Practical Action Partnership

Re-thinking research communication with Practical Action

The partnership between the LCEDN and Practical Action involves collaborative work on the 'Broadening Academic Dissemination' initiative. Through this initiative, we are developing a strong connection between the LCEDN’s research and expertise mapping work and Practical Action’s Practical Answers initiative. The intention is to develop an action plan for making the fruits of academic research more accessible to other research users and then to deliver the chosen vehicle via embedding new elements of the Practical Answers approach directly into the LCEDN site. This will involve developing a combination of elements potentially including: knowledge object creation (technical briefs and research summaries) and digital dissemination (e.g. via PA web app); development of audio content and dissemination via community extension workers; contribution to call centre/extension service; development of knowledge point online question and answer forum; bespoke additions to the LCEDN website.

Deliverables:

· Development of an action plan for new approaches to the dissemination of academic research in collaboration with Practical Answers

· Establishment of new forms of connectivity between the LCEDN website and Practical Action’s Practical Answers and delivery of new joint programme of activity with PA, their wider digital team and PA’s international offices.

Practical Action is an international non-governmental organisation (NGO) that uses technology to challenge poverty in developing countries. Their goal is to find out what people are doing and help them to do it better. Through technology they enable poor communities to build on their skills and knowledge to produce sustainable and practical solutions- transforming their lives forever and protecting the world around them. In relation to energy, PA are heavily involved in international energy access advocacy work, they also work directly in providing practical power: renewable, locally-sourced, sustainable energy solutions which lift people out of poverty. Practical Action Consulting provides independent and professional consulting in the use of technology for poverty reduction to governments, NGOs, aid agencies and the private sector. Practical Answers is the Technical Information Service of PA it provides access for all to the wealth of technical knowledge within Practical Action, as well as that of partners and other people working to reduce poverty.

Photograph credits: © Practical Action