Final Workshop on “Strengthening of the Horticulture information Support Network for Small Farmers in Egypt” (HORTISUN) Project. Tuesday, 20 October 2015

1. Strengthening of the Horticulture information Support Network for Small Farmers in Egypt
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
PROJECT FINAL WORKSHOP
Overview on Project Achievements and Lessons Learned
Magdi Latif
Knowledge and Information Management Officer
Advocacy, Partnership and Capacity Development Division
FAO/RNE, Cairo, Egypt

2. Strengthening of the Horticulture information Support Network for Small Farmers in Egypt
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Background
Knowledge is power. We use Knowledge and Communication
to Empower the Horticulture Community (KC4D) with Focus on
Small Farmer.
Our project is based on Technology Transfer, Knowledge
Generation, Dissemination, and Knowledge Sharing.
The project empowers the community with Knowledge
Management tools, services, training, and technical support for
sharing and using horticulture knowledge for development.

3. Strengthening of the Horticulture information Support Network for Small Farmers in Egypt
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Timeframe
September 2013 - September 2015.
Objective
Strengthen the capacity of the MoALR to establish
an effective and efficient horticulture sector
information support network for improving
horticulture information and knowledge sharing to
support small farmers for poverty reduction,
sustainable development.

4. Strengthening of the Horticulture information Support Network for Small Farmers in Egypt
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Partners: The project had six key partners

5. Strengthening of the Horticulture information Support Network for Small Farmers in Egypt
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

6. Strengthening of the Horticulture information Support Network for Small Farmers in Egypt
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

7. Strengthening of the Horticulture information Support Network for Small Farmers in Egypt
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

8. Strengthening of the Horticulture information Support Network for Small Farmers in Egypt
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Impact
• Small farmers experienced better crops
production in terms of quantity and quality.
• Increase small farmers’ incomes.

9. Strengthening of the Horticulture information Support Network for Small Farmers in Egypt
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
KEY LESSONS LEARNED

10. Strengthening of the Horticulture information Support Network for Small Farmers in Egypt
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Key Lessons Learned
• People, Not Only Technology: Networks work with people. People need
trust to work together and share their information and knowledge. An
appropriate mix of human and technological dimensions should be put in
place.
• Locally adapted content and context. HORTISUN contains HORTICULTURE
information and other information resources produced in Egypt
• Institutionalization: Implementation of the network should be seen as a
new way of working within institutions and not simply as a project. As such,
it needs to be embedded at the institutional level – fully part of work
procedures, in staff work plans and budgets, and systematically monitored
to assess results and impact.
• Enabling Environment: An information and communication technology
policy that recognizes the value of connectivity and the importance of
telecommunications infrastructure is necessary before implementing an
institutions-based network-style system.

11. Strengthening of the Horticulture information Support Network for Small Farmers in Egypt
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Key Lessons Learned
• Sustainability: Capacity building, institutional development, organizational
restructure, collaboration and team work all played important roles to overcome
difficult issues and reach a sustainable phase. Business plans should be prepared
and implemented to ensure sustainability and subsequent self-financing.
Government support and/or external funding are being sought for the expansion
and sustainability.
• Knowledge-Sharing Culture: Knowledge sharing is often a challenge because of the
inclination to work in “closed” environments. A culture conducive to sharing
requires the commitment of senior management and cross-functional collaborative
planning. A knowledge sharing culture should be fostered through a strategy that
might include capacity building in collaborative methods, communication for
development tools, and exchange mechanisms.
• Network Facilitation: Exchange and information flows need to be promoted
between the system stakeholders. A proactive coordination team can promote and
facilitate information exchange and communication among the actors. Face-to-face
meetings are also crucial to capitalize on exchange and stimulate new ways of
working.
• Partnership: The benefits of national partnerships in the development of networks
are: (a) A collaborative system and effective communication, (b) Exchange of
information and knowledge, (c) Enhanced technical cooperation, (d) Reduced costs
of operation, (e) Synergies in information management, and (f) Use of agreed
standards, methodologies and tools.

12. Strengthening of the Horticulture information Support Network for Small Farmers in Egypt
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

13. Strengthening of the Horticulture information Support Network for Small Farmers in Egypt
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Thank You