Report

Understanding Needs, Meeting Demands: A user-oriented analysis of online knowledge broker platforms for climate change and development

By Anne Hammill, Blane Harvey, Daniella Echeverría, Daniella Echeverría on June 7, 2013

This paper examines the current state of alignment between climate knowledge brokering (CKB) platforms and the information-seeking and knowledge-sharing behaviour of users of online climate change information.

It reviews the case for knowledge brokering and how brokering activities are put into practice online for climate change and development. The paper then outlines the results of research undertaken to understand how CKB platform users assess, access and apply knowledge.This research includes interviews and surveys with over 200 online climate change information users to understand their needs, preferences and behaviours. The research also involved in-depth case studies of four CKB platforms: AfricaAdapt, Climate Finance Options, Climate Change Policy & Practice and the Eldis Climate Change Resource Guide. The paper highlights key findings and recommendations regarding user behaviours and preferences, potential areas for innovation in online knowledge brokering and the need for taking CKB beyond its online functions.

Report details

Topic
Technology and Innovation
Focus area
Climate
Publisher
IISD
Copyright
IISD, 2013