EMPOWERMENT THROUGH KNOWLEDGE

The approach is problem-orientated and not technical-orientated, drawn on as needed, and drawing on local endogenous resources. Our cross-disciplinary and interdisciplinary approach will bring together social studies and the technical/natural sciences, scientists and those with hands-on expertise.

Specific regional and endogenous social and cultural resources are to be identified, internationally and scientifically exchanged, and then to be applied when problems on a regional level need to be solved. In Order to support a continual exchange of information, the network will identify common issues and particular research subjects based on the most important points (to be discussed below) for comparative study.

The idea behind this integrated development plan is not to use specific technology to solve problems, but to analyze problems as they occur in the spot and to choose then for local people a suitable technical solution with the help of Knowledge Sharing Experts (Multiplikatorlnnen).

So far the following fields have been identified as major themes:

• Renewable and decentralized sources of energy
• Water supply and hygiene in housing settlements
• Living-Constructing-Architecture
• Regional planning
• Nutrition
• Sustainable Tourism
• Social and economical strategies, financial support
• Organizing and communicating within the network
• Financing, administration and management

to carry out the approach, the IKN:

• provides expert advice to those researchers;
• provides a communication and knowledge platform between experts and researchers;
• builds local capacity in developing and developed countries to undertake research, innovate and improve living conditions;