Community principles and guidelines

KM4Dev is an open, self-organizing community of practitioners who share a commitment to learning, collaboration, and generosity. 

These principles describe how we interact across KM4Dev’s spaces – online and offline – and reflect the values that have shaped our community since its creation in 2000.

They are not rules, but shared understandings that help maintain a welcoming, respectful, and constructive environment where everyone feels able to contribute and learn.

These principles are living and evolving. They are shaped by the community and may change over time to reflect our shared learning and growth. If you wish to suggest improvements, please contact the Core Group.

For guidance on how KM4Dev is structured and coordinated, see the Governance page.

Community principles

  • Open and interactive by design.
  • Diverse and inclusive membership is encouraged.
  • Focused on KM in international development—exploring knowledge and learning issues, approaches, and practice.

Supporting practitioners

This is a practitioner-oriented forum. Theory and conceptual conversations are welcome when they support practical implementation of KM principles, approaches, and tools in international development organisations.

Announcements

Dialogue comes first, but members are welcome to share:

  • Events (including paid events).
  • New books and publications authored by members.

Purely commercial posts are not welcome. Do not repost the same content repeatedly over a short period—this is considered spam and you may be asked to stop.

Languages

You may post in languages other than English. Translations are not guaranteed; some members may volunteer to help when possible.

A dedicated Spanish-speaking sub-community (“KM4Dev Conversa“) is available for those who prefer to interact in Spanish.

Promoting good dialogue (tone & references)

Please:

  • Keep messages collegial and non-aggressive. Critical thinking and disagreement are welcome; personal attacks are not.
  • Ask questions and read carefully to build understanding in a text-based environment.
  • If a conversation risks becoming personal, help refocus on content, not people. Otherwise, members may be asked to continue the disagreement off-list.
  • Do not flame (name-calling). Be mindful that people have different sensitivities.
  • Remember we are a global community—consider how your words might be interpreted across cultures.

Moderation

The KM4Dev email list is facilitated, and posts are moderated for relevance. New subscribers are manually approved to keep spammers off the list.

Reply to all

The default email list reply setting is “Reply to all.” This supports on-list dialogue rather than bilateral exchanges.

Support: Core Group & facilitators

  • Core Group: Volunteer members who act as KM4Dev’s steering body and make decisions for the community’s welfare, in collaboration with facilitators. The Core Group is open. Click on this link to learn more, join, or contact the group: KM4Dev Core Group
  • Facilitators (KM4Dev Volunteers): A rotating pool of volunteers keeps conversations flowing. You can learn more and join here: KM4Dev Volunteers.

Concerns or Issues

About other members:

  1. Raise the issue directly with the member to seek a solution; or
  2. Email the facilitators with your concern.

Facilitator emails about member behaviour are handled case-by-case. Members may be asked to change their conduct. After three (3) notices without change – and after consulting the Core Group – a member may be removed from the list.

Technical Issues

For membership or technical problems, contact the list administrators: km4dev+owner@dgroups.io.

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