Regional Agricultural Information and Learning

Systems (RAILS)

RAILS Workshop Musanze, Rwanda

February 2015

RAILS Objectives1.1. Advocacy to encourage increased investment Advocacy to encourage increased investment in in

agricultural information systems by African agricultural information systems by African governments and institutions;governments and institutions;

2.2. Improve access Improve access to information, and the ability of to information, and the ability of African stakeholders to contribute to global African stakeholders to contribute to global agricultural knowledge;agricultural knowledge;

3.3. Facilitate synergies Facilitate synergies by linking African information by linking African information conduits to global providers of agricultural conduits to global providers of agricultural information;information;

4.4. To develop an To develop an African platform African platform for agricultural for agricultural information and learning systems information and learning systems

To achieve these objectives, FARA/RAILS works with the information and communication team of each of sub-regional research organizations (ASARECA, CORAF, SADC-FANR) who in turn partners with its member NARS.

RAILS Guiding principles

Ownership by the NARS stakeholdersRelevance to the priorities and needs NARSSynergies with existing agricultural

information systemsSustainability not just financially but also

in human resourcesRegular communication among users and

facilitators of information and learning exchange

1. Advocacy for increased investment in agricultural information systemsInterventions

Strengthen partnerships in info. sharing among agricultural research & development (AR&D) institutions

Develop information and communication management strategies and policies for AR&D institutions

Strengthen capacity (human, institutional) in managing and exchange of information and knowledge

Build digital, institutional info repositories based on agreed standards, tools and mechanism

2. Improve access to information, and the ability of African stakeholders to contribute to global agricultural knowledge;

Interventions

strengthen the ICT capacities by procuring a few computers & accessories to support the work of RAILS and DONATA teams – (desktops, servers, net books, cameras, internet access)

Provide short-term training in ICT tools

3. Facilitate synergies by linking African information conduits to global providers of agricultural information;

eRAILS eRAILS

FARA, ASARECA, FARA, ASARECA, RAB, etcRAB, etcAfricaAdaptAfricaAdapt

CIARDCIARD

4. To develop an African platform for agricultural information and learning systems

Interventions

Establish national portals on www.erails.net

The national portals will contain information on agriculture

4. To develop an African platform for agricultural information and learning systems

ActivitiesEstablish mechanisms to support the RAILS activities - Regional,

Sub-regional, national

Build RAILS learning Teams - Regional, Sub-regional, national

Acquisition and installation of basic ICT equipment for RAILS & DONATA teams

Development of the ERAILS platform

Establish shared content management system for the national portals

Organize training in: eRAILs.net, ICT tools, open access systems

Establish open access system in at least 7 RAILS supported countries

Expected RAILS outputsExpected RAILS outputsLearning teams (LTs)Development of the Africa-wide Agricultural

information system (AIS) Portal, www.erails.net LTs capacity strengthened to use www.erails.net LTs identify priority information to share Acquisition of good internet connections and

computer facilities to maintain a dynamic national RAILS network.

Skills of learning teams enhanced to facilitate information & knowledge sharing, and learning

Regular information exchange at the national, sub-regional, continental levels

THANK YOU FOR ATTENTION