Mapping Malaysia's Resource Centres

14 MAPPING MALAYSIA’S RESOURCE CENTRES The Reverse Linkage (RL) Programme is a technical cooperation mechanism enabled by IsDB, facilitating the exchange of knowledge, expertise, technology and resources between Member Countries (MCs) and Muslim communities in non-Member Countries. The programme is mainly used for capacity development and devising solutions for autonomous development. It addresses the capacity needs or development challenges faced by Member Countries (MCs) by matching those in need with other MCs who present themselves as primary and forefront agents in the provision of expertise, knowledge and technology in various economic sectors. Each solution is customised to address specific development constraints and the context of each country. In every RL intervention, there are at least three stakeholders involved: the recipient country, provider country and IsDB as the facilitator. REVERSE LINKAGE (RL) PROGRAMME A recipient country is the beneficiary of the intervention, with an institution that will receive the support and absorb the knowledge. This institution could be from the public sector, private sector or third sector. The provider country has a Resource Centre (RC) that is equipped with proven expertise and knowledge, and must be prepared to share and shape it according to the local context. Similarly, the RC could be from the public, private or third sector. There can also be more than one provider in an RL intervention. Once a project has been formulated by both the recipient and provider countries, all parties - including the government of the providing country and IsDB - must reach a mutual agreement on the funding of the project before it commences.