We’re glad you’re here! KM4Dev is an open, global, multilingual community of practice that connects practitioners, researchers, and facilitators who explore how knowledge and learning can foster innovation and improve development outcomes. This page will help you understand how the community works and how to make the most of being part of it.
1. Join the community
To become part of KM4Dev, click below to join our main online space – the KM4Dev Global email-based group hosted by the Dgroups Foundation at Dgroups.io. Once your request is approved, you’ll be part of a global network of people working on knowledge and learning in development.
Here’s what happens next:
- You’ll start receiving community discussions directly in your inbox.
- You’ll get invitations to events, including our Knowledge Cafés.
- You’ll receive updates on new issues of the KM4D Journal and calls for papers.
💡 Tip: When filling in your membership request, include a few details about yourself. This makes it easier for group moderators to approve your membership request quickly.
💬 ¿Hablas español? También puedes unirte a CONVERSA, el espacio de diálogo en español de KM4Dev.
👉 Por favor, asegúrate de unirte primero al grupo global de KM4Dev, para ser parte completa de la comunidad y no perderte mensajes, invitaciones o actualizaciones.
2. Complete your profile
Add a profile photo, short bio with your areas of interest/expertise and organization, set your country, and (optionally) include your website/LinkedIn — it helps others know who you are and makes it easier to connect for collaboration and peer support.
💡 Important note: Make sure your profile privacy is set to “Other members of your group”, so you appear in the member directory, and others can see your profile information and connect with you.
3. Meet the community
Once you’ve joined, you can see who’s part of KM4Dev by visiting the Members directory on Dgroups. (Note: Only members who have made their profile “visible” appear in the directory.)
- Explore the directory: browse the list of members to get a sense of the diversity of our global community.
- Introduce yourself: say hello to the community! Post a short message tagged with #introduction (or add “#introduction” in the subject line if you’re posting by email). It’s a great way to start conversations and let others know what brought you here.
- Reach out and connect: When you see a member whose interests align with yours, you can message them directly by clicking the “Message” button on their profile. Networking and collaboration are part of what makes KM4Dev valuable – just keep it collegial and community-minded (no commercial or unsolicited outreach).
💡 Important note: The best way to build meaningful connections is by engaging in shared discussions and community activities. The more you participate, the more naturally relationships will grow.
This opens the KM4Dev Members Directory on Dgroups.io. To see this page, you need to be a member of the group.
This opens a new post. To post, you need to be a member of the group. Add “#introduction” to the subject line.
4. Participate in conversations
The KM4Dev Global Group on Dgroups.io is the heart of the community. Once your membership is approved, you can read and post:
- How to post: reply from your inbox or start/reply to threads on Dgroups.io.
- What‘s on-topic: practitioner-oriented KM/KS questions, experiences, methods, tools, and cases in the international development context.
- Announcements: event notices and publication news are welcome; purely commercial promotions and repeated reposts are not.
- Languages: English is the main language used in the KM4Dev Global Group. Members are welcome to post in languages other than English, but such posts may receive fewer responses. Spanish-speaking members can also join KM4Dev Conversa – a dedicated space for discussions in Spanish.
- Tone & conduct: collegial, non-aggressive, focus on ideas rather than people; see our Community Principles & Guidelines for details.
- Moderation: postings are facilitated for basic relevance; reply defaults to Reply to all to encourage shared dialogue.
Need help or have concerns? Contact the Core Group.
5. Explore the KM4Dev ecosystem
KM4Dev spans multiple spaces, resources, and volunteer groups, keeping the community vibrant and connected. Browse where you’d like to take part or learn more. All links open in a new tab, so you can return here easily.
Community spaces
- KM4Dev Global (English) – The main mailing list on Dgroups.io, where most community conversations happen.
👉 Receive and reply to emails directly from your inbox, or join the conversations online.
- Conversa (Español) – A Spanish-language conversation space for KM4Dev members.
👉 Join if you prefer to exchange ideas and experiences within a smaller group of Spanish-speaking members.
- Knowledge Cafés – Informal online meetups where members share insights, challenges, and good practices.
👉 Watch recordings or join upcoming sessions announced on the KM4Dev Global list.
- KM Peer Mentoring Program – A collaboration between KM4Dev and the SIKM Leaders community, connecting KM practitioners for personalized learning and mutual support.
👉 Apply to be a Mentor, a Mentee, or both.
Knowledge resources
These are the shared repositories and publishing spaces where KM4Dev’s knowledge is stored, curated, and made available to others.
- Knowledge Sharing Toolkit – KM4Dev’s shared knowledge base of methods, tools, and resources for knowledge sharing.
👉 Find and post resources, share your experiences, or join the Editorial Board.
- KM4D Journal – An open-access, peer-reviewed journal on knowledge management in development.
👉 Read current issues or watch for calls for papers posted in the main KM4Dev group.
- YouTube channel –Public video archive of KM4Dev events and Knowledge Café recordings.
👉 Subscribe to be notified when new videos or highlights are published.
- Legacy Wiki – The community’s earlier collaborative workspace — now an archive of historical materials.
👉 Browse if you’re looking for past projects, early conversations, or archived resources.
Governance & stewardship
These are the volunteer groups that help coordinate and sustain KM4Dev’s community life.
- Core Group – The volunteer group that helps guide KM4Dev’s community life.
👉 Learn how the Core Group works and how you can join to play an active role in shaping the community’s direction.
- KM4Dev Volunteers – The members who moderate the KM4Dev Global conversation list on a rotating basis.
👉 See how moderation works, view the current roster, or sign up to volunteer.
- KS Toolkit Editorial Board – Volunteer editors who steward the Knowledge Sharing Toolkit (review submissions, curate quality, coordinate outreach, and guide the Toolkit’s evolution).
👉 Read the Editorial Board Charter and join the prospective editors pool.
6. Support KM4Dev
KM4Dev is volunteer-driven and depends on the energy and generosity of its members. Your support helps keep this community running and freely accessible to all. If you’d like to help sustain our shared spaces, you can also make a small donation via Credit Card or PayPal. Every contribution, large or small, helps keep KM4Dev open and independent.
💡 Transparency: KM4Dev follows a policy of full financial transparency. You can review our income and expenses since 2017 in this public spreadsheet.
This opens the KM4Dev donation page on Dgroups.io. To see this page, you need to be a member of the group.
PayPal donations are collected by our partner Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation on behalf of KM4Dev.
Partners
KM4Dev has been made possible not only by the energy and commitment of its volunteer community, but also through the generous support of several organizations over the years. Their contributions have helped sustain facilitation, technical infrastructure, and inclusive participation across regions.
