Introduction to the Indigenous Knowledge and Development Monitor

• 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.
  

• 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.

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.

The Monitor on line
The electronic version of the Monitor, which is available through Gopher as well as WWW, 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

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