Knowledge Management & Documentation
IIRR produces the majority of its publications through writeshops. Writeshops are intensive, participatory workshops that aim to produce a written output documenting an innovative development practice, method or project. The output may be in the form of a book, a set of leaflets or a training manual. Participants in the process may include scientists, researchers, government personnel, teachers, NGO staff, extension agents, farmers and other local people; anyone who has, in one way or another, been involved in the experiences to be documented. A team of facilitators, editors, artists and designers co-author and produce the publication during an intensive one- to two-week writeshop.
The value of the writeshop is the way it brings together a wide range of people, each with their own experiences and specific knowledge, to work in groups documenting their part of the story – a story that normally might never be find its way.
Because of the process used in producing these publications, IIRR’s books are copyright free and in the public domain. They may be copied and shared with others provided that acknowledgment is given.
Read more: Documenting Field Experiences: IIRR’S Writeshop Approach.
Organizations that have utilized IIRR’s writeshop process include the World Agroforestry Center, Ford Foundation, International Fund for Agricultural Development, Royal Tropical Institute (KIT), Norwegian Embassy, Oxfam Novib, Cordaid, and Save the Children, among others.
