Information and Learning Network

About ILN-Africa

About the ILN-Africa Portal

ILN-Africa is a communities-driven knowledge network involving various people and organisations sharing the common aspiration and goal of local-level development. Members of this community foster peer learning through the sharing of information and experiences, interaction with each other, constructing new realities and creating value and opportunities towards local-level development, building on a diversity of information and knowledge sources, insights and experiences.

Communities that collaborate in this space include the following:

People living at specific physical communities (i.e., localities, such villages, townships or sections of towns or cities);
Virtual communities or groups with common development needs or issues, e.g., a national association of women producing and marketing beads;
Experts and institutions that contribute information and knowledge resources (Communities of Practice) relevant to local development;
Development partners (including NGOs and donors) who engage directly with local communities to provide support in the implementation of various development projects.

This portal provides an internet interface, and is designed as a collaborative site to support the activities of the Network. The portal is part of a regional information and knowledge management support platform to promote the development of capacities and to provide support for local-level development initiatives. It is structured as a multi-level, multi-layered, integrated and shared 'space' within which 'communities' interact, exchange ideas and experience on local-level development, and learn. Each 'community' has their own 'space'. Thus, within a 'country space' different 'communities' may be represented, from the national to the local level, either as physical locations or as interest groups.

The platform also provides space for local communities to engage with, and participate in a global knowledge community from which they can learn and derive value from the experiences of others. Communities can tell their own stories, share their development aspirations, and showcase their achievements.

Separate 'spaces' are available for various Communities of Practice as well as development partners to showcase what they are doing in or for the respective communities, where applicable. The objective is to facilitate engagement and dialogue between local communities, as stakeholders in development, and development practitioners, experts, and decision makers within the same space, for the purpose of enhancing local development.

The development of the ILN-Africa platform premises on the need to support local communities to explore and recognise opportunities for development that may be available to them, and to chart appropriate courses of action to improve their livelihoods. It uses the internet as a backbone, and incorporates various other channels, mechanisms and approaches for communicating, including the use of local (community) radio.

The portal is a work-in-progress, and the Network is open to all who share in the vision of community-led development. In its present form it is a pilot activity to test concepts and learn from its usage -- what works well, how various 'communities' interact with their respective space, as well as the site as a whole.

Contributions are welcome. Comments and requests may be sent to:

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