AMCOW Knowledge Hub of Hubs

The African Ministers’ Council on Water is working with its partners to develop a continental knowledge management system – the “Knowledge Hub of Hubs”, as it is called. The idea is to establish a sustainable one-stop centre for collecting, storing and sharing information and knowledge about Africa’s water and sanitation development.

In 2008, the African Union committed to accelerating water and sanitation in Africa by improving information and knowledge management at all levels. This commitment led AMCOW to establish a central, continent knowledge hub to enhance the collection and sharing of indigenous knowledge to improve water wisdom in Africa.

AMCOW EXCO, in December 2016, mandated the Secretariat to establish a knowledge-sharing platform to enhance exchange among the member states. In October 2021, the Mukhtari Shehu Shagari Resource Centre was launched, housing the web-based knowledge hub of hubs and physical library located at the AMCOW Secretariat.

As part of the effort to operationalise the knowledge hub of hubs, AMCOW engaged stakeholders during the 2022 World Water Week in a session themed “AMCOW Knowledge Management Hub: Connecting African water practitioners“. Following the recognition of the need for broader participation, the General Assembly of AMCOW directed the Secretariat in 2021 to forge partnerships and mobilize resources to extend the reach of its knowledge management efforts.

Partnership

To achieve AMCOW’s KM aspirations, the Secretariat has been working with several partners, including the following:

• Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA)
• United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
• Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC)
• African Union Network of Water Centres of Excellence (CoE) and the PeriPeri University
• Congo Basin Water Resources Research Center -CRREBaC 
• UNESCO Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme (IHP)
• International Water Management Institute (IWMI)
• British Geological Survey (BGS)

Success story

1. A Knowledge Management Strategy developed in 2017
2. A thriving unit established at the Secretariat and led by a Knowledge Management, Communications and Visibility Officer.
3. A web-based open-access knowledge hub was created and provides (direct and indirect) access to over 10,000 resources.
4. An equipped special (water and sanitation) library was established with over 1,600 volumes of information and knowledge resources processed.
5. A knowledge management survey was deployed and reported in 2021 to enhance future services.
6. A total of 35 Knowledge Focal Points were nominated by 18 member states, with more coming on board.

Further directions

• Deepened knowledge partnership: In the future, AMCOW will continue to deepen its knowledge partnerships across the member states, regional institutions and other relevant organisations to strengthen knowledge systems to support the water sector.
• Strengthening knowledge systems at member states’ levels: Countries require robust systems to deliver knowledge services. To this end, the AMCOW Secretariat will support work with partners to help countries improve their ability to receive, create and share information and knowledge.
• Accelerating knowledge creation and usage: Through the existing AMCOW programmes and emerging extension initiatives that will accelerate south-south exchanges among AMCOW countries, the AMCOW Secretariat seeks to facilitate knowledge creation and brokerage in the sector.

To join the webinar, please click on this link

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Obinna Anah, Knowledge & Information Sharing Officer.

Visit the Knowledge Hub