Transcript Science, Technology and Innovation in small developing

Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa
RAILS
A framework for Strengthening & Scaling out
Knowledge Sharing in NARS
Maputo, 25-27 October 2010
Dady Demby
Presentation Outline
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About FARA
RAILS objectives and scope
Learning team concept
Building learning teams
– RAILS focal point
– RAILS Learning team
– Selecting Learning team members
• Expected outcomes
• Supporting Learning teams
• Conclusion
Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa
What is FARA?
• FARA is the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa
• It is an umbrella organization that brings together and form coalitions
of major stakeholders in agricultural research and development in
Africa
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FARA complements the innovative activities of national, international
and sub-regional research institutions to deliver more responsive and
effective services to its stakeholders.
• It plays an advocacy and coordination roles for agricultural research
for development, while the national agricultural research systems
(NARSs), advanced research institutions (ARIs) and international
agricultural research centers (IARCs) develop improved technologies
along the research-to-development continuum in their respective
countries and coverage areas.
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RAILS
Regional Agricultural Information and Learning Systems
Objectives:
• Advocate for increased investments in agricultural information
systems by the African governments and institutions.
• Improve the access and contribution by African ARD Stakeholders in
the global knowledge sharing
• Facilitate agricultural information systems synergies and valueaddition between international and national research for
development institutions
• Consolidate national, sub-regional and continental ARD information
systems to create an African platform for AIS that could contribute
to the global AIS.
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RAILS Scope
North African subregion
ASARECA
CORAF/WECARD
SADC-FANR
CARDESA
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Facilitating Synergies and
Complementarities between AIS
NASRO
National focal point
FARARAILS
ASARECA
SRO AIS
CORAF
National focal
point
National focal
point
National focal point
SADC/
FANR
Global knowledge
through information and
learning
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Building Learning Teams
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Learning team concept
• The learning team concept within RAILS is based on
the recognition that an information system is made of
the following main components:
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People,
Technology,
Contents, and
Processes
• The national learning team members are from various
backgrounds and disciplines, working together as
information intermediaries.
• They should have a written approval from their
institution
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RAILS Focal Point
• Contact person in an institution within a country
• Responsibilities
– Facilitate and coordinate RAILS related activities at the
national level
• Mobilizing and catalyzing the national RAILS team members
• Coordinating procurement, delivery, installment and
maintenance of RAILS equipments
• Managing and promoting the country eRAILS portal
• Advocating for investments in agricultural information and
learning systems
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RAILS Focal Point (Cont’d)
• Responsibilities:
– Promote and support the use of international
information management/sharing standards
– Actively participate in the RAILS consultations and
other communication requirements
Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa
RAILS Learning team
• From various backgrounds and disciplines: research,
extension, civil society organizations, government agencies or international
research and development organizations , etc.
• Facilitation roles in information exchanges
between the NARS stakeholders
– delivering of agricultural information and communication
services and products
– developing relevant national information repositories
– maintaining content of the national eRAILS portal
– contributing to communication requirements
– advocacy on the use of information and learning systems
Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa
RAILS Learning team
• Contribute in sensitization of NARS
stakeholders
• Actively participate in activities organized
within the RAILS framework
• Contribute in building capacities of NARS
stakeholders
• Participate in the development of the national
work plans
• Contribute in building synergies in AIS
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Selecting LT Members
• Belong to a NARS institution
• Have proven knowledge and/or experience in
information and communication
• Be currently involved in agricultural research
for development
• Experience in working within a
multidisciplinary and multi-institutional team
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Selecting LT Members (cont’d)
• Have the mandate to manage their
institutional information and communication
needs
• Willing to actively contribute in the
implementation of activities related to RAILS
in their country
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Expected results
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Learning teams established and active
Priority information needs identified
ICT equipments acquired and fully operational
Internet connectivity installed and functional
Server and software installed and functional
National portals activated and regularly updated with
quality content
• DONATA websites created and regularly updated
• Information and knowledge sharing within and across
NARS
• Synergies with other AIS established
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Support to Learning teams
• IT infrastructure.
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Computers and Accessories
Internet connectivity: VSAT or ADSL
Computers and accessories
Servers
• Capacity building
– Online training
– F2F training
Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa
Building capacities,
consensus and
synergies at sub
regional & regional
levels
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Conclusion
• RAILS supports national efforts and doesn’t replace them
• RAILS supports and add value to institutional efforts and
doesn’t duplicate them
• Therefore, RAILS activities should be embedded in the
institution
• National portals are the building block of eRAILS, therefore
are critical to the success of the platform
• Quality content development very important
• National learning teams have a critical role in expanding
networking and eRAILS scope at national level
• ICT and connectivity support provided should be accessible to
all LT members
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Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa
Thank you
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