This document discusses opening access to agricultural information in Africa. It outlines benefits like reaching target audiences and increasing access to resources, as well as challenges like lack of time, funding, and enabling policies. Researchers prefer traditional routes to communicate outputs but are open to modern methods with support. Overall, making information openly available relies on individuals and institutions need strategic policies to change behaviors and better share knowledge.

1. Opening up Research
Outputs and
Knowledge in
Agriculture:
Benefits and
Challenges
Regional Expert Consultation
on Opening Access to Agricultural Information in Africa
Presented by Franz Martin
Knowledge and Capacity for Development www.ciard.net
information@ciard.net

2. Knowledge Sharing in Agricultural Innovation

3. Agricultural Research Outputs

4. Type of agric. research outputs
(Kenya, Ghana, Zambia)

5. Publications over period 1999-2008
Africa’s output of publications
Source: Thomson-Reuters (April, 2010).

6. Network of collaboration
Cluster of countries with strongest partnerships (by papers)
Source: Thomson-Reuters (April, 2010).

7. Scientific Collaboration Map
(2005-2009)

8. Content in Google from universities
Graph by FAO. Source data from www.webometrics.info (Webpages from universities. January, 2009)

9. Open Access Repositories
Source: Repository Maps - repository66.org
Powered by Google

10. Agric. Research Institutional Repositories
Status in Ghana
Numbeof f publica ions
tions
Number r o pub lic at
Graph by FAO. Source data from INSTI, Ghana. March, 2010

11. Accessibility of research outputs
in some International Centres
Centre A Centre B Centre C
Bibliographic Full Text Resources Search Engines
References
Graph by FAO. Source data from Agricultural Information Worldwide. Vol. 3. No.1 (2010)

12. BENEFITS AND
CHALLENGES

13. Region(s) where most respondents‘ work
is carried out.
Europe 4.6% Northern America 4.1%
Caribbean
6.9%
Asia and Pacific 23.7%
Africa 32.6%
Latin America 53.5%
Source: CIARD. Global Survey for Researchers. 2011

14. FACTORS ENCOURAGING
effective communication of research outputs
Most important:
- Institutional demands to report/communicate
- Opportunities for career enhancement
- Access to adequate IT infrastructure
- Acknowledgement of contributions
Less important:
- Direct monetary rewards
(related to royalties and
personal development)
Source: CIARD. Global Survey for Researchers. 2011

15. BENEFITS GAINED
by communicating research
Most important:
- Reaching the target audience
- Increased access to: a) resources/funding for work and
b) colleagues for problem solving
- Increased recognition/visibility for the organization
altruistic
Less important:
- Personal gain
(financial or personal status) © FAO
Source: CIARD Global Survey for Researchers. 2011

16. BARRIERS
preventing from communicating research
Most important:
- Lack of resources/time and funding
- Weak linkages between researchers and end users
- Lack of enabling institutional policies
Less important:
- Concerns about stealing and reuse of outputs
- Lack of skills/access to communication methods
- Poor IT infrastructure
Source: CIARD Global Survey for Researchers. 2011

17. ROUTES PREFERED
for communication of research outputs
Stronger preference
Traditional routes
- Scholarly publishing, conferences and seminars (3/4)
- Training materials (1/2), practical demonstr. (1/3)
Weaker preference
Broadcast/Mass media
- Newspapers (~8%), radio/TV (~15%), promo.mat.
© FAO
(~29%)
Modern methods (Internet enabled)
-Social media (~18%), repository/web (~29%)
Source: CIARD Global Survey for Researchers. 2011

18. SUPPORT MECHANISMS
for communicating research outputs effectively
Strong demand for support and training
- Web based social media
- Participatory research methods &
communications skills
(e.g. audio/video)
© FAO
Source: CIARD Global Survey for Researchers. 2011

19. RESEARCH OUTPUTS PRODUCED
Traditional print-based formats still predominate...
but digital ones are now penetrating (20-35%)
Most outputs are communicated
through openly accessible, no-cost routes.
Source: CIARD Global Survey for Researchers. 2011

20. THE WAY FORWARD
Making research outputs openly available
often relies on individuals.
Individuals’ behaviours can be influenced
by institutional factors/barriers.
Relevant strategic policy frameworks are
required to change institutional/
individual behaviours.

21. THE WAY FORWARD
These findings can be considered by
senior managers to review their
organizational policies.

22. Coherence in Information
for Agricultural Research for Development
A global movement that promotes and sustain
the openness of agricultural knowledge to all.

23. The Movement
Founding Partners
More than 150 other organizations participating… www.ciard.net

24. CIARD support for overcoming
the Challenges in Research Communication
Our institution
has no policy on We don’t have time to
communicating adapt our results into the
its outputs what extensionists want
We have no systems
Other scientists will
and tools for Internet
publish our results if we
dissemination
share them
There are no staff
with the skills in
digital technologies
www.ciard.net

25. Opening up Research
Outputs and
Knowledge in
Agriculture:
Benefits and
Challenges
Regional Expert Consultation
on Opening Access to Agricultural Information in Africa
Presented by Franz Martin
Knowledge and Capacity for Development www.ciard.net
information@ciard.net