This purpose of this Topic area is to showcase indigenous educational, spiritual, and humanitarian efforts that use developmental approaches that rely on traditional knowledge systems to help achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

These goals are being achieved through different strategies of the World Banks IK Program which  includes:

(a) dissemination: a database on indigenous/traditional knowledge and practices with nearly 300 entries and a series of monthly "IK Notes" which present in some detail, locally driven solutions to often complex issues;

(b)  learning : cross regional, peer-to-peer learning exchanges aimed at enhancing local capacity to identify and apply indigenous/traditional knowledge and practices;

(c) mainstreaming the application of IK in World Bank-supported projects and in national development programs; and

(d)  partnerships : brokering collaboration on IK issues between local practitioners, community-based organizations, governments, donors, and the global scientific community and other international organizations.