Information for Change
Generating, Publishing, and Applying Knowledge for Development

A workshop held at the Cape Town International Book Fair Monday 18 June 2007


What is the role of information in achieving development aims, and how is knowledge generated, disseminated, and used? Where do you go to find information, and what is the role of the researcher, the publisher, the librarian, and the NGO? The agenda parallels the information continuum, from creation to application.

Programme & Speaker Audio Files

  • Moderator: Denis Beckett, Journalist and Writer, Johannesburg
  • Keynote: Information, power, and advocacy
    Speaker: Shehnilla Mohamed, South Africa Programme Director: Oxfam GB
    The keynote address will set the framework for the day by focusing on the importance of information - the right information - in advocating for change. Download mp3 (8695KB) 
    Questions and discussion Download mp3 (5765KB)
  • The generation of knowledge
    Speaker: Ineke Buskens (GRACE, Cape Town, South Africa) Download mp3 (8198KB), Download presentation notes (PDF 79KB)
    Questions and discussion Download mp3 (2474KB)
    Respondent: Heloise Emdon (IDRC)
    Where does information come from and who can be a researcher? This session will address this question, with a focus on participatory research approaches and knowledge construction. Download mp3 (4364KB), Download presentation (Powerpoint 1.09MB) 
  • Publishing: shaping and disseminating information
    Speaker: Brian Warafarowa, New Africa Books and Chair of APNET, Cape Town, South Africa
    This session will explore the role of the publisher as an agent for change. Both speakers are established members of APNET and will bring experience and insight from across Africa. Download mp3 (7440KB)
    Questions and discussion Download mp3 (4696KB)
    Respondent: Akoss Ofori-Mensah, Founder and Managing Director of Sub-Saharan Publishers Download mp3 (2457KB)
  • The role of government, of national library services and of community libraries in selecting and disseminating information
    Speaker: Gray Nyali, National Librarian, Malawi Download mp3 (8477KB)
    Respondent: Elisabeth Anderson, Centre for the Book, Cape Town
    This session will focus on how traditional national and public library systems and services can be developed to serve as community resources and libraries, supporting community change and development while not loosing their national cultural role. Download mp3 (2569KB)
    Questions and discussion Download mp3 part 1(3844KB), Download mp3 part 2(788KB), Download mp3 part 3(561KB), Download mp3 part 4(2508KB), Download mp3 part 5(3570KB)
  • NGOs, resource centres, and information
    Speaker: Lumba Sianga, Women for Change, Lusaka, Zambia Download mp3 (7904KB)
    Respondent: Dr Andre Kraak, Human Science Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa
    A case study from Zambia. NGOs/CSOs as knowledge creators, knowledge brokers and knowledge users, focusing on the advocacy issue of the role of women. Download mp3 (3257KB)
    Questions and discussion
  • Plenary/Questions
    Moderator: Denis Beckett, Journalist and Writer, Johannesburg Download mp3 (4070KB)