Kenya Agricultural Information Network (KAINet) Kenya Agricultural Information Network (KAINet)

Rachel RegeRachel Rege

IAALD-AFITA-WCCA World Conference

IAALD Africa Session on Investing in Agricultural Science and Technology in Africa

27th August 2008

Presentation Outline

KAINet Project Profile• Project Objectives• Implementation Process• Achievements

Conclusion

Acknowledgement

KAINet Project Profile

• Three year project borne out of the challenges identified through international, regional and national consultations – Need for national digital repository

• Piloted at 5 National Agricultural Research System Institutions:

• MoA, KARI Hq, KARI NARL, KEFRI, JKUAT

• Collaborative project with FAO, ASARECA-RAIN/RAILS, CAB International and national pilot institutions

Project Objectives

1. To facilitate the development of institutional policies and strategies on Information and Communication Management (ICM) in agricultural sciences and technology in Kenya

2. To develop a framework for a national network, including selected resource centres and mechanism for fostering institutional collaboration

3. To strengthen human capacities in the key centres

4. To document the process and develop a case study for the development of a national AGRIS Network.

Implementation ProcessPhased approach: I – Activities focused on:

• Consensus building and planning• National and sectoral ICM policy and strategies reviews• Institutional Needs Assessment, training workshop• Project monitoring and evaluation

II – Activities focused on:• Capacity building – infrastructure, content and human resource• Initial systems development – institutional e-repository• ICM policy and strategies – KAINet and institutions

III – Activities focused on:• Completion of pending activities• Awareness creation of KAINet• Scaling–up of KAINet activities (nation-wide)• Case study documentation

IV – Conclusion of pilot activities and preparation for national project role-out

Project Achievements

• Project support and ownership attained

• Guiding ICM/T policies and strategies reviewed and gaps identified

• 5 draft ICM/T strategies for pilot institutional developed

• Capacities on content, infrastructure, HR strengthened

……Achievements

• Knowledge sharing framework developed• National KAINet framework developed• PM&E systems established• Partnership and team approach enhanced• Common tools (standards, methodologies

and approaches) applied to support information exchange and sharing

Conclusion

KAINet project has great potential to improve access to agricultural information and knowledge in Kenya, ECA and Africa.

Institutional, national and regional groups own, nurture and sustain information and knowledge as a critical resource.

“The most important assets of nations are not raw materials, physical goods or economic production but human resources keyed in to the information and knowledge revolution (Right, 2000).”

Acknowledgements

• DFID for financial support• FAO for technical support including finances,

tools and methodologies• ASARECA-RAIN for initiating and supporting the

basis upon which KAINet was born• CABI for technical input and collaboration• Pilot institutions for their contribution,

participation and commitment to the project • KARI Director for support and guidance