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AARINENA RAIS-ICM Advocacy Workshop
Yemen 26 June 2006

In the framework of the 10th AARINENA General Conference, the Regional Agricultural Information System (RAIS)-Information and Communication Management (ICM) Advocacy Workshop was held in Sana’a, Yemen on 26 June, 2006. The first part was presented by Dr. Ibrahim Hamdan, who summarized objectives and potential outputs of the advocacy and socio-economic and agricultural characteristics of WANA
region. He stated that rapid agricultural development require new technologies, especially biotechnology, science materials, and information and communication technology. WANA region representatives highlighted the status of ICM activities and future plans of work in their areas.
During the second part, National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) leaders and policy makers identified their needs in advocating for increased and improved investments in ICM for ARD. The following needs were agreed upon by the two groups:
* Create a system-wide and institutional vision for effective and efficient use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and improved ICM.
* Support for needs assessment, feasibility studies and funding proposals for improving ICT use and ICM.
* Support appropriate infrastructure funding for the system and institutes.
* Human capacity development, especially in managing information and communication through ICT enabled agricultural information systems.
* Financial support as for effective use of ICTs and improving ICM in the NARS
* Establish appropriate organizational structures for ICM in NARS and research institutes
* Setting up a monitoring and evaluation processes for ICM and resources and project management using ICTs in the NARS.
During the plenary session, a number of activities were identified for action to support NARS leaders and policy makers in their advocacy role:
* Organize two workshops for NARS leaders and policy makers: the first to identify and prioritize the needs for improving ICM in WANA region, while

    the second  to enable them to improve their advocacy.
* Support the NARS in developing concept notes, proposals and feasibility studies to improve ICM.
* Share and exchange of expertise on ICM in ARD within and outside the region.
* Sharing evidence in the form of case studies and documents related to ICM.