food and agriculture organization of the united nations aarinena regional workshop, muscat, 8-10...

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

AARINENA Regional Workshop, Muscat, 8-10 January 2008

Elements of good practice in institutional information networks and systems

in agricultural science and technology

Stephen RudgardChief, WAICENT Outreach and Capacity Building

FAO, Rome, Italy


10th General Conference AARINENA, Sana’a, 26 June 2006AARINENA Regional Workshop, Muscat, 8-10 January 2008

Assumption

innovation in agriculture depends on science and technology

Millennium Ecosystem Assessment: Effective management of ecosystems is constrained by lack of knowledge and information about ecosystems but also by the failure to use adequately information that does exist.



• Network of over 200 organizations worldwide collaborating on the shared objective of improving access and exchange of information on agricultural science and technology

• Launched in 1975; new vision developed in 2002• http://www.fao.org/agris/

AGRIS



• decentralized approach • greater diversity of participating organizations• strengthened role in capacity building• focus on full text documents• greater availability of associated information about

activities/organizations/people• set of web-enabled standards and tools

New AGRIS Vision (2002)



Challenges

• Decentralization: establishment of national networks – institutions and policies

• Capacity building: supporting decentralization

• Content management: common approaches (standards and tools)

• Partnerships: at regional/international level



GFAR

• Global.RAIS• Global Partnership Programme: ICM4ARD



IISAST - International Information Systems for Agricultural Sciences and Technology



• stronger national information policies and strategies for ICM in agricultural research and development;

• clear ICM plans and investments at national and institutional levels;

• better information products and services delivered to local and national stakeholders by international/regional systems and services;

• one "international approach" with all key stakeholders.

Outputs



Activities• Expert Consultations (Oct. 2005 & Sep.

2007)

• Task Forces (Advocacy & Content Management)

• Regional Activities

• National Pilot Networks



Planning in NARS is essential for strong ICM – comprising • vision • strategy • policy framework • operational plans • monitoring and evaluation

Objectives: • to address information needs/demands of (internal and

external) stakeholders• to use/build ICM (human and technological) capacities

effectively

Principal messages



Lack of ICM planning means:

i. outputs are not disseminated effectively

ii. R&D resources are wasted

iii. the NARS public image is poor due to lack of credibility

In the extreme, NARS institutions become obsolete ...

Principal messages



Major factors affecting agricultural information networks/systems

• Strategy/Policy• Institutional aspects• Stakeholders• People• Content• Infrastructure• Financial aspects/Sustainability



National Case Studies• Egypt: National Agricultural Research Information Management

System (NARIMS) • Ghana: Ghana Agricultural Information Network System (GAINS)

• Kenya: Kenya Agricultural Information Network (KAINet)

• Madagascar: Scientific and Technical Information System

• Peru: Red Peruana de Intercambio de Información Agraria (AGRORED)

• Thailand: Thai AGRIS Centre



Major factors affecting agricultural information networks/systems

food and agriculture organization of the united nations aarinena regional workshop, muscat, 8-10...

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