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Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa Building a Continental Platform for Knowledge Sharing in Africa Dady Demby RAILS Program Officer
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Forum for Agricultural Research in AfricaForum for Agricultural Research in AfricaForum for Agricultural Research in AfricaForum for Agricultural Research in Africa

Building a Continental Platform for Knowledge Sharing in Africa

Dady DembyRAILS Program Officer

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Forum for Agricultural Research in AfricaForum for Agricultural Research in AfricaForum for Agricultural Research in AfricaForum for Agricultural Research in Africa

Outline

1.1. IntroductionIntroduction2.2. Bringing people togetherBringing people together3.3. Promoting effective use of ICTs Promoting effective use of ICTs 4.4. Facilitating a participatory and dynamic Facilitating a participatory and dynamic

processes processes 5.5. Developing contents Developing contents 6.6. Challenges facedChallenges faced 7.7. Conclusion and way forwardConclusion and way forward

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Forum for Agricultural Research in AfricaForum for Agricultural Research in AfricaForum for Agricultural Research in AfricaForum for Agricultural Research in Africa

1.Introduction1.IntroductionFARAFARA is is thethe ForumForum for Agricultural Research in Africa. for Agricultural Research in Africa. • An An apex body apex body of agricultural research organisations of agricultural research organisations

in Africa. in Africa.

• Primary constituent members: Primary constituent members: -the sub-regional agricultural research -the sub-regional agricultural research

organisations (SROs) & organisations (SROs) & -National Research Institutions (NARIs) -National Research Institutions (NARIs)

across across Africa.Africa.

• Secretariat - in Accra, GhanaSecretariat - in Accra, Ghana

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Forum for Agricultural Research in AfricaForum for Agricultural Research in Africa

CORAF/WECARDASARECA

CCARDESA

NASRO

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Forum for Agricultural Research in AfricaForum for Agricultural Research in AfricaForum for Agricultural Research in AfricaForum for Agricultural Research in Africa

1. Introduction cont.• RAILS objectives

– Contribute to advocacy for increased investments in agricultural information

– Improve the access and contribution by African ARD Stakeholders in the global knowledge sharing

– Facilitate agricultural information systems synergies and learning

– Build an African platform for agriculture information and learning system

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ASARECA

-Jacqueline Nyagahima-Peter Wamanga

SADC/FANR CCARDESA-Molapong-Krishan Bheenick

CORAF/WECARD

-Anatole Kone-Alioune MBow

NASRO

RAILS continental perspective

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Forum for Agricultural Research in AfricaForum for Agricultural Research in AfricaForum for Agricultural Research in AfricaForum for Agricultural Research in Africa

2. Bringing People Together

A. Established a RAILS Working Group at continental level

• Developed RAILS Work plan at continental level• Defined Guidelines for the functioning of the

RAILS learning teams• Defined the features of the eRAILS continental

portal

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2. Bringing People Together cont.

B. Multi-stakeholders RAILS learning teams at national level: 29 national LTs

• Jointly developed and implementing action plans at national level

• Defined the approach for populating the eRAILS platform at national and sub-regional levels

• Populating the eRAILS online platform at country level

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3. Promoting effective use of ICTs

• Training– eRAILS– Web 2.0 – Etc.

• ICT support:– Computers & accessories, netbooks, server,

Internet connectivity• Coaching

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Forum for Agricultural Research in AfricaForum for Agricultural Research in AfricaForum for Agricultural Research in AfricaForum for Agricultural Research in Africa

4. Facilitating a participatory and 4. Facilitating a participatory and dynamic processesdynamic processes

• A total of 54 Dgroups communities• Membership: 2307 members• Originating from 102 countries

worldwide• Total number of contributions: 3611• Number of discussion topics raised: 12

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5. Developing contents

The eRAILS portalAim: Facilitate information mobilization, sharing and dissemination by African Stakeholders

– 43 active country portals– 367 account holders– 575 websites created– 2408 pages

www.erails.net

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Some eRAILS National websites

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The eRAILS portal:

Visits & pages viewed : July 2009 - Oct 2011

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04/07/23 1604/07/23 16Forum for Agricultural Research in AfricaForum for Agricultural Research in Africa

5. Developing contents cont.

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eRAILS 2 General objective: to mobilize farming communities and farmer

advisory service providers to formulate questions so that agricultural experts can give practical answers to farmers’ immediate information requirements.

• Key outputso Produced a sensitization videoo Selected first group of countries and established implementing

teamso Organized national facilitators workshopo Launched implementation of activities within selected countrieso Established a project website:

http://www.erails.net/FARA/erails2/erails2/Home/ • Involvement of Youth

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6. Challenges faced• Low awareness of the importance of

information and knowledge for development• Lack of clear ICM policies and strategies• Low levels of funding for information and

knowledge management• Delay in the procurement of internet

connectivity & ICT equipment

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6. Challenges faced cont.

• Weak collaboration between RAILS & DONATA stakeholders in several countrie

• Insufficient human resources in ICM• Low levels of connectivity to internet• Lack of culture for documenting information • Unwillingness to share information

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7. Conclusion7. Conclusion

1. Bringing people together:– is key in designing the RAILS agenda at all levels– Has been crucial in defining guidelines for effective

functioning of RAILS– Is playing a key role in driving the implementation of the

RAILS programme– Is playing a key role in mobilizing stakeholders

2. Contributed to strengthening stakeholders capacities in key areas

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7. Conclusion 7. Conclusion cont.cont.

3. Sustaining our achievements through– Country focal persons – Institutionalization– Training, capacity strengthening– Alignment/Embedding activities – African youths– Decentralization

4. Still challenges andneed for scaling-outand strengthening

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7. Way forward

• Scaling out the implementation of platforms for knowledge sharing (Dgroups & Learning Teams)

• Linking researchers to farmers: eRAILS 2• Establishing the African cloud system• Promoting the development of ICM policies and

strategies

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Thank you www.erails.net