We are excited to announce that The Broker and Share-Net Netherlands are joining forces again in the project ‘Knowledge Brokering for Feminist Futures’. Over the past months, we have initiated a project in which a toolkit will be developed to identify and address gaps and opportunities in knowledge brokering. We are working collaboratively with members of Share-Net International to prioritise the inclusion of diverse voices and perspectives to pave the way for more flexible and equitable knowledge partnerships
Addressing Key Challenges in Knowledge Brokering
Knowledge brokering practices often conceal power imbalances failing to recognise power relations and the diversity among actors working together in the use, production and sharing of knowledge. By fostering self-awareness among knowledge brokers and emphasising their role in democratising knowledge, the resulting toolkit aims to support knowledge brokers in understanding, reflecting and challenging equality and existing power structures in knowledge use, production and sharing.
Our approach
We integrate decolonial, feminist, and intersectional perspectives into knowledge brokering analysis to challenge common views on what constitutes legitimate knowledge, its standards, and the power dynamics that sustain hierarchies and marginalisation within these practices. This approach allows us to recognise existing practices for more inclusive and diverse knowledge brokering practices.
The Project Process:
The toolkit will offer a comprehensive synthesis of key resources from academic and grey literature on knowledge brokering, decolonial, feminist and intersectional approaches. It is further informed by insights gathered from surveys, focus group discussions, and interviews with practitioners and stakeholders ensuring it captures current practices, needs, and insights.
In July, we began this process by collecting insights from surveys conducted with members of Share-Net International. On August 23rd, we hosted our first focus group, bringing together participants from Colombia, Ghana, Indonesia, Kenya, and Malawi. We are excited to continue these conversations with the broader Share-Net International community through additional focus group discussions and in-depth interviews in the following months.
Looking Forward: A New Era of Knowledge Brokering
The launch of Knowledge Brokering for Feminist Futures promises to bring a much-needed shift in how knowledge brokering is approached in international cooperation. As the toolkit becomes available, it will provide you with the tools you need to foster more just, inclusive, and contextually relevant collaborations. The Broker and Share-Net Netherlands look forward to collaborating on this project, towards a feminist future for knowledge brokering.
Stay tuned for more details on the launch and how you can access the toolkit!