Knowledge is the fuel that can power the transformation put forward in Agenda 2030. In a world where data and information is easily available, knowledge also became free and wide spread. The wide range of stakeholders who need to engage and to contribute to transforming our world need to easily access usable knowledge to overcome the global challenges. As much as knowledge scarcity hinders evolution and development, knowledge abundance also has its downside. The human brain has limited capacity to process new information and cognitive overload can compromise the acquisition and retention of new knowledge, which is required for transformations. Policymakers and practitioners are confronted with another type of scarcity: lack of time to reflect on the knowledge they possess or need and lack of time to articulate and synthesize all knowledge that is available but sometimes scattered.

In a knowledge abundant world great ideas should be shared to produce greater ones. Knowledge brokering is the set of activities and processes used to connect different entities or individuals, facilitating relationships and interactions that enable knowledge sharing, supporting co-creation and improving the innovative capability of individuals, institutions and networks. It is about production, aggregation, exchange, co-creation and use of new knowledge required for transformations. Knowledge brokering is about connecting the right group of people to share, exchange and co-create new knowledge. Through its Knowledge Brokering for Development Initiative UNITAR is offering its convening powers and experience to intermediate connections and facilitate knowledge co-creation, contributing to the innovations required to transform our world by 2030.  

Stakeholder buy-in is a key success factor for the uptake of a knowledge-base platform. Through participatory design methodologies, UNITAR engages with relevant stakeholders in the design of the knowledge hub platform. The process creates a sense of ownership and sustainability from the conceptualization phase, making it easier to have a tool that addresses stakeholders’ needs and priorities, facilitating the creation and co-creation of solutions for emerging challenges. 

UNITAR has sound experience as a knowledge broker. The Institute is the convenor of the UN:CC Learn platform, a climate change knowledge hub that aggregates over 30 multilateral organisations to support countries to design and implement systematic and results-oriented climate change learning. UNITAR also organizes over 450 events annually. In the past 6 years, more than 200 000 participants attended its learning and training events.

Contact us at info.ksi@unitar.org 

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