Understanding the knowledge landscape is about identifying who is involved in knowledge sharing activities, what products and services they are providing and to whom, and whether there are any gaps in provision, access and ability to use these products and services. Based on a good understanding of this landscape, an effective knowledge mobilisation strategy will avoid duplication and build and strengthen existing activities.

Knowledge systems and networks in nutrition, India:
In partnership with the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), we undertook a review of the knowledge systems and networks in India that include a focus on nutrition. The review found that
while there were a number of initiatives working to improve access to and use of knowledge on nutrition on India, there are knowledge-sharing gaps at a national
level and between national and state levels. This is now informing the team's
knowledge mobilisation plan which is looking to address these gaps and
strengthen the application of evidence in policymaking and practice,
ultimately improving nutrition outcomes.

Please contact Louise McGrath for more information on how we can work with you in mapping the knowledge landscape in which you would like research to make an impact.

A knowledge of what affects individuals’ decision- making and the factors that encourage or inhibit their use of evidence is key to understanding how best to encourage greater use of evidence to bring about change. We are increasingly supporting partners to survey key decision-makers to help them establish a clear starting point and frame their engagement in a more strategic manner.

Maximising the Quality of Scaling Up Nutrition Programmes Framework: MQSUN aims to provide UK's Deparment for International Development (DFID) with technical services to improve the quality of nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive programmes. As part of a partnership with PATH to deliver this framework, IDS Knowledge Services developed a communications strategy which identified approaches to support knowledge -sharing and learning for DFID advisers around nutrition. We surveyed DFID advisers to understand their current knowledge on practices and preferences, and have used this to inform our subsequent strategy.

Research on information ecosystems of policy actors: the Impact and Learning Team has undertaken research to understand how people working at local and national policy levels access and engage with information, especially in the context of ICTs. This research took place over 2010-2011 and involved face-to-face structured interviews with policy actors in Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Kenya and Nepal. Interim findings have been published in an IDS working paper entitled 'Information Ecosystems of Policy Actors - reviewing the landscape'.