This briefing offers a summary of the work of the IKM Emergent Programme and places it in the context of continuing changes in the development sector and the world more broadly over the last twelve years.

This briefing offers a summary of the work of the IKM Emergent Programme and places it in the context of continuing changes in the development sector and the world more broadly over the last twelve years.

This article provides an overview of issues relating to the use of knowledge by development organisations. It starts by exploring the various definitions of knowledge that exist in a world of many cultures and intellectual traditions, and the role of language. It considers their relationship with each other and with the many and varied ‘informational developments’ – information-related changes in work, culture, organisations, and technology across the world. It argues that these issues pose a number of fundamental strategic challenges to the development sector.