Co-production, collaboration and dissemination of knowledge between researchers and practitioners working towards solutions to real-world water and climate challenges are at the core of knowledge mobilization. The strategies and best practices that the GWF KM Core team encourages and provides support for are: 

• The creation of transdisciplinary project teams, through positive and trusting relationships between researchers and practitioners. Projects should be designed with the intended audience to meet their needs. It is critical to recognize that practitioners and decision-makers have practical experience, information and content to add to the research.

• Engagement in KM throughout the entire project timeline. KM should be built into the research design through advance agreements among the team members. It is critical that end-users are a part of setting expectations, timelines, and deliverables of the project.

• The creation of opportunities for active, inclusive and iterative communication between team members and partners. The team must determine how different user communities normally collect, evaluate and use knowledge and how they communicate with each other in order to use preferred communication channels.

• Increasing mutual understanding by limiting the use of jargon, translating technical terms into plain-language or terms compatible for non-academic needs.

• Ensuring dual accountability for KM within the team, between researchers and practitioners. Ideas and information must flow in all directions. Changes to the project’s scope and/or timing are negotiated within the team, and partners should participate in critical direction changes. 

These guidance documents outline GWF’s knowledge mobilization mandate, strategy, expectations, and the operations of the KM Core Team.

Global Water Futures researchers and Indigenous communities across Canada are working together on a research strategy that can help address the challenging water issues experienced by Indigenous communities. Current GWF projects are underway that include collaborations and partnerships with Indigenous community members, organizations and governments. Click below for more information.

• Indigenization

The KM Core Team has been assembled to provide oversight, advice, and support to GWF projects for their knowledge mobilization initiatives and can provide various types of services.

• Services & Resources

The KM Core Team annual webinar series aims to increase awareness about the value and principles of KM. Aimed at students, young professionals, researchers and PI’s in the GWF network, the webinar series will provide content that touches on various elements of KM, share examples of successful initiatives in action, and discuss and troubleshoot common challenges that arise across the network. Here, you can rewatch past webinars and download slide decks.

• Knowledge Mobilization Webinar Series

The GWF KM Core Team is an advisory body that provides oversight, advice, and support for KM initiatives of GWF-funded projects. The KM specialists focus on assisting project investigators, researchers and staff to succeed in their stated KM goals, while also identifying and creating opportunities to facilitate and develop KM capacity across the GWF network.

The Team