Facilitation of Information Sharing on Agricultural R&D in the SADC Region: Experiences and Experiments! 2 nd IAALD Africa Chapter Conference 15-17 July 2009 Krishan J Bheenick Information, Communication & Training Officer ICART project, SADC Secretariat

The Southern African Development Community Region 15 Member States

15 Member States

Current Programmes of the FANR Directorate of the SADC Secretariat Agricultural Research and Development Crop Development Livestock Development Natural Resources Management Environment and Sustainable Development Agricultural Information Management System (AIMS)

Agricultural Research and Development

Crop Development

Livestock Development

Natural Resources Management

Environment and Sustainable Development

Agricultural Information Management System (AIMS)

Implementation and Coordination of Agricultural Research and Training (ICART) project EDF supported € 15 million; 2006-2010; Project is located within the FANR Directorate under the AR&D Programme The AR&D programme also implements FARA-led projects e.g. DONATA, SCARDA & RAILS as well as the SADC-Multi Country Agricultural Productivity Programme (MAPP)

EDF supported € 15 million; 2006-2010;

Project is located within the FANR Directorate under the AR&D Programme

The AR&D programme also implements FARA-led projects e.g. DONATA, SCARDA & RAILS as well as the SADC-Multi Country Agricultural Productivity Programme (MAPP)

ICART Project intervention areas Steering Committee (representation of Research, Extension, Universities, Private Sector, Farmer Associations) Strengthen capacity of SADC-FANR to coordinate AR&D and Training Management of competitive funds for (i) Research (ii) Training at MSc level Management of funds to support regional networking activities on AR&D (networking of stakeholders of research) Establishment of an information system on AR&D

Steering Committee (representation of Research, Extension, Universities, Private Sector, Farmer Associations)

Strengthen capacity of SADC-FANR to coordinate AR&D and Training

Management of competitive funds for (i) Research (ii) Training at MSc level

Management of funds to support regional networking activities on AR&D (networking of stakeholders of research)

Establishment of an information system on AR&D

The Agricultural Information Management System (AIMS) of SADC In 2003, as part of re-structuring of the SADC, Secretariat mandated to establish an integrated agricultural information system consisting of existing and upcoming information systems However, insufficient funds and human resources mobilised to implement AIMS (study on process involved by FAO in 2005) Meanwhile, implementation of donor-funded projects e.g. ICART, Land & Water Management, PRINT etc. with information system components and with goal of being sustainable systems Thus, as from 2006, through technical and financial support of these projects: the conceptualisation and prototyping the AIMS (System) To date, the AIMS has been conceptualised, has a functional prototype with a common interface. Feasibility study of major AIMS implementation phase for funding under the 10 th EDF to be launched end of 2009. Implementation as from 2011.

In 2003, as part of re-structuring of the SADC, Secretariat mandated to establish an integrated agricultural information system consisting of existing and upcoming information systems

However, insufficient funds and human resources mobilised to implement AIMS (study on process involved by FAO in 2005)

Meanwhile, implementation of donor-funded projects e.g. ICART, Land & Water Management, PRINT etc. with information system components and with goal of being sustainable systems

Thus, as from 2006, through technical and financial support of these projects: the conceptualisation and prototyping the AIMS (System)

To date, the AIMS has been conceptualised, has a functional prototype with a common interface. Feasibility study of major AIMS implementation phase for funding under the 10 th EDF to be launched end of 2009. Implementation as from 2011.

? From 2006 to 2009 RAILS FSCBRC FMD TADS

March 2007 Consultation meeting between Member States representatives, International Cooperating Partners and SADC FANR Projects on AIMS concept

Numerical Data e.g. Production, Social, Climate, Trade, Stats Spatial/GIS Information & Display e.g. Natural Resources use, production, climate, disease Directories and Information object repositories Institutions, People Documents, Protocols Metadata Content Management System and Communication & Networking Tools AIMS CONCEPTS–Aug 07 (revised 2009) The AIMS consists of 4 different categories of information systems

Numerical Databases GIS information Directories & Info Object Repositories Graphical Interface, Content Management & communications tools Using a visual and graphical user interface to access information User Information Producers

Guiding principles – Focus on:- THE INSTITUTIONS AND THEIR STAFF: Work as a network of institutions and of their staff involved in agricultural information management THE CONTENT - quality, availability, timely ADOPTION OF STANDARDS: - use international information exchange standards being developed USES: – Respond to national and regional information needs FUNCTIONALITIES: - defined by the stakeholders

THE INSTITUTIONS AND THEIR STAFF: Work as a network of institutions and of their staff involved in agricultural information management

THE CONTENT - quality, availability, timely

ADOPTION OF STANDARDS: - use international information exchange standards being developed

USES: – Respond to national and regional information needs

FUNCTIONALITIES: - defined by the stakeholders

PSTADA RAILS & DONATA Platforms for information exchange, technologies learning teams; Ma ize , Sorghum, or others; 6 MS; 2008-12 ICART Projects Platforms and general IS on AR&D and Training; 15 MS; 2006-10 L&W Platform and GIS on R&D et training on Land and Water Management; 10 MS; 2003-08 PRINT Livestock sector, (production, health, marketing); LIMS; 15 MS; 2005-09 FMD Livestock Sector, Animal Health (Foot and Mouth Disease); 3-4 MS TADS Livestock sector, animal health, 4-5 MS; 2008- SSSN Seed Production sector, network of 14-15 MS, -2008 (possible 2009-) FSCBC Food Safety; SPS & Trade – (2008-11) RRSU Agrometeorology; Remote sensing; GIS (continued programme) RRVA Vulnerability assessment; Food Security EWS Early warning System; Food Security; Forecasts (-2005) Trans-B Environment & Natural Resources Management AR&D L IV CrP FSEC ENV Projects – duration and scope FANR-programme

PSTADA ICART Projects L&W PRINT FMD TADS SSSN FSCBC RRSU RRVA EWS P-Trans FANR Sector R&D L IV CrP FSEC ENV Info Syst. Procedures CommonInterface Integration of IS Integrated AIS AIMS Portal website Member States Integrated Information System at Regional and National level AIMS – funded under 10 th EDF 2011-2015 The approach to the development of the AIMS as a fully integrated Agricultural Information System in the SADC

Consultative workshop on AIMS in June 2008 after the development of a prototype June 2008

Major developments 2007/08 Land & Water Management Information System (L&WMIS) – & AIMS Portal prototype Livestock Information Management System (LIMS) Spatial Data & GeoNetwork development Situation analyses of Livestock sector, Agric Research & Training, best bet technologies AIMS implementation earmarked for funding through the 10 th EDF by 2011 Capacity building of stakeholders (L&W, LIMS, ICART ARD)

Land & Water Management Information System (L&WMIS) – & AIMS Portal prototype

Livestock Information Management System (LIMS)

Spatial Data & GeoNetwork development

Situation analyses of Livestock sector, Agric Research & Training, best bet technologies

AIMS implementation earmarked for funding through the 10 th EDF by 2011

Capacity building of stakeholders (L&W, LIMS, ICART ARD)

THEMES MEMBER STATES Thematic Network National Network Planning FAO-L&W L&W Land & Water IPPC SSSN ! Crops 14 FSCBRC ! SPS Other… FAO-STAT S Unit ! Stats WMO, RRSU ! Agromet OIE, FAO PRINT,TADS ! Livestock FARA, CORAF, ASARECA ICART, P-STADA ! Res. & Dev. ICP SADC 13 12 11 10 09 08 07 06 05 04 03 02 01 Themes WI, FAO, CGIAR, RAILS AIMS-ICT ! ICT-KM

Functionalities of the AIMS portal http://aims.sadc.int To present spatial and non-spatial information To develop directories of institutions (and experts) – information exchange standards To carry out customised search for projects, technologies, people, institutions, publications To establish electronic networks- thematic & national, using tools for communication (dgroup forums), collaboration (wiki) & dissemination (mailing lists, photos, audio, video) To devolve content generation to level of information producer To aggregate national news/events at regional level using Web 2.0 tools such as RSS Feeds Social bookmarking and group ‘tagging’ (e.g. del.ic.io.us) To host Learning tools and materials for distance or face to face mode or both

http://aims.sadc.int

To present spatial and non-spatial information

To develop directories of institutions (and experts) – information exchange standards

To carry out customised search for projects, technologies, people, institutions, publications

To establish electronic networks- thematic & national, using tools for communication (dgroup forums), collaboration (wiki) & dissemination (mailing lists, photos, audio, video)

To devolve content generation to level of information producer

To aggregate national news/events at regional level using Web 2.0 tools such as RSS Feeds

Social bookmarking and group ‘tagging’ (e.g. del.ic.io.us)

To host Learning tools and materials for distance or face to face mode or both

Options for info management Shared responsibilities Coordination Unit at SADC Facilitated interactions Face to face meetings E-mail contact; group e-mails Use ICT-tools for collective interactions… e.g. Web tools

Shared responsibilities

Coordination Unit at SADC

Facilitated interactions

Face to face meetings

E-mail contact; group e-mails

Use ICT-tools for collective interactions… e.g. Web tools

Examples of collaborative tools for info exchange & management Discussion forums & mailing lists Dgroups enables above via e-mail Wiki Wikipedia-like; Collaborative editing News feeds Social Bookmarking (tagging) On-line brainstorming / learning Available through the AIMS portal

Discussion forums & mailing lists

Dgroups enables above via e-mail

Wiki

Wikipedia-like; Collaborative editing

News feeds

Social Bookmarking (tagging)

On-line brainstorming / learning

Available through the AIMS portal

ICART Information System integration into SADC information System ICART website as part of the SADC FANR website The ICART project has integrated its system development with that of the Agricultural Information Management System (AIMS) programme of the SADC FANR Directorate ICART has facilitated the conceptualisation of the integrated system, supported discussions with AIMS stakeholders, contributed to the development of a functional prototype of the AIMS portal and is now building capacity to use the portal

ICART website as part of the SADC FANR website

The ICART project has integrated its system development with that of the Agricultural Information Management System (AIMS) programme of the SADC FANR Directorate

ICART has facilitated the conceptualisation of the integrated system, supported discussions with AIMS stakeholders, contributed to the development of a functional prototype of the AIMS portal and is now building capacity to use the portal

Establishment of an information system on AR&D Mid-Sept08: Stakeholders’ Assembly Discussions End Sept 08 - Regional Workshop (repr. Agric Research and Extension/Information Services) on the establishment of a platform for information exchange on AR&D Methodology for Information Needs Assessment, Capacity building on AIMS Portal/ Networking among peers/ Strategy for implementation 15 SADC MS including the 6 MS involved in RAILS Collaboration in implementing RAILS national workshops in the SADC region

Mid-Sept08: Stakeholders’ Assembly Discussions

End Sept 08 - Regional Workshop (repr. Agric Research and Extension/Information Services) on the establishment of a platform for information exchange on AR&D

Methodology for Information Needs Assessment, Capacity building on AIMS Portal/ Networking among peers/ Strategy for implementation

15 SADC MS including the 6 MS involved in RAILS

Collaboration in implementing RAILS national workshops in the SADC region

Consultations with Stakeholders (mid Sept08)

Consultations with Stakeholders (mid Sept08)

Workshop with R&D Info Managers (24-26 Sept08)

Workshop with R&D Info Managers (24-26 Sept08)

Workshop with R&D Info Managers (24-26 Sept08)

Consolidation of the SADC Network of AR&D Information Managers Establishment of dgroups forum (AIMS-ARD, RAILS e-discussions) Joint efforts in AIMS and e-RAILS development Regional consultation on the Development of Agricultural Information, Communication and Knowledge Management (AICKM) Strategies (May 2009) Regional workshop on Open Access, Open Archive (June 2009 – expanding the Network to include Documentalists)

Establishment of dgroups forum (AIMS-ARD, RAILS e-discussions)

Joint efforts in AIMS and e-RAILS development

Regional consultation on the Development of Agricultural Information, Communication and Knowledge Management (AICKM) Strategies (May 2009)

Regional workshop on Open Access, Open Archive (June 2009 – expanding the Network to include Documentalists)

Current Experiment: Bonding of the Network – through more work? Collaboration among Network to update the Regional Directory of AR&D Institutions Within 5 weeks, preparation of 10 papers with joint authorships on issues of AR&D Information Management from the SADC region Presentation of Pre-conference workshop at the 2 nd IAALD Africa Chapter Conference –– experiences shared with the RAILS Network across Africa! The results?

Collaboration among Network to update the Regional Directory of AR&D Institutions

Within 5 weeks, preparation of 10 papers with joint authorships on issues of AR&D Information Management from the SADC region

Presentation of Pre-conference workshop at the 2 nd IAALD Africa Chapter Conference –– experiences shared with the RAILS Network across Africa!

The results?

Some papers presented by the Network Presentation of initiatives for development of agricultural information management to policy – makers: a case study from Mozambique Institutional linkages in agricultural information and knowledge sharing in Tanzania Potential for web tool applications to support innovation platforms in agricultural technology: implications for Malawi The process of setting up a national learning team – applying the lessons learned from Madagascar in the Seychelles context Should an agricultural research and development information manager in the sadc region have a Google account? A discussion paper An approach to sharing of news and events in the agricultural research and development sector in the SADC region Building a Google customized search engine on agricultural research & development for the SADC region

Presentation of initiatives for development of agricultural information management to policy – makers: a case study from Mozambique

Institutional linkages in agricultural information and knowledge sharing in Tanzania

Potential for web tool applications to support innovation platforms in agricultural technology: implications for Malawi

The process of setting up a national learning team – applying the lessons learned from Madagascar in the Seychelles context

Should an agricultural research and development information manager in the sadc region have a Google account? A discussion paper

An approach to sharing of news and events in the agricultural research and development sector in the SADC region

Building a Google customized search engine on agricultural research & development for the SADC region

SADC Network of ARD Information Managers SADC sub-regional Learning Team on ARD CIARD Champions in the SADC region SADC Paid-up Members of IAALD 2009-2010

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