Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Science and Technology Information Stephen...

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Science and Technology Information

Stephen RudgardChief WAICENT Capacity Building and Outreach

Management and Communication of Agricultural

Scientific Information



• The Challenge

• Objectives

• Constraints

• Institutional Capacities

• Human Capacities

• Partnerships

Contents



• Core competencies in Research & Development• Imperative

• to acquire information; and• to communicate outputs.

• Opportunities in the New Technologies

Principal Challenge

Agricultural Research Organizations

Many Organizations are not addressing the challenge adequately.



• Information Content - in digital format,

for agriculture and rural development

• Innovative Mechanisms and Processes

for information digitization and exchange,

and for communication

• Networks amongst key stakeholders

Key Objectives



• Institutional Capacities – lack of

resources and appropriate

organizational structures• Human Capacities – lack of

awareness and skills • Partnerships – poor outreach to key

service providers and audiences

Key Constraints



• New Institutional Structures• New Skills and/or New People• New Content – Digital• New Technologies

Institutional Capacities Investing in Information

Minimise impact of change –

• learn lessons from others

• use existing technologies



Rural communities and their representatives

Other scientists

Government policy-makers and their advisers

Who are the stakeholders?



Priority Areas

• Document management and e-publishing

• Rural information and communication systems

• Decision support tools



AGRIS Network

Manage & Disseminate Documents

www.fao.org/agris

Document Management



• decentralized approach • greater diversity of participating organizations• strengthened role in capacity building• focus on full text documents• greater availability of associated information

about activities/organizations/people• set of web-enabled standards (AGMES),

methodologies (AGRIS Application Profiles, AGROVOC), and tools (WebAGRIS)

New AGRIS Vision (2002)



Rural Information and Communication Systems

Networking tools and processes for exchange and access to information and communication

VERCON (Virtual Extension, Research and Communication Network)

FarmNet - Farmers Information Network



Decision-support Tools(for policymakers)

• Briefings

• Policy Papers

• Prediction – Models



Human Capacities

Information Management Resource Kit (IMARK)

Partnership-based e-learning initiative

• Modules - a series of computer-based distance learning curricula and resources

• On-line Community - a "virtual" community on the Internet for contributors and learners



Published

• Management of Electronic Documents

• Digitization and Digital Libraries

Mid-2005

• Investing in Agricultural Information

• Building Electronic Communities

IMARK Modules



• Blended learning − Face-to-Face− Distance

• Institutional networks− SIDALC− INFOTEC

• Regional Training Courses • National Training Courses

IMARK supporting AGRIS



Building Partnerships to Build Capacity

National/Regional• NARS• Universities• IICA• CARDI• FORAGRO• etc….

International• FAO• GFAR• CGIAR• BID• World Bank• etc…



Summary

• Institutional change• Investment• Tools and guidelines• Capacity building• Partnership

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Science and Technology Information Stephen...

Documents

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