You are in the MOST Phase I website (1994-2003). The MOST Phase II website is available at: www.unesco.org/shs/most.

Nuffic-CIRAN has worked with UNESCO-MOST to establish a database on best practices related to indigenous knowledge.
By "best practice" we mean an approach (such as a development project or programme, a training method, or an evaluation approach) that has successfully put indigenous knowledge to good use, and/or built upon it for purposes of sustainable development.

The questionnaire below was distributed to gather information for this database.

1. BASIC INFORMATION ON A BEST PRACTICE

1.1. What is the practice called?

(If the title does not explain what the project, programme, method or approach is about, please add a subtitle that does.)

1.2. What is the geographic setting of the practice?
 

Country
Region
Neighbourhood/Village

1.3. Period

When did the practice start? (dd/mm/year, or the season if it is a seasonable practice)

Is it still practised? Or is it finished? (When did it finish? date/year)

2. DESCRIPTION OF THE BEST PRACTICE)

2.1. Summary of the practice

(Please describe in about 250 words the background of the practice, how it is used, etc. In the rest of the questionnaire we will ask specific questions about it.)

2.2. Stakeholders and beneficiaries

2.2.1. Who are the main initiators, actors, stakeholders and users?

2.2.2. How and why are they involved in the practice?

2.2.3. Who are the main beneficiaries?

(Please describe the categories of people involved in the practiceand)

[ ] Beneficiaries are mainly of one sex (female, male), that is ...............................................

[ ] Beneficiaries mainly belong to a specific age group, that is ..............................................

[ ] Other: beneficiaries are mainly ???????????????????.............

2.2.4. Can you give an indication of the numbers of stakeholders and beneficiaries involved?

2.3. Sustainability:

(Which aspects of sustainability does the practice involve? How and/or why?)

[ ] economic aspects, that is

[ ] environmental aspects, that is

[ ] other aspects (social, cultural, etc?.), that is

2.4. Indigenous knowledge aspects of the best practice:

(Describe the IK aspects of the best practice. Why is this best practice different from practices not dealing with or using indigenous knowledge? This question is important to show people not familiar with indigenous knowledge how it can give any project, programme, method or approach a valuable extra dimension.)

3. STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF THE PRACTICE

3.1. Briefly describe the strengths of the best practice: i.e., the advantages it offers.

3.2. Please assess the weaknesses of the best practice, and the risks it entails.

3.3. Why do you consider this case a successful best practice?
(Please describe some essential elements.)

3.4. Can you express this success in qualitative or quantitative terms?

4. POSSIBILITIES FOR REPLICATION

4.1. What is the potential for applying all or parts of your initiative to other regions and topics?

Mark an X on the following scale.
(The scale runs from ?I, no problem? to ?V, impossible?):

I [ ] It would be no problem at all to transfer the practice to another group/culture/land-use system, etc.

II [ ] It would be rather easy to transfer the practice, although some adaptations might be necessary.

III [ ] It would be possible to transfer the practice, but there certainly would be conditions and prerequisites to consider.

IV [ ] It would be rather difficult to transfer the practice. It would require a lot of adaptations and even then it would be difficult.

V [ ] It would be impossible to transfer the practice. It is too specific and only possible at this particular place and level.

If you have marked I, II, III or IV, please answer the next question.

4.2. Are there specific conditions or obstacles which make it impossible to replicate or transfer the practice elsewhere?

(e.g., a specific climate or specific cultural beliefs or social relations which are important for the success of this practice)

4.3. Has the IK best practice been replicated elsewhere? Where? By whom?

4.4. Are there any other aspects regarding replication which need to be mentioned here?

(e.g., agreements, regulations, provisions regarding Intellectual Property Rights, etc.)

5. BASIC INFORMATION ON ORGANIZATIONAL ASPECTS

5.1.Name of the organization responsible for the best practice:

Institute:

Street or P.O. Box:

City/Town:

Postal Code:

Country:

Telephone:
(Please include country and city codes)

Fax:
(Please include country and city codes)

E-mail address:
(if available)

Home page:
(if available)

5.2. Contact Person
(This person works directly with the best practice and can respond to any inquiries.)

Name:

E-mail address (if available):

Street or P.O. Box:

City/Town:

Postal Code:

Country:

Telephone:
(Please include country and city codes)

Fax:
(Please include country and city codes)

5.3. Any other partners involved in this practice

I. Name of partner organization

Street or P.O. Box:

City/Town:

Postal Code:

Country:

Type of organization:

[ ] government organization
[ ] private organization
[ ] non-government and/or community-based organization
[ ] international agency
[ ] other: ??????????????.

Type of support provided:

[ ] financial
[ ] technical
[ ] political
[ ] administrative
[ ] other: ?????????????..

II. Name of partner organization:

Street or P.O. Box:

City/Town:

Postal Code:

Country:

Type of organization:

[ ] government organization
[ ] private organization
[ ] non-government and/or community- based organization
[ ] international agency
[ ] other: ??????????????.

Type of support provided:

[ ] financial
[ ] technical
[ ] political
[ ] administrative
[ ] other: ?????????????..

5.4. Budget

(If possible, and applicable, please indicate the total budget for the best practice, together with the sources of funding and the period to which the budget applies.)

Total budget (in US dollars)

Period

Sources of funding

ANY REMARKS YOU WANT TO ADD
(Here you can write additional remarks or anything else you want to add to the descriptions above.)

You are invited to send us any additional information about your project, work or organization which you think might be useful.

Completed by:

Name:

Institute:

Telephone:

E-mail (if available)

More information on MOST best practices can be found at: http://www.unesco.org/most/bphome.htm

To MOST Clearing House Best Practices on Poverty and Social Exclusion

To MOST/CIRAN Best Practices on Indigenous Knowledge

To MOST Clearing House Homepage