Dare to Share Fair Kowledge and Skills for Development March 30-31, 2004

Knowledge and Skills for Development

The cheapest way to learn is to learn from the experiences of other

The focal theme of the Dare to Share Fair was managing knowledge and skills for development. Development work needs – and produces – knowledge and skills. Learning from experience is a must – and a daily routine. This was the focus of the Dare to Share Fair:

• How does your institution manage knowledge and knowledgeable people in order to increase its competency to tackle emerging challenges?
   
• What skills are essential? What instruments and processes are most effective?
   
• What values and what attitudes are prerequisites for effective knowledge management?

The contributions were about methods and tools, training initiatives, organizational development, policy dialogue, "grassroot learning", network approaches.

We offer the frame – you step in with your experience – we all learn together

The Dare to Share Fair offered plenty of opportunities for

• reflecting about best practices in capitalising and valorising experience
  
• designing and experimenting with new forms of sharing experience
  
• knotting links and networks for future collaboration
  
• developing ideas for best knowledge and skills management within your institution

Examples based on a broad reflection and perfectly documented were as important as a single good experience; anecdotes and success factors complemented each other; presentation of methods, models and tools were counterpart to strategies, concepts and policies.

There was a wide variety of opportunities to share experience: Market stalls, workshops, exhibitions, short presentations, room for informal talks (palaver tree, story tent), a video corner, a crazy corner, etc. The Fair took place in the central hall, the "communal zones" and in meeting rooms. The Fair and the daily activities of SDC went side by side in the same building. More details on the programme the vessels in which experiences were presented see in the fair guide.

Active and interested participants from SDC and its partner organisations

The Dare to Share Fair depended on active participants prepared to present their own experience in an attractive and conclusive form. It depended as well on visitors interested in learning from others. The interaction of both animated the atmosphere of the fair.
Organizations invited to the Dare to Share Fair were SDC partner organizations in the South and East, Swiss development organizations and reference centres, donor institutions and of course SDC itself (Headquarters, COOFs and projects).

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Programme

The Fair started at 8.30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 30, 2004, after a few days of arrivals and time for setting up stalls, tents, exhibition boards, etc.. A day of interesting presentations, lively workshops and heated discussions ended with a concert given by a Berne Blues Band at the SDC premises. The Fair ended on Wednesday, March 31, 2004. An excursion (optional) the next day gave our foreign guests an impression of Switzerland. The conference on Friday, April 2, 2004 topped up the week and provided a link to knowledge management in Switzerland.

 

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More information and photos about the fair:

Process: Fair Guide (pdf 927 kB) Contributors & Contributions (pdf 3.2 mB) Statements (ppt 258 kB) Photos (ppt 11.1 mB)

Results: Opening Speech Remo Gautschi Story (pdf 29kB)  Cartoons (ppt 5.4 mB)  Lessons Learned by Gabi & Marc (ppt 15.7 mB)