1. Maputo, 25-27 October 2010

2. Defining needs and requirements: building consensus Online and face to face consultations between RAILS focal persons RAILS Taskforce meeting in December 2008 in Accra SROs and NARS expectations expressed: be linked to existing systems ; training needed to ensure proper and operation of the system Be simple and easy to use End user should be able to create and manage own website Create a unique pool of information on African agriculture, while users will be interlinked through a social network

3. Testing the prototype System was developed based on defined specifications Presented to FARA, SROs and some NARS in April 2009 in Bonn Exposed to wider group of stakeholders in May 2009 System fine tuned based on comments

4. Launching the platform eRAILS was launched in July 2009 in Accra http://www.e-RAILS.net. http://www.e-RAILS.net 40 participants from 32 countries participated Launching ceremony chaired by FARA ED Initial training session was organised

5. eRAILS Platform The African Portal on Agriculture An online platform for communication, content mobilization, knowledge sharing at various levels: National Sub regional Regional International http://www.erails.net

6. Some eRAILS Features Decentralized Content management system (CMS) Range of thematic national portals Integrated and structured environment for enhanced collaboration Clear categorization of contents: Thematic portals (TPs) Easiness of creation of thematic portals (5 min.) Focus on content and not on technology Easy integration of external web-resources Powerful meta-search engine: simultaneous search of all TPs and related external web-resources Tool-box for interaction Etc.

7. Populating the e-RAILS platform Training platform developed http://preview.erails.net http://preview.erails.net Training Manuals developed Flyer produced and disseminated Sensitization and capacity buildng ASARECA CORAF Sierra Leone Zambia DR Congo Congo Brazzaville Ghana

8. Thank you for attention Join the Team Be part of the African Portal on Agriculture