A Web Based Knowledge Management Platform For Development Cooperation in the Water Sector: Aquaknow.Net

Abstract

In line with EU international cooperation policies supporting the water sector in developing countries, we researched on the feasibility, identification and design of solutions and on their sustainability towards the improvement of knowledge management for sector development. Consequently, we developed an innovative web-based platform for knowledge management in order to improve information and data gathering, communication and knowledge sharing among communities of stakeholder involved in the development of the water sector. The platform (http://www.aquaknow.net/), which is a content management system, was developed around an open source project (DRUPAL) able to address the requirements expressed by a very heterogeneous user community and the related technical constraints. Other open source tools such as Web GIS have also been explored and their integration recommended into the platform.