What is KM?

Knowledge management (KM) is the systematic process of kukusanya na kutunza maarifa, na kuunganisha watu nayo and to each other, so they can work more effectively and efficiently.

It is based on people, processes, and technology but is inherently a social science that focuses most on people and the way they interact and share knowledge with each other. When applying KM in family planning and reproductive health (FP/RH) and other global health programs, the people of focus are the global health workforce members who are working to address and solve health problems. These can include program and organization staff at different levels of the health system and across different geographic areas, global health networks, and the broader global health community.

When global health workforce members share what they know, and can find what they need, programs are able to reach their full potential and avoid repeating costly mistakes. This means better outcomes for individuals, communities, and health systems.

Explore the KM Training Package

Common Challenges that KM Can Support

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Upakiaji mwingi wa Chaguzi na Habari: For some global health workforce members, the sheer volume of available resources can be overwhelming, making it difficult to identify the most relevant and reliable information.

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Lack of Information: While information overload is common, some other global health workforce members still face obstacles of having too little information, whether it be because of limited infrastructure like reliable access to the internet or because they are shut out of the knowledge cycle due to inequitable knowledge sharing systems.

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Habari ngumu na isiyoweza kufikiwa: Information is often presented in ways that are hard to understand, creating barriers for users who need clear, concise, and actionable data and information.

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Vizuizi vya Ufikiaji: Malipo, vizuizi vya lugha, na vizuizi vingine huzuia wengi kupata habari muhimu.

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Data Iliyopitwa na Wakati na Isiyo Maalum: Nyenzo nyingi hazina maelezo mahususi kwa muktadha au zinatokana na data iliyopitwa na wakati, hivyo basi kupunguza manufaa yake.

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Maarifa Machache juu ya Kutofaa: There is a shortage of information on what strategies do sivyo work in family planning and reproductive health, hindering the ability to learn from past mistakes.

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Ukosefu wa Uratibu na Ushirikiano wa Kitaratibu: Kutokuwepo kwa juhudi zilizoratibiwa na upashanaji wa taarifa kwa utaratibu husababisha kugawanyika kwa maarifa na ukosefu wa ufanisi katika uwanja huo.

What Do KM Solutions Look Like?

KM solutions can take on different forms depending on people’s needs and the challenges you’re trying to solve.

As shown in the KM Tools and Techniques matrix on the right, KM solutions can focus on:

Bringing people together to uliza questions and elicit tacit knowledge — or the know-how in people’s heads
Conveying knowledge (or telling it) to defined groups of people
Publishing na searching approaches to share explicit knowledge and allow people to pull the information they need, when they need it

Knowledge SUCCESS’s KM initiatives use a mix of these KM tools and techniques to engage the FP/RH workforce’s diverse learning preferences and knowledge needs.

Explore some of our key KM initiatives below.

Collecting and organizing knowledge:

Connecting people to each other and to knowledge:

Strengthening capacity and resources for KM:

We also host regional KM workshops for FP/RH professionals working in Asia and East and West Africa.

Integrating KM into FP/RH Programs

FP/RH programs can use the five-step KM Road Map to integrate KM into their programs and operations. This systematic process helps to strategically generate, collect, analyze, synthesize, and share knowledge in global health programs, including FP/RH, and focuses on KM as a process, not just a single product or activity.

Tathmini mahitaji: Elewa muktadha wa changamoto ya mpango wa afya duniani na utambue jinsi usimamizi wa maarifa unavyoweza kusaidia kutatua.

Mkakati wa kubuni: Panga jinsi ya kuboresha programu yako ya afya ya kimataifa kwa kutumia afua za usimamizi wa maarifa.

Unda na rudia: Tumia zana na mbinu mpya za usimamizi au ubadilishe zilizopo ili kukidhi mahitaji ya mpango wako wa afya duniani.

Kuhamasisha na kufuatilia: Tekeleza zana na mbinu za usimamizi wa maarifa, fuatilia athari zake, na urekebishe mbinu na shughuli zako ili kukabiliana na mabadiliko ya mahitaji na hali halisi.

Tathmini na uendeleze: Eleza jinsi ulivyofanikisha malengo yako ya usimamizi wa maarifa, tambua vipengele vilivyochangia au kuzuia mafanikio yako, na utumie matokeo haya kuathiri upangaji programu wa siku zijazo.

Learn more about this process in our Mwongozo wa Kujenga Mipango Bora, or get a quick overview in the companion KM Pocket Guide.

What is Equitable KM?

Kazi ya kimataifa ya afya na maendeleo inahusisha jumuiya mbalimbali za watu binafsi na mashirika yanayofanya kazi kwa malengo ya pamoja. Makundi ambayo yanafaa zaidi katika kufikia malengo haya yana mifumo iliyopo ya kushiriki maarifa muhimu mara kwa mara, kupata ufikiaji wa haraka wa utafiti wa hivi punde zaidi, na kutafsiri mafunzo yaliyopatikana katika programu bora.

Equity is a key consideration in KM systems and processes, in addition to each step within the KM Road Map. Equitable KM is achieved when everyone has the habari, fursa, ujuzi na rasilimali inahitajika kufafanua na kushiriki katika mzunguko wa maarifa.

This happens when there is an absence of unfair, avoidable, and remediable tofauti katika kuunda maarifa, ufikiaji, kushiriki, na matumizi kati ya vikundi vya wafanyakazi wa afya.

There are four essential elements to consider when reflecting on the equity of your KM tool or technique.

Is it available to all members of your intended audience?
Is it kupatikana to everyone at no or reasonable cost and consistent with their needs, including format, technology, language, and timing?
Is it acceptable, in that it is respectful of culture and sensitive or responsive to people’s identities and does not reinforce inequitable gender and other power dynamics?
Is it high quality – that is accurate, up-to-date, unbiased, and relevant?