CSP_Knowledge_Management_Facility_June_07

June 2007

Stories from Agencies

	a.	Okavango Delta Boasts Magnificent Game Viewing
	b.	Good Tourism Practices in Belize and Ecuador
	c.	Important Lesson Learned from Crocodile Rehabilitation Project
	d.	Bringing Sustainability to the Marine Aquarium Trade

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New CSP Knowledge Management Facility Launched

The GEF Country Support Programme (CSP) is pleased to announce the launch of the new knowledge facility for GEF Focal Points website: http://www.gefcountrysupport.org.

In designing this online knowledge facility, the CSP paid close attention
to the needs and preferences identified by GEF Focal Points during the 2006 subregional consultations and in surveys conducted in Oct/Nov 2006. The knowledge facility supports GEF Focal Points by providing ready access to information on priority thematic areas, knowledge materials targeting their concerns, as well as forums to facilitate Focal Point discussion, and exchange at the global, regional, constituency, and country levels. During the subregional workshops scheduled in 2007, the CSP is demonstrating the knowledge facility to Focal Points and Council members and is available to answer any questions or discuss recommendations for enhancing the website.

The knowledge facility is structured on the basis of six main sections:

* GEF Information: designed to provide facilitated access
to GEF policies and procedures of direct interest to Focal Points

* Knowledge Materials: providing guidance materials
developed by the CSP, GEF partners, and Focal Points themselves on some of
the key concerns identified by Focal Points in relation to their role

* Management Tools: providing information on support
available through the CSP and National Dialogue Initiative, as well as
interactive resources for exchange at the regional, country, and constituency level

* Discussion Forums: for on-line discussions and exchange
among Focal Points and GEF partners on issues of current interest

* Advanced Search: to enable Focal Points to access
relevant information and knowledge on key subjects of interest by searching
GEF Partner and Convention sites

* Partnership Links: providing annotated links to GEF
Partner sites and other relevant organizations working on thematic, regional,
and knowledge management issues

Primarily, the knowledge facility seeks to support GEF Focal Points in their roles and responsibilities at the country and constituency levels. As such, Focal Points will construct and populate sections of the site, such as the country and constituency pages, by contributing their knowledge and experiences in the context of the GEF. While all visitors to the website will be able to view the information contained in most sections of the site, the constituency pages and discussion forum will only be accessible to registered users—Focal Points, Council Members and Alternates, and GEF Partners.

For Focal Points and Council Members who would like to log-in to the Discussion Forum, upon entering the "Join a Discussion" page, please click on "Do you need a new password?" and a temporary password will be sent to their e-mail address. Focal Points and Council Members need to enter the e-mail address they have officially registered with the GEF Secretariat. For all other GEF partner agency users who wish to participate in the on-line discussion forums, please contact the CSP to request a password (frances.lim@undp.org).

Note that in order to view some of the pages linked to other agency
websites, please be sure that you allow pop-ups for this website, if you
have installed a "pop-up blocker" on your computer.

Please bear in mind that the website remains a work-in-progress and some
pages are still under construction. The CSP also plans to add subregional
pages and information in Arabic, French, Russian, Spanish, and other languages.

We invite users to explore the new website and participate in the discussion
forums. We invite focal points to add their country's knowledge and information to their individual country page. This knowledge facility, linked closely to the GEF Secretariat’s new website, will remain dynamic and be updated frequently with new information and functionality. We also anticipate that it will expand its scope in time to support Focal Points based on their recommendations.

Stephen Gold, Global Manager, and Tehmina Akhtar, Knowledge Management Advisor, GEF Dialogue Initiative and Country Support Programme, prepared this article.

Photo credit: CSP website