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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
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