Approaches to Knowledge-Brokering

The briefing explores 'knowledge-brokering' as a strategic tool for Canada to exert influence and support developing countries. It proposes three frameworks—knowledge system, transactional, and social change—to categorize activities and discusses the organizational capabilities required to move from knowledge creation to user-focused delivery. The authors suggest that Canada could leverage expertise in health policy, fuel-cell energy, and educational software, while recommending collaborative or 'virtual' organizational models to implement these strategies.

• The 'Strong Report' identifies Canada's strategic advantage as its potential to act as a 'knowledge broker' due to its history in international coordination, goodwill, and expertise in communications and cybernetic technologies.
• The authors propose three frameworks for understanding knowledge-brokering: a 'knowledge system framework' focusing on how knowledge is created and diffused within a country; a 'transactional framework' focusing on the interface between knowledge 'creators' (e.g., universities) and 'users' (e.g., governments); and a 'social change framework' focusing on enhancing knowledge access for the general population to achieve positive social outcomes.
• Within the transactional framework, the document distinguishes between different roles: distributors (broadly disseminate), integrators (interpret for users), intermediaries (link users to creators), and brokers (earn revenue based on the value of the transaction).
• Effective knowledge-brokering requires organizational capabilities different from traditional research; specifically, it requires strong relationships with 'users' and the development of marketing skills, which may necessitate spinning off separate organizations from traditional development agencies.
• The document identifies three specific areas where Canada could apply its expertise through knowledge-brokering: health policy (efficient insurance and determinants of health), fuel-cell based energy systems (stationary power and sustainable development), and 'learnware' (multimedia educational software for human development).
• The IDRC-IFIAS Knowledge-Brokering Pilot Project aims to enhance the application of research results, test revenue-generating services, and promote more equitable participation between developed and developing country institutions in the knowledge market.

APA

Oldham, G., & McLean, R. (1997). Approaches to Knowledge-Brokering. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/networks_knowledge_brokering.pdf

Chicago

Oldham, Geoffrey, and Rob McLean. Approaches to Knowledge-Brokering. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 1997. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/networks_knowledge_brokering.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Oldham |first1=Geoffrey |last2=McLean |first2=Rob |title=Approaches to Knowledge-Brokering |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=May 1997 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/networks_knowledge_brokering.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{oldham1997approaches, author = {Oldham, Geoffrey and McLean, Rob}, title = {{Approaches to Knowledge-Brokering}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {1997}, month = may, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/networks_knowledge_brokering.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }