http://www.aarinena.org/Forum My WWWThreads Forum en http://backend.userland.com/rss http://www.aarinena.org/Forum/view_topic.php?pid=20#20 20@http://www.aarinena.org/Forum Topic: Discussion following by Oman Workshop 2008 Message: Dear Ajit, Many thanks for your detailed explanation and views on the subject. Regarding your conclusions on the Indian scenario, you seemed to have given more weightage on the face value of the reports, especially when the presenters and leaders of ICT in ICAR kept changing. Hence to conclude that India is stagnating in ICM area is perhaps contrary to the facts as otherwise globally recognized. Regarding your concern for the World food crisis, India has not imported food grains this year. On the contrary, additional food grains produced this year is around 7 million tonnes, with procurement touching by now around 22 million tonnes. All this is a positive development and special efforts are on through National Food Security Mission launched by the Government of India. APAARI will be pleased to organize a high policy level meeting on ICM4ARD next year to sensitize NARS leaders provided there is some funding possibility from GFAR. Your perception that APAARI is slow in ICM4ARD compared to other Fora is perhaps not based on facts and achievements made so far despite funding constraint. Best regards, Raj Paroda ------------------ Executive Secretary APAARI Mon, 21 Jul 2008 02:30:19 -0400 http://www.aarinena.org/Forum/view_topic.php?pid=19#19 19@http://www.aarinena.org/Forum Topic: Discussion following by Oman Workshop 2008 Message: Respected Dr. Paroda and Colleagues: I thank you and Dr. Hamdan for joining this discussion on Information and Communications Management for Agricultural Research for Development. It reflects deeply your commitments to fulfil an important global agenda for improving agriculture and agricultural research through development in various regions. This discussion has been leading to what we are trying to achieve, as information managers, in improving ICM at regional and national level. Prominent ARD leaders such as yourself can be powerful champions for this global agenda and we need your voices to join this call. The discussions, as I have already indicated, have coalesced around to the need to champion improved and increased investment in ICT infrastructure, ICM skills and Institutional capacity to manage, share and exchange information in National Institutes and Organizations and the NARS as a whole. A draft document to support this advocacy has been circulated to all Regional Forums and I have received comments from Dr. Sahdev Singh. After its finalization, it will be circulated to all Regional Forum Executive Officers to follow up as you consider appropriate. As regards the specific issue of India, going by the various presentations and reports made by the Indian Focal Points in APARIS over the years, my concerns are 1) that there is not as yet a coherent message between reports produced previously on the state of progress at the national level and 2) that these have not yet apparently incorporated the rapid changes occurring in the private sector and civil society organizations application of IT for agricultural development in India. For example, in early 2000 the Focal Point mentioned the Agricultural Research Information System (ARIS) being developed in India, including the development of an Agricultural Research Management Information System and Agricultural Research Library Information System. However progress on these developments were not mentioned in subsequent reports. Dr Jain later reported a Data Warehousing initiative being taken up for all agricultural information by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). However, the most recent report by Dr. T.P. Trivedi from the Bangkok Workshop contained no mention of progress on the Data Warehouse project. India is a hotbed of innovation in IT and its application for agricultural development and sharing experiences on the progress and impact of these initiatives would have benefited not only the region but the whole world which looks up to India as an example of success. In my position within the GFAR Secretariat it would not be appropriate for me to question official reports produced by APAARI member nations. However I do personally feel that the report does not do justice to the actual situation in ICAR, the wider Indian NARS or at the National level. If it does reflect realities then it is also a cause for concern as it would appear that ICM in Indian agricultutural research is not progressing commensurate to the achievement India has clearly made in both agriculture, information technology and ICT application for agricultural development. As you are aware, a report on the global status of ICM for ARD can contribute significantly to advocacy for improved ICM for ARD the world over. I am drawing this matter to your attention simply for you to take action as you may feel appropriate to strengthen the messages being produced on this issue at country and regional level. In regard to financial support, I would be very willing, in my role within the GFAR Secretariat, to support the efforts of APAARI to secure funding for this area of activity, as we have done previously with FARA in developing its RAILS. We would be very happy to work with you to help APAARI link to bodies that provide funding for regional initiatives and to help APAARI articulate its requests for regional funding of this kind. On the global scale, we are also actively promoting initiatives such as CIARD to bring together the World's information resources and make these accessible to the benefit of each region and ARD system. This initiative already brings together international organizations such as FAO, CABI and the CGIAR along with the Regional Forums. We need prominent champions such as you in GFAR to also advocate and promote increased investment in ICM4ARD at the global level. Warm regards, Ajit Maru____________GFAR Mon, 21 Jul 2008 02:27:21 -0400 http://www.aarinena.org/Forum/view_topic.php?pid=18#18 18@http://www.aarinena.org/Forum Topic: Discussion following by Oman Workshop 2008 Message: Dear Ajit, It seems you have referred to India and other countries and also about APAARI. Could you be little more explicit as to how heterogeneous development for ICM4ARD, which is bound to remain as a reality, could be overcome. There is enough information and considerable developments in India to improve food security, but from your assessment it seems that these facts are not known. I also note your concern about slow progress in Asia-Pacific region. On the contrary, APAARI through its APARIS program has been considered to be much ahead in catalysing the NARS partners. No doubt, much can be done if there is funding support by donor organisations, for which we look towards GFAR to facilitate the process. Somehow, we see little progress in this regard. Hope you will agree that GFAR, being an apex organisation, should do more to help the regional fora by convincing the donors to provide more support as has been possible in case of FARA through AfDB. Best regards. Raj Paroda ___________________________Executive Secretary, APAARI Mon, 21 Jul 2008 02:25:57 -0400 http://www.aarinena.org/Forum/view_topic.php?pid=17#17 17@http://www.aarinena.org/Forum Topic: Discussion following by Oman Workshop 2008 Message: Dear Stephen, Following the interesting discussion on the ICM issue may be we have to take advantage of holding the 11th General Conference of AARINENA in October 2008 in Damascus by focusing on the most important issue raised during this ongoing discussion to the participating WANA NARS leaders in the presence of the International and Regional Organization representatives through the modest ICM session allocated in the attached program taking onto consideration the constraints of time and funds during this meeting. This session was initially discussed with Ajit during my visit to GFAR two weeks ago. Best regards Ibrahim --------------- Ibrahim Hamdan Executive Secretary AARINENA Mon, 21 Jul 2008 02:25:20 -0400 http://www.aarinena.org/Forum/view_topic.php?pid=16#16 16@http://www.aarinena.org/Forum Topic: Discussion following by Oman Workshop 2008 Message: Dear All,Indeed we are getting to the nub of the issues, and thanks to all for bringing this discussion on. I would like to go back a little in the trail to a comment by Taraneh that the following steps are needed:• Strengthen the focal units/focal points. • Encourage focal units to share their National information at the regional level. • Providing appropriate tools to manage data at the National and regional levels avoiding develop those tools or systems which already exist. • Involving Leaders in to the ICT activities as they can feel it closely and showing them that research without ICM is not possible.I would agree wholeheratedly with this - and indeed there has been just such a concerted approach in the context of AARINENA's region.  Several workshops have been held to address the first two points, and tools have been/are being supplied.  Yet we have felt that colleagues at national level are somehow not really engaging and particuarly at the policy level.  There are a variety of reasons for this as we all know, which are derived in part from each particular national context.  However, our current intention (as was very well described by Ajit) is to create a global advocacy platform in the context of the CIARD initiative to which the regional and national institutions can relate to create a common sense of purpose around a tangible agenda which will speak to the policy level (your fourth bullet). A clear solid argument supported by evidence is needed, as well as strength of numbers buying in at the policy level.  Achieving this coherence is the CIARD agenda.  Right now some of the core partners are working to develop the basic arguments/materials and we will be reverting to the forums very soon to gather feedback and discuss the specific issues in each region.All the best,Stephen Rudgard__________________KCE, FAO Mon, 21 Jul 2008 02:24:24 -0400 http://www.aarinena.org/Forum/view_topic.php?pid=15#15 15@http://www.aarinena.org/Forum Topic: Discussion following by Oman Workshop 2008 Message: Dear Colleagues,To me and with reference of Dr Ajit, Dr Shadev and Mrs Tanareh, the main issue is to get started. We have spent enough time trying to identify our main needs and to look for the suitable tools to build our information system. The Wana region is still far behind what has been done in the Asian, African ou latin american region. The nearest region to compare with is the african region where FARA has been doing a great job backed by external financial means that are lucking to the WANA region. We are all willing to collaborate and get thing running for the benefits of all of us. We as ICM and ICT managers who are fully involved in this process can not very productive unless the decision managers are not in accordance and supporting our job. So every actor (ICM, Decision managers and NARS leaders, partners) has a specific role to play.If I can summarize what we have been doing I would say that apart from having identified our tools and brainstormed the ICT/ICM managers with a methods and procedures to build up a national strategy, we still need some support from a "champion" from an IARC's or NARS who would serve as a facilitator to get things initiated at the national level. We feel somehow frustrated when we are not able to get people "NARS partners" at the same table to discuss and initiated this hard work process.Next step would be :To draw an agenda at the regional level which will include some recommendations and expectations with deadlines on what is to done at national level;Identify some champions from IARCs or NARS who would serve as facilitators at the national level:To advocate the benefits of resource sharing to our leadersTo get NARS ICM and ICT managers to work within a Steering committee to set a national strategy and get things startedTo identify the needs of ICM/ICT managers for training on the tools and standards to be adoptedGet financial support to develop our ICT infrastructure and to organize meetings for decision makers, ICM / ICT and all stakeholders. FAO or any similar IARCs (CGIAR, CIRAD, CTA) can provide some means to initiate and redynamize the national information system. This issue is to my point of view of paramount importance and may jeopardize all the work that has been done so far.best regardsOtman Sebbata_________________________AARINENA-ICT Steering Committee Member Mon, 21 Jul 2008 02:23:26 -0400 http://www.aarinena.org/Forum/view_topic.php?pid=14#14 14@http://www.aarinena.org/Forum Topic: Discussion following by Oman Workshop 2008 Message: Dear ColleaguesI am really exciting for the brainstorming which is running  now on this issue and thank Ajit, Myra and Sahdev for their valuable comments ; this is exactly a good example of  what I mean about the successful experiences of other Regional For a and international organizations. Let me bring out the main points from their valuable comments: v      The role of information managers of agricultural development organizations is critical in order to improving agricultural productivity and linking farmers to markets and we shouldn't miss this role at all. v      We should know the needs of the national system; in this case we could provide our proposals to the regional and global collaboration and partnerships to ask them how they can be supported. v      NARS leaders and policy makers should invest on knowledgeable and skilled people to support ICM activities in ARD organizations ;they can have an effective role to  contribute for  developing ICM at various levels. v      The Regional Forums have to advocate for higher investments and in building capacity for ICM in National Systems. v      organizing an Inter-regional event to share lessons learned in information and communications management in ARD. v      we should  be aware of the different roles and responsibilities that we each of us has at different levels. v      We have to identify specific activities that we can do together to keep the network together and functioning. v      Our main issue is not the tools and technologies which are freely available for sharing and managing information. It is the ICM part that needs attention at various levels. This is more difficult as it requires a major shift in the mind-set of traditional, bureaucratic ARD organizations.(Thank you Sahdev, It's one of the main points!). v      ICM also touches the sensitive issues such as transparency, accountability and open communication in research organizations. v      We need to find creative ways to advocate the benefits of knowledge-sharing. v      The main question: how do we advocate v      It seems that there is a lack of  committed leadership to champion the cause of ICM4ARD. It could be a person or organization that has to come forward and bring together all the stakeholders and resources. v      The leaderships of various ARD organizations have to complement these efforts by providing an enabling environment for innovations to happen. Now I would like to ask some questions based on the above mentioned points: 1.      As Sahdev said, the role of th leaderships of various ARD organizations, is to  provide an enabling environment for innovations to happen; what are the most  efficient ways to provide this environment?2.      How do we advocate and what is the most creative way to advocate the benefits of knowledge-sharing?3.      How we can create a major shift in the mind-set of traditional, bureaucratic ARD organizations , at the various levels of ICM.4.      Which are the  specific activities that we can do together to keep the network together and functioning. There is another complex but important issue :how we can be sure that we do  know exactly the needs of our national system ?Is there any rule that based on it, we can evaluate our results? I think it needs more effective and systematic solutions. Best regardsTaraneh Ebrahimi___________________________AARINENA-RAIS Secretary Mon, 21 Jul 2008 02:22:22 -0400 http://www.aarinena.org/Forum/view_topic.php?pid=13#13 13@http://www.aarinena.org/Forum Topic: Discussion following by Oman Workshop 2008 Message: Dear Colleagues: Dr. Sahdev Singh has drawn attention to the need for a champion for the cause of ICM4ARD. To me, CIARD is the arrowhead for being the champion for ICM for ARD. When we have logos of FAO, GFAR, CGIAR etc on its publications and activities, its champions are not only all of us as ICM managers but more so the heads of the organizations who are members of CIARD. Who else can be more powerful and capable champions than Jacques Diouff, Adel El-Beltagy, Katherine Sierra, among other eminent personalities in agricultural development, for ICM for ARD? To me, it goes back to where this discussion began about needs for ICM for ARD and informing all the champions what they have to champion for improving information and knowledge sharing for agricultural development through research and innovation. At the moment, the message from all of you appears to be that the agenda for improving ICM for ARD we had detailed out under ICM4ARD Global Partnership Program and the various Regional and International Expert Consultations we had since 2004 still holds. What we are not satisfied is about the slow pace in fulfilling this agenda especially at the regional and NARS level. This is primarily an issue of investment in infrastructure, skills and Institutional capacity. This investment is what needs to be championed and I hope all of us in the CIARD initiative focus on this at the earliest. We have had some successes such as in FARA where AfDB has come up with financing improving ICM in Africa. This success in attracting financial investment collectively as a region has not been replicated in other regions. As I read from various comments, this investment is a critical need in the WANA region. In the Asia Pacific region, as I gathered from the two regional meetings I have attended in 2007 and 2008, development in ICM for ARD has been very heterogenous. Some countries like the Philippines have moved rapidly to improve their ICM and, to me based on the reports made at APAARI meetings, some countries such as India have stagnated. We do not know much about China. India and China are crucial players in solving the food crises and our lack of information on the ICM for ARD status in these countries available through APAARI should be a cause of concern. Another crucial area in the fight against hunger globally is Central Asia where from what I read as reports from ICM managers in the region, the situation is not improving. This is what I feel the regional forums should actively look into. I thank you all for contributing to this very interesting discussion. I hope to use the points you raise in drawing attention in the forthcoming Regional Forums and GFAR meetings. Warm regards, Ajit Maru______________GFAR Mon, 21 Jul 2008 02:21:19 -0400 http://www.aarinena.org/Forum/view_topic.php?pid=12#12 12@http://www.aarinena.org/Forum Topic: Discussion following by Oman Workshop 2008 Message: Dear Colleagues, I would like to contribute my two-cents in this interesting discussion. Based on my personal observations of the ICT/ICM for ARD scenario, I think, the ICT part is no longer an issue as technology has become relatively cheaper and affordable even in rural areas. Tools that go with the existing technology are freely available for sharing and managing information. It is the ICM part that needs attention at various levels. This is more difficult as it requires a major shift in the mind-set of traditional, bureaucratic ARD organizations. ICM also touches the sensitive issues such as transparency, accountability and open communication in research organizations. We need to find creative ways to advocate the benefits of knowledge-sharing at it leads to innovations that can tackle the current food crisis (a disaster created over the last two decades). Now, from my own perspective, the question is how do we advocate. We have the message and we know the target, the question is how to do it effectively. We have tried a variety of approaches and only some of these have worked to varying degree of success. Again, it is my personal opinion, that we lack a committed leadership to champion the cause of ICM4ARD. It could be a person or organization that has to come forward and bring together all the stakeholders and resources. We, at the RAIS/NAIS coordination level, are doing what could possibly be done within the existing institutional frameworks and available resources for ICM activities. The leaderships of various ARD organizations have to complement these efforts by providing an enabling environment for innovations to happen. Hope I didn't step on any toes, With Best Regards, Sahdev Singh _______________APAARI Mon, 21 Jul 2008 02:20:29 -0400 http://www.aarinena.org/Forum/view_topic.php?pid=11#11 11@http://www.aarinena.org/Forum Topic: Discussion following by Oman Workshop 2008 Message: Dear all, We are all working in a more complex but more integrated environment where openness and transparency is almost a given factor. But at the same time, we should also be aware of the different roles and responsibilities that we each of us has at different levels. We also have to identify specific activities that we can do together to keep the network together and functioning. Myra Wopereis-Pura__________________FARA Mon, 21 Jul 2008 02:19:18 -0400 http://www.aarinena.org/Forum/view_topic.php?pid=10#10 10@http://www.aarinena.org/Forum Topic: Discussion following by Oman Workshop 2008 Message: Dear Taraneh and Colleagues: First of all let me congratulate and thank Taraneh for very clearly elucidating what needs to be done at the national and regional level to improve information and communications management for agricultural research for development. In today's world where we all may face the consequences of not improving agricultural productivity and linking farmers to markets, our role as information managers of agricultural development organizations is becoming critical. From the GFAR perspective, we need to know what the needs of the national system are and how they can be supported from regional and global collaboration and partnerships. We do have a group of knowledgeable and skilled people to support ICM activities in ARD organizations who can contribute to developing ICM at various levels. Investing in this area is the main role for NARS leaders and policy makers. I hope the regional forums in their forthcoming Annual General  Meetings discuss the critical role information and knowledge is playing and will continue to play in agricultural progress and the role of ARD institutions to facilitate its access locally, nationally, regional and across the world. The Regional Forums have to advocate for higher investments and in building capacity for ICM in National Systems. There has been a proposal to organize an Inter-regional event to share lessons learned in information and communications management in ARD. We at GFAR Secretariat are examining how best to get support for this activity. Warm regards, Ajit Maru____________GFAR Mon, 21 Jul 2008 02:17:56 -0400 http://www.aarinena.org/Forum/view_topic.php?pid=9#9 9@http://www.aarinena.org/Forum Topic: Discussion following by Oman Workshop 2008 Message: Dear Colleagues First of all I would like to thank Dr. Sallam for mentioning such an important issue ;as you said we all need to highlight issues like information strategies, capacity building, advocacy, and other institutional aspects at the National levels.  I remembered  one of my comments which I have sent to  one of   the GFAR forum's related to this issue. I like to share it one more time with all of you who maybe didn't read it before.  I have mentioned there that based on my own experiences in WANA region, and as a person who has involved in both national and regional issues ,I has realized that one of our main problem is lack of a proper exchanging data and knowledge sharing system at the national and regional level. I think that people in our region prefers to keep information nationally , because :-They are not aware of why they should share it (they don't know the importance of that)-They don't know who they should share it with-They have not easy and  proper tools for sharing and distributing-They have not enough knowledge to know how exchange it-The problem of language is another issue which keep them back to exchange information-The training issues are not enough to make them aware of the importance of sharing and exchanging information and to learn them how to share it.-They are not aware of  benefits of exchanging which could help them to do their mission more fruitful.-And the most important thing is that we have not a national information and communication  system and strategy in the most of Regional countries.All these issues lead us to the capacity building  and advocacy problems which we confront with at the national level. Fortunately we already have valuable information systems in the region( NERAKIN and  NARIMS) which  have been developed by CLAES and FAO/RNE; but the regional cooperation in this project, is too weak; I think there are some weak points in :distributing the toolsaccess the tools and awareness of the end-users related to the benefits of the tools. Therefore, as Dr. Sallam said, we should  highlight the areas of needed support and I think that the above mentioned issues are the most important ones and we should ask FAO & GFAR as the main supporters and other International organization to provide us with the most effective solutions. Of course in this regard, the close collaboration of the focal points are highly required. The other issue which I really want to point out is about using the experiences of other Regional  Fora in this regard. We have FARA & APAARI which are 2 successful Regional systems and we can learn from their success stories in this regard; It means that we should know our success stories in the whole Regional Fora , and not to  waste our time to develop the systems or the tools which already exist! Related to the training issues, I think this kind of trainings should be run for the Policy makers or head of ICT Centers and  focal points together; I know that it is needed more financial resources, but it's true that when leaders are close to the activities and they feel it, you can get more than what you invest. It is important that we involve leaders in such activities. Some of them don't know at all what the focal points are doing and what a Regional Forum does! Head of an ICT Center which takes place in the body of a NARS is more close to its leader than a focal point and if you can make something different in his/her mind, it's easier to make some changes in their organization and their ICT policies. Therefore I think we should work on the following issues in each region: •Strengthen the focal units/focal points. •Encourage focal units to share their National information at the regional level. •Providing appropriate tools to manage data at the National and regional levels avoiding develop those tools or systems which already exist. •Involving Leaders in to the ICT activities as they can feel it closely and showing them that research without ICM is not possible. Study on  Success stories of other Regional Fora to benefit from them.Hope I could express the issues clearly, beacuse there are a lot of things in my mind and I tried to do my best to organize them!  Warm regards Taraneh Ebrahimi________________________AARINENA-RAIS Secretary Mon, 21 Jul 2008 02:17:06 -0400 http://www.aarinena.org/Forum/view_topic.php?pid=8#8 8@http://www.aarinena.org/Forum Topic: Discussion following by Oman Workshop 2008 Message: Dear Colleagues: Let me clarify that I referred to was  "the national focal points to the various issues raised at regional and global levels related to information and communications management for agricultural research for development" and not only comments on the report and event. Also, sometimes even a "no comment " indicates engagement which total silence does not. The GFAR Secretariat and the ICM4ARD and EGFAR Task Force Coordinator, as they are mandated to, draw attention to many issues related to ICM for ARD for its constituents especially the national systems in all regions beyond specific events. Warm regards, Ajit Maru__________GFAR Mon, 21 Jul 2008 02:16:09 -0400 http://www.aarinena.org/Forum/view_topic.php?pid=7#7 7@http://www.aarinena.org/Forum Topic: Discussion following by Oman Workshop 2008 Message: Dear colleagues,I agree with Dr. Sallam's observation on the need for additions to the conclusion section.  I would also agree very much with Ajit's comments on the need foir engagement at national level.  But, I would also like to note that a lack of response from the national units does not by itself indicate a lack of interest - in that I imagine that Dr. Sallam asked for comments on the report, and colleagues at national level would not reply if they had no comments.All the best,Stephen Rudgard__________________KCE, FAO Mon, 21 Jul 2008 02:14:42 -0400 http://www.aarinena.org/Forum/view_topic.php?pid=6#6 6@http://www.aarinena.org/Forum Topic: Discussion following by Oman Workshop 2008 Message: Dear Colleagues,With regard to Dr Sallam comments on the Oman workshop report and especially the conclusion section which only contains recommendations that NIFU's and SC shouldlead the follow up to the workshop without making any reference to the support that was expressed by different participants of the IARC's role to enable this starting process of the NIFU (case of Jordan as an example). There is no doubt that without support, NIFU's representatives and SC member's would have difficulties in gathering all NARS to discuss about the faisability of such information system and a common shared strategy that would reflect the NARS expectations.Again I do believe that we should come up with a recommendation that stress on the IARC'c and donor role to contribute to this starting process. This will be perceived by decision makers in our countries as a good step toward setting the National information system.In addition I was suggesting during the final workshop session that a copy of NERAKIN be distributed to participants to have the opportunity to go through the application and be able to evaluate it from the point of view of its usefulness as a basis to the National information system. Unfortunately we have to wait for its official launching in next october 2008Best regardsOtman Sebbata_________________AARINENA-RAIS Steering Committee Member Mon, 21 Jul 2008 02:12:35 -0400