Ajit Maru & Valeria PesceGFAR Secretariat

Rome

Presentation for AARINENA General AssemblyDamascus

12-14 October 2008

OutlineNeed to enhance Information and Knowledge

Systems in WANAPriority areas for enhancing information and

knowledge systems in WANARole of GFAR and its members in enhancing

information and knowledge systems in WANA

Global Food Price Crisis

The global food price crisis has revealed the The global food price crisis has revealed the fragility of the West Asia and North Africa fragility of the West Asia and North Africa (WANA) region’s food security and has (WANA) region’s food security and has brought the need for developing agriculture brought the need for developing agriculture more rapidly in the region to the fore.more rapidly in the region to the fore.

Knowledge and Agricultural DevelopmentKnowledge is a critical resource for Knowledge is a critical resource for

agriculture and its development. agriculture and its development. Certain that agriculture now and in the Certain that agriculture now and in the

future will be even more knowledge intensive. future will be even more knowledge intensive. The WANA region has to enhance its The WANA region has to enhance its

investments in appropriate information and investments in appropriate information and knowledge systems for agricultural research knowledge systems for agricultural research and innovation to keep up with demands for and innovation to keep up with demands for new knowledge for agricultural development.new knowledge for agricultural development.

Role of ICTsThe primary driver for change in information and The primary driver for change in information and

knowledge systems across the world is the potential of knowledge systems across the world is the potential of new information and communications technologies to new information and communications technologies to enable greater availability, access and use of information.enable greater availability, access and use of information.

Within the CWANA region, the use of ICTs especially Within the CWANA region, the use of ICTs especially cellular telephony and broadband Internet is growing cellular telephony and broadband Internet is growing rapidly rapidly

ICTs must be put to good use for agricultural developmentICTs must be put to good use for agricultural development

Priorities in Information Systems Development

The priorities are to strengthen systems for:The priorities are to strengthen systems for:managing scientific and technical information managing scientific and technical information research data management research data management research management informationresearch management informationlinking research and innovation to the needs of linking research and innovation to the needs of

producersproducers

Scientific and Technical Information

“Virtual” libraries becoming as important as “Brick and Mortar” libraries

Important for information to be accessible in Important for information to be accessible in English, French and ArabicEnglish, French and Arabic

Scientific and Technical InformationScientific and technical information today takes Scientific and technical information today takes

many forms, such as blogs and shared datasets, many forms, such as blogs and shared datasets, beyond conventional technical papers. beyond conventional technical papers.

The need to develop more concise and accurate The need to develop more concise and accurate information access mechanisms such as information access mechanisms such as customised search engines and ontology to support customised search engines and ontology to support

information access, information access, indexes, catalogues, wikis and summary papersindexes, catalogues, wikis and summary papers

Open access to scientific and technical literature Open access to scientific and technical literature   

Research Data ManagementGrowing trend to share datasets on e.g. Growing trend to share datasets on e.g.

agronomy of various crops, pest and disease agronomy of various crops, pest and disease susceptibility, soils etc. susceptibility, soils etc.

Region has to gear its information systems to Region has to gear its information systems to share these data at the National, Regional share these data at the National, Regional and Global levels.and Global levels.

Use of models, knowledge based systems and Use of models, knowledge based systems and geographic information systems critical for geographic information systems critical for agricultural developmentagricultural development

Research Management Information

To enable greater efficiency and effectiveness of ARD in national systems and for collaboration and partnerships in research there is a need to share need to share information on its ARD Institutions, information on its ARD Institutions, expertise, research projects and outputs expertise, research projects and outputs and outcomes of these projects across the and outcomes of these projects across the regionregion

Linking research to innovationInnovation system concepts in agriculture Innovation system concepts in agriculture

recognize that information related to recognize that information related to innovation does not travel in a linear fashion innovation does not travel in a linear fashion from research stations to producers through from research stations to producers through extension workers but involves a extension workers but involves a multistakeholder network that innovates in multistakeholder network that innovates in production and adds value to agricultural production and adds value to agricultural products. products.

This means a redesign of information systems This means a redesign of information systems that link research and innovation to both that link research and innovation to both producers and market intermediaries.producers and market intermediaries.

ICTs and knowledge sharingNew ICTs have also introduced new systems New ICTs have also introduced new systems

for knowledge sharing and exchange. for knowledge sharing and exchange. Innovation is accelerated in communities that Innovation is accelerated in communities that

have continuous conversations about their have continuous conversations about their problems and potential solutions. problems and potential solutions.

New tools and applications facilitate New tools and applications facilitate communications using audio, video, graphics communications using audio, video, graphics and multimedia among communities and build and multimedia among communities and build “virtual communities”, unconstrained by “virtual communities”, unconstrained by geographic boundaries, among those who geographic boundaries, among those who share common interests, values and visions. share common interests, values and visions.

ICTs and knowledge sharing

““Social networking” and “Communities of Social networking” and “Communities of Practice” that break down institutionalized walls Practice” that break down institutionalized walls are fast emerging in new knowledge systems. are fast emerging in new knowledge systems.

National and regional research systems should National and regional research systems should foster these networks and communities of foster these networks and communities of practice to help connect with wider society and practice to help connect with wider society and advance research and innovation for agricultural advance research and innovation for agricultural developmentdevelopment

Role of GFARGFAR fosters enhancement of information GFAR fosters enhancement of information

and knowledge systems through regional and knowledge systems through regional forums. forums.

At the core of its activities is the belief that At the core of its activities is the belief that global and regional information must be built global and regional information must be built up from community, institutional and national up from community, institutional and national information systemsinformation systems

Institute and National SystemsStrengthening Institute and National Strengthening Institute and National

information systems requires investment in: information systems requires investment in: infrastructure, hardware, software, skills and infrastructure, hardware, software, skills and

connectivity, connectivity, content generation and management, content generation and management, integration of information systems, systems integration of information systems, systems

security and mechanisms to protect intellectual security and mechanisms to protect intellectual property. property.

enable effective and efficient use of information enable effective and efficient use of information through improving capacities for learning at the through improving capacities for learning at the organization and individual levels. organization and individual levels.

Institute and National Systems

In many situations structural changes, In many situations structural changes, especially in accountability and reward systems, especially in accountability and reward systems, are required for effective learning through ICT are required for effective learning through ICT enabled systems to take place in organizations.enabled systems to take place in organizations.

GFAR’s activities in ICMGFAR, through its ICM4ARD Global Partnership GFAR, through its ICM4ARD Global Partnership

Project, has conducted activities in:Project, has conducted activities in:Advocacy for increased and improved investment Advocacy for increased and improved investment

in information and communications management, in information and communications management, Capacity development of information managers in Capacity development of information managers in

national systems, national systems, Enabling integration and greater coherence in Enabling integration and greater coherence in

information systems and information management information systems and information management Facilitating improved governance of information Facilitating improved governance of information

systems for sharing and exchange of information. systems for sharing and exchange of information.

GFAR’s activities in ICMDiverse Information systems need to be able to Diverse Information systems need to be able to

interact through common mechanisms interact through common mechanisms GFAR, with partners such as FAO and the CGIAR GFAR, with partners such as FAO and the CGIAR

is catalysing development of tools for information is catalysing development of tools for information management in national systems and for sharing management in national systems and for sharing ARD information globally ARD information globally EGFAR, facilitates information sharing and EGFAR, facilitates information sharing and

discussions on critical issues related to agricultural discussions on critical issues related to agricultural research for development research for development

AgriFeeds, an RSS based information sharing AgriFeeds, an RSS based information sharing systemsystem

GFAR, through the CIARD initiative, is now leading GFAR, through the CIARD initiative, is now leading the development of the Global ARD Webring the development of the Global ARD Webring

The ARD Web Ring and the RAISRole of the RAIS: enabling improved and value added

access to information held digitally such as on their websites by the NARS and Institutes within the NARS

Examples:

Science & technology information: scientific publicationssupport NARS’ participation in AGRIS and/or in the

Open Archive Initiative and create regional gateways

Research managementpromote common tools/standards for managing

research management information and create regional gateways;

make regional data accessible through web services.

The Web Ring and AARINENAWebRing approach in AARINENA RAIS plans,

2007 (*)

Feed information on NARIMS and NERAKIN to AARINENA-RAIS website.

Identify focal points in member countries to exchange information through the new AARINENA website.

Collaborate with other Regional Networks and support them to have their own space on AARINENA Website and to add their contents.

(*) From AARINENA Progress Report (2006/2007): summary of the Fifth AARINENA ICT-RAIS Steering Committee Meeting, Egypt, 29 May 2007

Information management tools used in the AARINENA region:

NARIMS national level

NERAKIN thematic regional network

CGIAR SINGER

AARINENA websiteRegional database of agricultural researchersRegional database of organizationsRegional STI gateway (AGRIS? Open Archive?)

The Web Ring and AARINENA

- scientific and technical information - scientific and technical information - research management information- research management information

RED: foreseen Web Ring implementations

- research data- research data

GFAR’s activities in ICM

GFAR along with its members and partners is GFAR along with its members and partners is working to improve sharing and exchange of working to improve sharing and exchange of information and knowledge related to ARD globally information and knowledge related to ARD globally and, through regional fora such as AARINENA, at and, through regional fora such as AARINENA, at the regional and national levelthe regional and national level

THEN making knowledge THEN making knowledge accessible once accessible once available...available...

Thank You