Introduction

In a complex and challenging world people need access to a collective information and knowledge base that can help them to find the best way forward, and prevent them from making the same mistakes that others have made. Sharing knowledge about experiences from the past makes it easier to devise strategies for the future. It also helps stakeholders to play their roles more effectively and to create the collective commitment to face the challenges of the coming decades.

This publication will focus on resource centres (RCs). By providing improved access to knowledge RCs will create the conditions for enabling change in the water and sanitation sector. The aim of this publication is to assist in understanding the notion of a resource centre and how best resource centres could achieve their potential.

This document has been produced to provide all those involved and/or interested in resource centres with the most recent information regarding the development of resource centres within the framework of the STREAM project.

The first chapter describes some of the basic concepts and highlights the major constraints for generating and sharing knowledge.

Chapter two is devoted to understanding the patterns of development and characteristics of resource centres and describes some typical features of resource centres and their role in knowledge generation and sharing.

The third chapter concentrates on how resource centres can be strengthened through diagnosing their potential and utilising tools developed for the purpose of strengthening individual centres. The tools described were developed by the resource centres themselves, based on an understanding of their strengths and limitations, and on how resource centres work with a cross section of stakeholders from the water and sanitation sector. There is also some discussion on how individual resource centres can be strengthened.

The fourth and final chapter is concerned with the building of the global coalition of resource centres. More specifically, how resource centres can work together through the global Streams of Knowledge Coalition is addressed.