Publication: Developing Indigenous Knowledge in Francophone Africa : A Four Nation Overview
Date
2002-03
ISSN
Published
2002-03
Author(s)
Easton, Peter
Nikiema, Emmanuel
Essama, Suzanne
Abstract
The note looks at the results of a Bank
mission for the development of indigenous knowledge (IK) in
Francophone Africa, namely in Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso,
and Cameroon, which was based on consultations with
private-public counterparts involved in promoting its
development. Although there is an abundance of initiatives,
and activities occurring to develop IK - in health,
agriculture, education, natural resource management, and
cultural affairs - it is nonetheless, unevenly distributed
throughout the four countries: seldom is IK promotion, part
of public policy; there is a marked divergence among sectors
of development; most IK initiatives have been undertaken in
social sectors, much fewer in agriculture, and far lesser
initiatives in technology, finance, and engineering; and,
practices in the use of African languages are mostly
conditioned by a host of other policy concerns. On
recognizing the value of IK, suggestions indicate variants,
such as taking IK as a heritage of accumulated wisdom, as an
embodiment of specific African modes of thought, and, as a
means of articulating local know-how. On building the
challenge for increased IK, the note recommends the
inclusion of IK in development projects, by explicitly
involving local actors in the design of intervention
methods; by disseminating the methodology for a
participatory local development; by identifying centers to
become the collective focus of IK; and, by designing pre-
and in-service methods for professional training of development.
Citation
“Easton, Peter; Nikiema, Emmanuel; Essama, Suzanne. 2002. Developing Indigenous Knowledge in Francophone Africa : A Four Nation Overview. Indigenous Knowledge (IK) Notes; No. 42. © World Bank, Washington, DC. http://openknowledge.worldbank.org/entities/publication/6858c6f4-89fd-511f-92e7-cd91e54dc0d0 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”