Indigenous Knowledge and Development Monitor, 1993

INTRODUCTION TO THE INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE AND DEVELOPMENT MONITOR

The Indigenous Knowledge and Development Monitor serves all people with an interest in the role that indigenous knowledge (local knowledge, traditional knowledge) plays in participatory approaches to sustainable development. It provides: * an instrument for the exchange of information; * a platform for debate on the concept of indigenous knowledge in a variety of disciplines; * an overview of activities in the field of indigenous knowledge and sustainable development.

The Indigenous Knowledge and Development Monitor has two sections: Articles and Communications. The articles reflect the state of the art of indigenous knowledge (IK) in various policy sectors and disciplines by presenting information on: * research: study of indigenous knowledge systems, research methodology, research needs, research results, cooperation in research, and organizational aspects of research; * theory and practice: the interface of indigenous knowledge and scientific knowledge, and the use of research results in the preparation and implementation of development projects; * policy: indigenous knowledge as an area of interest and a policy instrument for donors, international organizations, governments, NGOs and development organizations.

The section Communications is divided into sub-sections: IK resource centres, Networks, Research, Conferences (coming and past), Calls (for information and cooperation, papers and research proposals), Databases, Publications, and Films and audio-visual devices. The major function of this section is to disseminate information, to inform the broader public about various initiatives and activities, and to stimulate national and international cooperation.

Nuffic-CIRAN produces the Monitor in close cooperation with indigenous knowledge resource centres and other organizations world wide. The editorial board of the Monitor is responsible for the editorial policy. Corresponding editors have an institutional base in the various IK resource centres. Associate corresponding editors are similarly affiliated with organizations that are active in the field of indigenous knowledge, among other things. The editor is responsible for publishing the Monitor in accordance with the policies of the editorial board and Nuffic-CIRAN, and for coordinating the production.

Thanks to grants from Nuffic and IDRC, the Monitor could be provided free of charge in 1993 and 1994. In 1995, however, recipients living in the USA and Canada are requested to pay US $ 27.00 and recipients living in Europe, Japan, New Zealand and Australia are asked to pay Dfl. 40.00 for their subscriptions. People living in all other countries, who may not be in a position to pay, will continue to receive the Monitor free of charge.

The Monitor is published three times a year; preferably two regular issues and one special issue. The first issue of the Monitor appeared in February 1993. CIRAN has run out of copies of Volume 1 (1-3) and Volume 2 (1-2).

The themes of the two special issues to date have been: * 1(2): Proceedings of the international conference 'Indigenous knowledge and sustainable development', which took place in The Philippines in September 1992. This conference resulted in recommendations and an action plan for the international network for indigenous knowledge and development. * 2(3): Women and indigenous knowledge, and gender and indigenous knowledge. This issue was edited by Maria E. Fernandez and Akke W. Tick.

Suggestions for themes for future special issues of the Monitor are welcome. They can be sent to the editor.

The Monitor on line The electronic version of the Monitor, which is available at http://www.nuffic.nl/ciran/ikdm, has the same objectives as the hard copy of the Monitor. However there are differences regarding its format. The main differences are: * References: References are given to the files of the electronic version. * Lay-out: In the version for Gopher, italic, bold etc has disappeared and the tables are only available in a post-script version. * Photo's and figures: These are not available

We have chosen to distribute the Monitor in parts, allowing people to download the information of their interest and therefore to work as cost-effective as possible. The information, in particularly the addresses, mentioned in the various articles and communications will not be updated. Please contact the editor for more information.

Acknowledgements We would like to thank Dr Rajasekaran (CIESIN), Doug Fils (IITAP/ISU), Dr Wim Dechering (LEAD/University of Leiden) for giving us support in the initial phases of bringing the Monitor on line. We also highly appreciated the support and assistance of the information systems section of Nuffic and the department of communications (in particular Quirijn Slings) of Nuffic. Finally, the Monitor would not have been on line without the endless support, input and patience of Ms Annelies Kruidhof.

Guus von Liebenstein, Director CIRAN and Ms Akke W. Tick, editor IK&DM.

For more information, please contact the editor: Ms. Akke W. Tick Nuffic-CIRAN P.O. Box 29777 2502 LT The Hague The Netherlands Tel: +31-70-4260324 Fax: +31-70-4260329 E-mail: ikdm@nuffic.nl

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