Regional agricultural Regional agricultural

information and learning information and learning

systems (RAILS) systems (RAILS)

of the of the

Forum for agricultural research Forum for agricultural research

in Africa (FARA)in Africa (FARA)

Myra WopereisDirector: Access to Knowledge and Technologies

On behalf of RAILS taskforce:

Krishan Bheenick/Bentry Chaudra, Dady Demby, Jacqueline Nyagahima, (Dorothy Mukhebi), Francois Stepman

The forum for agricultural research in Africa (FARA)

Mandated; Mandated; • To facilitate & coordinate ARD in To facilitate & coordinate ARD in

Africa Africa • As technical adviser on ARD by the As technical adviser on ARD by the

African Union/NEPADAfrican Union/NEPAD• As Lead Institution of the African As Lead Institution of the African

framework on agriculture (CAADP) framework on agriculture (CAADP) Pillar 4 (Research and Technology Pillar 4 (Research and Technology Dissemination)Dissemination)

NASRO

ASARECA

CORAF/WECARD

CARDESA

The building blocks of FARA

Expected resultsExpected results

1.1. Appropriate institutional and organisational arrangements for regional agricultural Appropriate institutional and organisational arrangements for regional agricultural research and development established research and development established

2.2. Broad-based stakeholders have access to the knowledge and technology Broad-based stakeholders have access to the knowledge and technology necessary for innovation necessary for innovation

3.3. Strategic decision making options for policy, institutions and markets developed Strategic decision making options for policy, institutions and markets developed

4.4. Human and institutional capacity for innovation developed Human and institutional capacity for innovation developed

5.5. Platforms for agricultural innovation supportedPlatforms for agricultural innovation supported

Knowing the gaps in African agricultural information systems …

We build on the strengths of SROs

• Institutional and organizational support

• Infrastructure• Information processing• Leadership / political support

Challenges to “information” flows in agricultural research in Africa

• information overload, hoarding

• lack of culture on information use and sharing

• lack of easily available thematic information and /or its sources

• lack of diverse perspectives/dominance of particular voices

• barriers to access due to • Time• Skills – technical • Resources (financial , human ,

infrastructural)

ASARECA - RAIN

Established network of AICM specialists

Initiated capacity bldg activities

CORAF/WECARD

Dynamic national partners Experience in use of information

systems at subregional level

SADC-FANR – AIMS/ICART

Resources available to coordinate and build info system

Rich database on thematic topics

NASRO

IT application in agricultureStrong ARD institutions

How will RAILS contribute?

1.1. Advocacy for increased investmentsAdvocacy for increased investments in agricultural information and in agricultural information and learning systems by African governments and institutionslearning systems by African governments and institutions

2.2. Improve the access and contributionImprove the access and contribution by African ARD Stakeholders by African ARD Stakeholders in the global knowledge exchangein the global knowledge exchange

33.. Facilitate agricultural Facilitate agricultural information systems information systems synergies and learningsynergies and learning among international and among international and national organizationsnational organizations

4.4. Build an African platformBuild an African platform for agriculture information for agriculture information and learning systemsand learning systems

ASARECA: ASARECA: RAINRAIN

CO

RA

FC

OR

AF

Nor

ther

nN

orth

ern

Afr

ica

Afr

ica

SADC-FANRSADC-FANR

Na

tio

na

l N

ati

on

al

foc

al

po

int

foc

al

po

int

National National focal pointfocal point

National focal National focal pointpoint

Na

tion

al

Na

tion

al

foc

al p

oin

tfo

ca

l po

int

FARA FARA RAILSRAILS

SROs’AgriculturalInformation

System

Regional and Regional and global knowledge through global knowledge through

information exchange information exchange and learningand learning

Building the African platform for ARDBuilding the African platform for ARD

Farmers ScientistsPolicy makers Extensionists Private sector

cross-border knowledge sharing

Interventions at various levels Interventions at various levels

RAILS lessons learntRAILS lessons learntdevelopment and implementation of institutional ICM

strategies and policies Understanding the Understanding the

partnerspartners

• Identify the range of Identify the range of target partnerstarget partners

• Variety in their Variety in their needs and needs and interventions in rural interventions in rural development development through innovationthrough innovation

• Various pathways of Various pathways of information flowinformation flow

Part of identification is Part of identification is through through consultation/participconsultation/participation, which may be ation, which may be a lengthy processa lengthy process

• Define strategies and policies that all users can Define strategies and policies that all users can relate to - relate to - ownershipownership

• Ensure Ensure institutional support institutional support especially by especially by decision makers and ministries decision makers and ministries

• Work together Work together with information user and with information user and suppliers, and communicate through media suppliers, and communicate through media familiar to allfamiliar to all

• FocusFocus on priorities of partners identified on priorities of partners identified instead of a particular toolinstead of a particular tool

• Multi-perspective approachMulti-perspective approach, (geographically, , (geographically, commodity based or thematically focussed)commodity based or thematically focussed)

• Have a Have a broad framework broad framework applicable to the applicable to the context, culture & political environmentcontext, culture & political environment

• Added value and contribution of each partnerAdded value and contribution of each partner

• Coherence and sustainability at all levels Coherence and sustainability at all levels

Thank youwww.fara-africa.org