The management and transfer of knowledge are crucial to the transfer of culture and wisdom. Specific knowledge may be
held and managed according to gender, age and under the responsibility of certain social groups such as clan and
extended family or specialists. Traditional knowledge is in fact collective in nature. Furthermore, it links past, present and
future generations. Research and documentation are necessary before indigenous knowledge can be incorporated into
resource management. Documentation is also an important element in conserving and protecting this knowledge. It is
important that developing countries should pay full attention to World Bank’s suggested steps for managing indigenous
knowledge.