1. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations AARINENA Regional Workshop, Muscat, 8-10 January 2008 Elements of good practice in institutional information networks and systems in agricultural science and technology Stephen Rudgard Chief, WAICENT Outreach and Capacity Building FAO, Rome, Italy

2. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 10th General Conference AARINENA, Sana’a, 26 June 2006 AARINENA Regional Workshop, Muscat, 8-10 January 2008 Assumption innovation in agriculture depends on science and technology Millennium Ecosystem Assessment: Effective management of ecosystems is constrained by lack of knowledge and information about ecosystems but also by the failure to use adequately information that does exist.

3. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 10th General Conference AARINENA, Sana’a, 26 June 2006 AARINENA Regional Workshop, Muscat, 8-10 January 2008 Network of over 200 organizations worldwide collaborating on the shared objective of improving access and exchange of information on agricultural science and technology Launched in 1975; new vision developed in 2002 http://www.fao.org/agris/ AGRIS

4. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 10th General Conference AARINENA, Sana’a, 26 June 2006 AARINENA Regional Workshop, Muscat, 8-10 January 2008 decentralized approach greater diversity of participating organizations strengthened role in capacity building focus on full text documents greater availability of associated information about activities/organizations/people set of web-enabled standards and tools New AGRIS Vision (2002)

5. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 10th General Conference AARINENA, Sana’a, 26 June 2006 AARINENA Regional Workshop, Muscat, 8-10 January 2008 Challenges Decentralization: establishment of national networks – institutions and policies Capacity building: supporting decentralization Content management: common approaches (standards and tools) Partnerships: at regional/international level

6. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 10th General Conference AARINENA, Sana’a, 26 June 2006 AARINENA Regional Workshop, Muscat, 8-10 January 2008 GFAR Global.RAIS Global Partnership Programme: ICM4ARD

7. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 10th General Conference AARINENA, Sana’a, 26 June 2006 AARINENA Regional Workshop, Muscat, 8-10 January 2008 IISAST - International Information Systems for Agricultural Sciences and Technology

8. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations AARINENA Regional Workshop, Muscat, 8-10 January 2008 stronger national information policies and strategies for ICM in agricultural research and development; clear ICM plans and investments at national and institutional levels; better information products and services delivered to local and national stakeholders by international/regional systems and services; one "international approach" with all key stakeholders. Outputs

9. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 10th General Conference AARINENA, Sana’a, 26 June 2006 AARINENA Regional Workshop, Muscat, 8-10 January 2008 Activities Expert Consultations (Oct. 2005 & Sep. 2007) Task Forces (Advocacy & Content Management) Regional Activities National Pilot Networks

10. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations AARINENA Regional Workshop, Muscat, 8-10 January 2008 Planning in NARS is essential for strong ICM – comprising vision strategy policy framework operational plans monitoring and evaluation Objectives: to address information needs/demands of (internal and external) stakeholders to use/build ICM (human and technological) capacities effectively Principal messages

11. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations AARINENA Regional Workshop, Muscat, 8-10 January 2008 Lack of ICM planning means: i.outputs are not disseminated effectively ii.R&D resources are wasted iii.the NARS public image is poor due to lack of credibility In the extreme, NARS institutions become obsolete... Principal messages

12. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 10th General Conference AARINENA, Sana’a, 26 June 2006 AARINENA Regional Workshop, Muscat, 8-10 January 2008 Major factors affecting agricultural information networks/systems Strategy/Policy Institutional aspects Stakeholders People Content Infrastructure Financial aspects/Sustainability

13. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 10th General Conference AARINENA, Sana’a, 26 June 2006 AARINENA Regional Workshop, Muscat, 8-10 January 2008 National Case Studies Egypt: National Agricultural Research Information Management System (NARIMS) Ghana: Ghana Agricultural Information Network System (GAINS) Kenya: Kenya Agricultural Information Network (KAINet) Madagascar: Scientific and Technical Information System Peru: Red Peruana de Intercambio de Información Agraria (AGRORED) Thailand: Thai AGRIS Centre

14. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 10th General Conference AARINENA, Sana’a, 26 June 2006 AARINENA Regional Workshop, Muscat, 8-10 January 2008 Major factors affecting agricultural information networks/systems