Knowledge Management for Data Use and Decision Making in International Public Health
June 10, 2011
“Knowledge Management for Data Use and Decision Making in International Public Health” captures strategies that facilitate sharing knowledge, building skills and using data for decision making. This topic paper is intended for international health program managers and researchers whose role includes a communication or knowledge management component. Anna Schurmann, Lisa Mwaikambo, and I examine ways in which knowledge management can increase engagement between research, policy-making and public health practice to close such gaps. We base our understanding on the notion that improved knowledge sharing will lead to wider understanding, enhanced cooperation, more effective use of good practices and better health outcomes. KM is important as it can provide cost-effective ways to access knowledge and engagement between different stakeholders—therefore making knowledge sharing more possible. Examples of communication platforms used as part of larger KM strategies presented in this paper come from organizations such as Nike Foundation, Measurement, Learning and Evaluation project, USAID, WHO, Population Reference Bureau, Intrahealth, K4Health, AIDSTAR-One, MEASURE Evaluationand many others.
About the Authors:
Anna Schurmann
A maternal and reproductive health consultant.
