Solution Exchange – an initiative of the UN Country Team in India

1. Solution Exchange – an initiative of the UN Country Team in India ™

2. Solution Exchange – an initiative of the UN Country Team in India Active Communities of Practice Decentralization (UNDP) Water (UNICEF) Food & Nutrition Security (FAO) Gender (UNICEF,UNWOMEN) Maternal & Child Health (WHO) AIDS (UNAIDS) Education (UNESCO) Microfinance (UNDP, ILO) ICT for Development (UNESCO) Disaster Management (UNDP) Climate Change (UNDP) Karnataka Community (UNICEF) Work & Employment (ILO)

3. Organization of Solution Exchange Solution Exchange – an initiative of the UN Country Team in India The Heads of UN Agencies, with the United Nations Resident Coordinator as Chair, serves as the Steering Committee Operationally, a two person Resource Team supports the Community’s activities A UN Agency with expertise in a thematic area functions as the ‘Host Agency’ A “Resource Group” drawn from Government, research and policy institutes, apex NGOs, UN Agencies, bilateral donors and the private sector guides the Community which meets atleast once a year.

4. Community of Practice Facilitator(s) - UN HoA(s) • Support team: • Resource Person • Research Associate Resource Group Members Resource Group Community Members Solution Exchange – an initiative of the UN Country Team in India Community Organization

5. GOAL OF SOLUTION EXCHANGE SOLUTION EXCHANGE IS A POWERFUL INSTRUMENT TOWARDS ATTAINING THE MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS (MDGs). Solution Exchange – an initiative of the UN Country Team in India Internet based Problem solving and Knowledge Sharing Services Regular information - Services Knowledge to Practice Services Face to Face Discussions Publication and Information Services Networking Services • Benefits • Improving polices, systems, Tools, Bills, Acts etc. • Modifications in Schemes, Projects, methods etc. • Developing/Testing of New Products and Services • Appropriate Human Resource • Information about trainings/workshops/conferences • Theme Based Knowledge Products, Pilots, Study Report, • Setting up of New Organizations, Implementation Models • Grassroots Problems and issues, Lateral Learning on • Innovations • Vision, Strategies, Collaborations, Key Themes • Project Formulation, Linking with Experts, Research Work • New collaborations and Partnerships

6. Solution Exchange – an initiative of the UN Country Team in India Ready Reckoner Impact Case Studies Thematic Folders/ Leaflets Thematic Guidance Notes Synthesis Document/ Compendium Theme Specific Knowledge Supplements for Books, Journals, Magazines, Websites Innovative Knowledge Products Theme Based Consolidated Documents Thematic Newsletters Background Papers/ Interim reports as Inputs for Workshops Brief Notes, CRs, Thematic Papers Inputs to 12th Plan Approach Paper – Planning Commission Consolidated Notes for Facilitating Agencies For New Project Designs

7. Solution Exchange – an initiative of the UN Country Team in India Theme based National Workshops – Independent/Collaborative Focused Roundtables For Specific Reports/ Approach Papers Regional Workshops- (Thematic/ Multi-themes) Collaborative Thematic/Regional Colloquium DIVERSIFIED FACE TO FACE EVENTS Theme based Multi-Purpose Annual Forums Action Group Workshops (Core Group Members + Specialists) Small Group Interface with Govt./ Policy Makers

8. Milestones of Solution Exchange Solution Exchange – an initiative of the UN Country Team in India 18,000 members with around 2,700 research professional (approximately 15% of total members) of Climate Change related Communities benefitted. 821 Research publications completed: Every community of practice produces 5 to 7 Consolidated Replies each quarter. 14 Research and Development Projects executed through Action Groups. Solution Exchange brings together innovations of institutions and people making them available publically.

9. Evaluation of Solution Exchange Solution Exchange – an initiative of the UN Country Team in India • An evaluation was carried out by the Overseas Development Institute, UK in 2010. The evaluation found Solution Exchange to be relevant and effective. It was recommended to strengthened it further. • An earlier evaluation was carried out in 2007. The report viewed the initiative positively. It highlighted the following achievements: • Influence on Policies • Influence on Program Design • Improved Capacities of Individuals and Organizations • Changes made in Knowledge and Attitudes

10. Work Experience of Solution Exchange Solution Exchange – an initiative of the UN Country Team in India • Solution Exchange is a knowledge-management initiative of United Nations Agencies in India to improve development effectiveness • Through the Communities of Practice, it taps India’s development community to: • Highlight Practitioner Knowledge in the public domain. • Encourage pooling of experiences globally. • Facilitate collaboration for developing and evolving innovative ideas. • The initiative has been successful, and has seen significant usage by the the government • Solution Exchange has been in existence since 2005, and has grown significantly . At present, it has thirteen Communities of Practice, with a membership base of nearly 23,000 members and over 35,000 subscriptions

11. Uniqueness of Solution Exchange Solution Exchange – an initiative of the UN Country Team in India Moderated knowledge sharing. Impartial platform for exchange of knowledge amongst development practitioners. Diverse membership in terms of types of organizations and geographic coverage. SE adopts an ‘all inclusive approach’.

12. Solution Exchange Climate Change Research Areas and Host UN Agencies Solution Exchange – an initiative of the UN Country Team in India

13. Project Highlights Solution Exchange – an initiative of the UN Country Team in India • Significantly enhance the capacities of researchers and grassroots practitioners to climate change using the internet. • Leverage knowledge of members of Seven Communities of Practice of Solution Exchange. The communities will provide following benefits: • Accelerate capacity building, and strengthen knowledge repositories on climate change. • Generate data from the field and experts on: a) Emerging research issues, b) Technology watch, and c) New areas for knowledge building. • The project will set up a portal on climate change.

14. Status of R&D Solution Exchange – an initiative of the UN Country Team in India International • There is substantive body of international scientific literature on the issues of mitigation, adaptation and impacts. • There is a need to bring it within the reach of researchers and grassroots practitioners , so that knowledge for India can be developed. National Status • Substantive scientific work has been done in these areas at the national level. • There is significant need for context specific knowledge on the manner in which mitigation and adaptation technologies are emplyed on the ground.

15. Objectives of the Project Solution Exchange – an initiative of the UN Country Team in India • Capacity Building through: • Creation of knowledge products for use by researchers and grassroots practitioners. • Conducting workshops/ summer schools. • Development of a portal on Climate Change. • Generation of research issues for R&D institutions. • Technology watch – scanning for appropriate technologies. • Broad-based / topical stakeholder consultations.

16. Utilization of Outputs Solution Exchange – an initiative of the UN Country Team in India Emerging research issues: These will be used by DST to co-ordinate and organize research. Technology watch: Identification of technologies for India in different environmental, social, and economic context. New areas for knowledge building: Identification will facilitate creation of knowledge in order to ensure that projects and programmes are implemented more efficiently and effectively.

17. Solution Exchange – an initiative of the UN Country Team in India THANK YOU