form UNESCO, WHO, IAEA, UNEP, UNECE, form UNESCO, WHO, IAEA, UNEP, UNECE, UN-Habitat, UNICEF UN-Habitat, UNICEF


Why WaterWiki ? Why WaterWiki ? Use momentum and recognition-effect: Use momentum and recognition-effect: – Already existing platform, content & community Already existing platform, content & community – Wikipedia-similarity : People know instantly Wikipedia-similarity : People know instantly

what to expect and how it works what to expect and how it works – Initial success and already significant Initial success and already significant

recognition recognition ““WikiMedia” as platform: WikiMedia” as platform: – Widely tested and used, technically stable, Widely tested and used, technically stable, – Open source = Open source =

continuous development & improvements guaranteed continuous development & improvements guaranteed Lots of functionalities and potentials Lots of functionalities and potentials Easy for IT-support staff to link & work with Easy for IT-support staff to link & work with

– High-ranking in Google-search! High-ranking in Google-search! – ““Twin-projects”: Twin-projects”: BioenergyWikiBioenergyWiki (US NGOs); (US NGOs);

WikiGenderWikiGender (OECD); (OECD); CoastalWikiCoastalWiki (EU project); (EU project); akvo.orgakvo.org (private, “market place” for water (private, “market place” for water projects); projects);


Why WaterWiki ? (cont.) Why WaterWiki ? (cont.)

Why not any existing UN-platform (such as Why not any existing UN-platform (such as Aquastat, GEMS, IW:LEARN, etc.)? Aquastat, GEMS, IW:LEARN, etc.)? – They usually are specific (GEF or water quality They usually are specific (GEF or water quality

or indicator data) or indicator data) – They generally are owned by and/or attributed They generally are owned by and/or attributed

to certain institutions or projects (only) to certain institutions or projects (only) – They in most cases are centrally generated, They in most cases are centrally generated,

updated, maintained updated, maintained

Why of interest for WaterWiki? Why of interest for WaterWiki? – As the As the “UN-Water Wikipedia”“UN-Water Wikipedia”, WaterWiki , WaterWiki

could become exponentially more relevant and could become exponentially more relevant and useful for a much wider range of potential users useful for a much wider range of potential users


The way ahead The way ahead

1.1. UN-Water Task Force on WaterWiki UN-Water Task Force on WaterWiki – comprehensive mapping of existing sites, comprehensive mapping of existing sites,

tools, trendstools, trends– adequate consultations with all UN-Water adequate consultations with all UN-Water

agenciesagencies– development and implementation of UN-wide development and implementation of UN-wide

WaterWiki concept WaterWiki concept – Roll-out of new WaterWikiRoll-out of new WaterWiki

2.2. Selected multi-agency (bi-lateral) web-Selected multi-agency (bi-lateral) web-projects with UN-Water members projects with UN-Water members – Concrete solutions and “mashups” Concrete solutions and “mashups” – Showcasing while creating real value for Showcasing while creating real value for

users / water & development community users / water & development community

Thank you !Thank you !

http://WaterWiki.net http://WaterWiki.net

waterwiki an opportunity for un-wide collaboration jürg staudenmann undp water governance advisor,...

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