Knowledge and communication in the Africa RISING Program

Tsehay Gashaw

Africa RISING ESA Review and Planning MeetingArusha, Tanzania, 9-11 September 2014

1. The general comms approach of the program (objectives)

2. Finding, following and contributing to Africa RISING knowledge and information

3. Practical exercises with some of the key Africa RISING comms tools

Overview of the session

1. The general comms approach of the program (objectives)

Communicating for wider influence and impact – Engaging with and influencing wide audiences;

Translating the program’s outputs into research, development and policy outcomes, getting knowledge into use;

Knowledge sharing and learning – Enriching learning, interaction and exchange across the program;

Publishing – Capturing and disseminating research products and outputs of the program;

Internal communication – Linking and connecting project and program teams.

Scope of program activities

2. Finding, following and contributing to Africa RISING knowledge and Information

What we produce• News• Document and reports• Presentations• Photos• Videos and photo films • News digests (Matters ARISING)• Event calendar

News

Documents and reports

Presentations

Photos

Videos & Photo films

News digests (Matters Arising)

Event calendar

How to get to Africa RISING’s knowledge

• On the web site • On CG Space• On Wiki• On Yammer• By Email• Event calendar• Search Google

Where to find Africa RISING information and knowledge?

Tools and resources http://africa-rising.net/ http://africa-rising.net/about/ckm/ http://africa-rising.wikispaces.com/

Subscribe to Email alerts• Sign up for news alerts by email• Sign up for publications alerts by email

Comms support - Who to contact?

• Overall program: Peter Ballantyne, Ewen Le Borgne and Simret Yasabu (ILRI)

• East & Southern Africa – Jonathan Odhong (IITA) and Catherine Njuguna (IITA) and Jeffrey Oliver (IITA )

• Ethiopia: Simret Yasabu (ILRI)• West Africa – Jonathan Odhong (IITA) and

Katherine Lopez (IITA)

The Africa RISING Wiki - Collaborate

Why is it important?• Most up-to-date information• Cuts down email traffic• Better for planning and organizing events• Better to document, publish and follow-up

project activities• Collaborate, share, learn and browse• Work with your colleagues in West Africa,

Ethiopia and Eastern and Southern Africa

How can I use the Africa RISING wiki?

•If a new user, create account / get invite• Accept invitation and collaborate • Read content • Edit pages• Upload document

The Africa RISING Wiki

What is in it?• The program framework• All events - documented• Branding guidelines (templates, logos and tools)• The history of the project• Overview of the regions • Communication plans• Key contacts (and what they do)• Etc.

Key elements (http://africa-rising.wikispaces.com/)

Program framework

Branding , logs, template, etc..

Yammer – Connect with colleagues

Why is it important?• Quickly get connected and collaborate with CGIAR

colleagues• Cut down on email traffic• Get help or find answers for some of your questions• Find out about project activities and updates• Share, learn and get more from yammer

Key actions• Join with your institution email (ex. cgiar.org, etc.)• Update profile • Set notifications (manage your emails!)

Yammer – connect with colleagues(https://www.yammer.com/africa-rising/)

Q & A

3. Practical exercises with some of the key Africa RISING comms tools

Live Demo• Login to wiki (join or accept the invitation)

• Post content• Create or Edit a page• Upload document• View history page, set notification, etc…

• Login to Yammer (join if necessary) www.yammer.com• Update your profile, Set notifications• Join your interest of groups /networks and share

Africa Research in Sustainable Intensification for the Next Generation

africa-rising.net

The presentation has a Creative Commons licence. You are free to re-use or distribute this work, provided credit is given to ILRI.

Thank You