CEE Bankwatch Network is one of the strongest networks of environmental organizations working in eastern Europe and countries of the former Soviet Union, with 17 members operating in 12 countries. As an organization Bankwatch is unique in that it is the only network actively monitoring the use of public financial flows in its region, tracking investments across a number of sectors - like transport, energy and mining - from such lenders as the European Investment Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the European Union’s Structural and Cohesion Funds. Additionally Bankwatch’s focus is ever increasingly relevant given the current economic crisis and its implications for the lending practices of its target institutions.

With such a broad thematic and geographic focus, maintaining effective communication is essential for the success of Bankwatch campaigning activities. In the past year or so - due in part to the proliferation of user-friendly, open-source communication tools - a gap was identified in the way that Bankwatch maintains its internal and institutional knowledge. Coupled with turnover of long-standing staff members, important information, like contacts to key allies and members of parliaments, or intelligence on policy positions from particular decision makers, was lost. Similarly, as the economic landscape in which the network operates continually changes, it is ever more important to facilitate exchange among Banwkatch’s various member organizations in the most effective and efficient way possible.

To such an extent, Bankwatch is seeking input on technical solutions for maintaining and improving its “internal knowledge management”. Such research would include proposals for communications tools such as collaborative document editing, online calendars, database management, email listerserv maintenance and so on. Additionally this assistance would also include concrete suggestions for moving Bankwatch’s internal website, now maintained centrally as a static site, towards a more dynamic place for storing information, with a focus towards improving usability, decentralization and efficiency.