An old saying states that sharing is caring. I would add: “And withholding information and knowledge from peers does no good.”

It’s no secret that in 2025, you can’t hide information or prevent others from learning something new. Likewise, it’s no secret that today, more than ever, time is currency. The question that arises from these facts is: why don’t we all make it easier for our peers to know what we know and learn from our experiences – good and bad – so that we can all grow together?

It’s no secret that in 2025, you can’t hide information or prevent others from learning something new. Likewise, it’s no secret that today, more than ever, time is currency. The question that arises from these facts is: why don’t we all make it easier for our peers to know what we know and learn from our experiences – good and bad – so that we can all grow together? After all, we are in this together, whether we are citizens, civil servants, or business owners. No matter what we do or where we live, we all need strong, resilient, and people-oriented public administration. So why not make it easier for public servants to keep up with change and access relevant information? This is the core reason why ReSPA established the Western Balkans Knowledge Management Platform (KMP).

While at university, it was already clear that lifelong learning would be a “must” in the future. However, it was only when I started to work that I realized how much time and effort we must invest in coordinating and sharing with others. The EU accession process and its requirements showed this more than any other area.

People tend to believe they know everything about education, football, politics, and many other areas, including public administration and civil servants. Unfortunately, when it comes to the latter, we usually hear complaints and very rarely praise or congratulations. But do we truly do justice to the entire “army” of those who work to make our lives easier every single day? Just for a moment, try to recall the last time you complained about a service you needed but were not happy with the administration’s response. And now, try to remember the last time you praised the administration for the efforts and time invested. Do you notice the difference? Yes, I know – complaints usually prevail.

With the ever-important EU integration process, public administration reform is finally coming into focus. This might be a unique opportunity for the entire region to pay due and proper respect to the civil service. We expect a lot, but do we provide enough? France, for example, promotes the principle of “symmetry of attention” – if you expect public administration to be effective and efficient, you need happy civil servants. Their strategic framework does not primarily focus on what is not working but rather on what can be done to support civil servants, who can give back only if they are happy.

What becomes evident is that a great majority of civil servants want to know more so they can excel. They seek to understand what works and what does not, both nearby and around the world.

Back to “time is currency,” and voilà – here’s an explanation of how and why we came up with the KMP. We wanted to provide a single online space where civil servants can network, learn, share, discuss, and strengthen their capacities without spending too much time searching for resources. The Western Balkans Knowledge Management Platform is a place where civil servants can easily find information about the legal, institutional, and strategic frameworks relevant to public administration reform processes, both in the Western Balkans and the European Union.

Relevant publications are at the fingertip, as is information about projects backing up public administration reform in the region, financially supported by the donor community. As for the EU integration progress, a visualization tool showing progress across different administrations and clusters is only a click away.

But what makes the KMP special is the determination to use it to support peer sharing and personal growth.

Yes, we all know it’s not easy to openly discuss the burdens and problems we face at work (which don’t go away just because we call them issues). That’s exactly what the closed segment of the KMP – Community – is all about. You can discuss with your peers, get creative and publish a blog, or find an expert who can help you with your work.

Have you ever wondered if things would have been different in your career if someone had really supported you on your learning path? Yes, it’s complicated, and yes, it’ can sometimes be even frustrating, but it is what it is. And it can be better. That better can be found in the KMP Learning Corner, where you can explore a vast collection of learning materials (no, not old-fashioned long texts, but presentations, knowledge bites, pre-recorded training sessions, and much more).

Moreover, you now have a single place where you can check on different training opportunities from ReSPA and its partners and apply directly. So, there aren’t many reasons you can use now to justify the lack of personal development. Oh yes, I know, I know, I got you – your next excuse is probably, “How can I afford it?” If it’s needed, think about the ReSPA Horizontal Facility. Reach out to the ReSPA Liaison Officer in your administration (you can find their contact information on the KMP) and make the case for your institution/organization. If you don’t ask, you’ll never know.

And finally, there’s something unique about motivating others just by sharing success stories. As the title states, “Sharing is caring.” Be open and share both your successes and your failures. It’s not easy, but it’s definitely rewarding. Use the community to talk about where things didn’t go well, but use the front page of the KMP to showcase your successes. It’s healing, motivating, and rewarding – knowing that you made it, but also knowing that someone else could get another great idea to improve the way they work.

Since there’s no way to hide anything, the logical question is, “Why even try?” It’s pointless, it’s useless, and it doesn’t make any difference whatsoever.

So, let’s change the game and try doing the opposite – join the KMP now and start sharing!