Communities of p
Communities
of practice for development in the Middle East and North Africa
Seyed
Javad Fozounkhah Some Sarani Mohammad
asadi
Author and master of
political science and Regional Studies of Islamic Azad University of
Chaloos
master of political science
and Regional Studies of Islamic Azad University of Chaloos
Islamic Azad University of
Chaloos-Iran
Abstract: Development-oriented
communities of practice (CoPs) are relatively new to the Middle East and North
Africa (MENA) region. A number of international agencies have tried to promote
the concept of CoPs as a means to enhance the cross-fertilization of
experiences, and promote the exchange of development knowledge. However, most
of this work has been focused on the internal business of these agencies. A
joint World Bank Institute-UNDP project implemented in 2003-2004 sought to
better understand the scope of CoP activities in the MENA region, the
environment which shapes their operations, and their potential as development
actors. To do this, they conducted a survey of all of the entities they could
find which seemed to fit the definition of a CoP, while also providing seed
money and technical assistance for the establishment of three pilot regional
CoPs. The survey revealed a relatively barren landscape in which CoPs have
scarcely begun to emerge in the region as a result of barriers such as access
to the Internet, limited translation into Arabic, a hesitation to share
substantive lessons via the Internet and a limited understanding of the CoP
concept itself. Although provided with similar assistance and funds, the three
CoPs had very difference experiences and provide important lessons to those
working in the field. Different factors were found to affect the success of the
CoPs. Ownership, capacity building, language, IT skills, focus, product, vision
and leadership were all found to have profound influence on budding CoPs.
Surprisingly, although funds are important, they are not a determining factor
in the success or failure of a CoP. The project also found nascent interest in
the ideas of knowledge management, but much awareness raising and promotion is
still necessary.
[ Seyed Javad Fozounkhah Some Sarani Mohammad asadi. Communities
of practice for development in the Middle East and North Africa. J
Am Sci 2013;9(6):88-94]. (ISSN: 1545-1003). http://www.jofamericanscience.org.11
Keywords: CoP- UNDP- MENA- MDF- Drylands- Traboulsi Full Text 11
