icm status report in wana region ,2011

AARINENA 12TH GENERAL CONFERENCE MEETING, 16-17

NOVEMBER 2011, KUWAIT

ICM STATUS REPORT IN WANA

REGION

Taraneh Ebrahimi/ Mohammad Majdalawi

November 2011

AARINENA 12TH GENERAL CONFERENCE MEETING, 16-17 NOVEMBER 2011, KUWAIT ICM STATUS REPORT IN WANA REGION _______________________________________________________________

Outlines Introduction: Why ICT/ICM? History of RAIS in WANA Region Brief review of previous WANA ICT

reports Scope and Methodology of the report Status of ICT/ICM in AR4D in the WANA

Region Conclusion Recommendations


Introduction Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has

become an essential component for development, not only of the agricultural sector, but also of industrial, environmental, and service sectors as well.

ICT is a crucial element in establishing the sustainable development in any country.

New Information and Communication Management (ICM) techniques offer yet more effective management of Agricultural Research for Development (AR4D).


Introduction (cont.)

Improving agricultural performance in the countries of the region depends largely on the transformation of its agricultural research and development systems .

Effective exchange of knowledge and information ,contribute to poverty eradication, food security, sustainable development and increased productivity and competitiveness.


Introduction (cont.)

Science-based agricultural systems deliver real benefits to farmers, processors and consumers through the development and implementation of new knowledge exchange systems.

Modern Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and Management (ICM) have introduced a new dimension and, if properly applied, can help in promoting knowledge and information exchange.


History of RAIS in WANA Region

The Regional Agricultural Information System(RAIS) serves as an information repository and exchange mechanism at the regional level, aiming to strengthen, coordinate, and add value to initiatives by national programs and those coordinated by regional and international organizations.


History of RAIS in WANA Region(cont.)

In1998, AARINENA Executive Committee decided to establish of a suitable set of internet-based services (website, E-mail service, databases,…) to facilitate the information exchange within the Association.



The first “Regional Information Strategy” report was prepared in February 2000 by Dr. Ahmed Rafea.

In this report ,the importance of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for the agricultural domain in the region was discussed and the status of ICT in the region was analyzed.



A series of technical consultations and workshops also organized by AARINENA, in collaboration with the Global Forum on Agricultural Research (GFAR) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) .

During AARINENA 7th General Conference in Beirut in March 2000 , the Regional Information Strategy for Agricultural Research Development was approved.



An expert consultation meeting in Cairo in 7 October 2000 to develop a plan for implementation of this strategy for the WANA region.

The AARINENA Executive Committee agreed in December 2001 to establish a Regional Agricultural Information System (RAIS).

In 2002, the AARINENA-RAIS Secretariat has been established in Iran , based on the proposal of Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organization (AREEO).



The first AARINENA website developed in 2002 with collaboration and support of GFAR. It was released during the 8th AARINENA General Conference, which was held in Amman, Jordan in June 2002 (http://www.aarinena.org).

In 2005 , Arabic version of the website was enhanced by the valuable efforts of the FAO/RNE.

Since 2008 , AARINENA website has been upgraded using the new ICT technologies and web tools such as Web2.0, AARINENA blogs, discussion forum, wikispace,…etc.

http://www.aarinena.org/



AARINENA ICT Steering Committee was established upon the recommendation of the participants of AARINENA ICT Expert Consultation held in February 2003 in Cairo, Egypt with the aim of strengthen Regional Agricultural Information System in the region.



The National Agricultural Information Systems (NAIS) were recognized as the building blocks of the RAIS providing information on institutions, experts, research projects and, research outputs, as well as contributing to international systems.



The main constraints affecting the building of an efficient RAIS were identified as being: Weak national capacities in information

and communication management and technology (ICM/T) in many of the AARINENA member countries

Lack of cooperation and coordination between the member countries.



The Central Lab for Agricultural Expert Systems (CLAES), Egypt, developed a project on a “National Agricultural Research Information Management System” (NARIMS), with the support of FAO and GFAR between July 2004 and July 2006 and the second phase, with the focus on of the tools in 2007.



In 2006 , West Asia Agricultural Researchers Information system has been developed by AARINENA-RAIS secretariat.

As it was a very useful tool to exchange information between researchers in the Sub-region, we decided to develop it for the whole Region. By this database, agricultural researchers could lead and manage common projects with each other.



In May 2007, the AARINENA Executive Committee and the ICT-RAIS Steering Committee both endorsed the establishment of a Near East Rural and Agricultural knowledge and Information Network (NERAKIN), as proposed by FAO.

NERAKIN-RAIS , the knowledge sharing and

collaboration for development platform was initiated and developed by FAO, endorsed by AARINENA and other regional and international organizations. ( http://www.nerakin.net)

http://www.nerakin.net/



NERAKIN-RAIS , facilitated by FAO and AARINENA for improving regional and national information infrastructure and building common standards and platform for knowledge exchange and information management in the Near East and North Africa region.



The NERAKIN-RAIS has developed some Regional Thematic Network since 2008 :

Regional Agricultural Biotechnology Network Near East and North Africa http://rabnena.net

Near East Plant Protection Network http://pp-neareast.net/

Regional Aquaculture Information system www.raisaquaculture.net

http://rabnena.net/

http://pp-neareast.net/

http://www.raisaquaculture.net/



Preventive Desert Locust Management Network (EMPRES) and Commission for Controlling the Desert Locust in the Central Region (CRC) Regional Networkhttp://crc-empres.org/

Near East and North Africa Regional Network for Agricultural Policies. www.nenarnap.org

http://crc-empres.org/

http://www.nenarnap.org/



Near East Virtual Extension and Research Communication Network(VERCON) http://vercon-neareast.net

Regional AgricultureNews www.agriculturenews.net

http://vercon-neareast.net/

http://www.agriculturenews.net/



Establishment of National Information Focal Units (NIFUs) in each country was identified as a high priority during The 3rd ICT-RAIS Steering Committee meeting in Amman in 2006.

The fourth meeting of the ICT-RAIS Steering Committee in May 30, 2007 agreed on the need for development of the capacity of NIFUs, started with a workshop in Oman in 2008.


Brief review of previous WANA ICT reports

The main results of the previous studies are as follows:

Lack of qualified technical staff

100% of the countries recognized the urgent need for technical training support to build the capacity of their institutions

computers were mainly used for office automation or using ready-made information packages such as CDS-ISIS

Few countries had Data Base Management System (DBMS).

No country had a complete NAIS


Brief review of previous WANA ICT reports

Lack of national policy on information management;

Language barriers (need multilingual system);

Poor communication at sub-regional level;

Poor communications infrastructure in some counties (bandwidth)


Brief review of previous WANA ICT reports 50% of the countries were not satisfied

with the system they had right that year ,and the other 50% although satisfied, they did not have a complete system or indicate that they want to modify it.

Few countries had expressed giving priority to the Institutions Information System.

Countries indicated that they did not have the human capacity to develop the NAIS.


Scope and Methodology of the report

To assess the status of ICT/ICM use in agricultural information systems at the national level in the Near East and North Africa Region.

Availability of information on the status of ICT/ICM in agricultural research systems may improve: Understanding Help policy making Adopt better management and technical models

to manage agricultural information flows at the national level by NARS and other groups of ARD stakeholders.


Scope and Methodology of the report(cont.)

The assessment of ICT/ICM in NAIS would be an assessment of the following:

ICT/ICM infrastructure Information services rendered by NAIS ICT/ICM applications in NAIS Policies and strategies that support

ICT/ICM use



The indicators ICT infrastructure– hardware, software,

connectivity, skills etc. Information systems – website, e-mail

domains, use of web 2.0 tools etc. Policy and strategies – organizational

policies, adoption of standards, IPR issues etc. Contents - Scientific and technical

information, research data, research management etc.



ICT applications – Library applications, applications for research data analysis, applications for research management, applications for extension, marketing, education and organizational management etc.

Information and communication services – scientific and technical information, research information, research management information, extension and advisory, market, education information etc.

Information and communication channels – various channels used by NARS to communicate and disseminate information and knowledge.



Developed =

Emerging =

Poor =

Not exists =

√

↑

○

x



A total of 14 ICM mangers representing the national systems in the Near East and North Africa region provided their responses to the questionnaire survey:

Algeria, Cyprus, Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Palestinian Authority, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia,

Turkey and Yemen. Information related to Pakistan , was copied from APAARI ICM Status

Report 2011.



Arabian Peninsula Sub-Region : Oman Maghreb Sub-Region: Algeria,

Morocco, Tunisia Mashreq Sub-Region : Cyprus, Jordan,

Lebanon, Palestinian Authority and Syria

Nile Valley & Red Sea Sub-Region: Egypt, Sudan, Yemen

West Asia Sub-Region: Iran, Pakistan, Turkey



This report is generated through : Responses to the survey of questionnaires.

Country status papers presented by ICM managers (NINPs and NARS representatives) in the "Training of Trainers Workshop on Coherence in Information for Agricultural Research for Development (CIARD)'', held in October, 2011 at Amman.

documents available on Internet and websites of agricultural research and innovation systems, including those of AARINENA members in the region and references from recent reports and literature on the subject conducted by AARINENA.


Status of ICT/ICM in AR4D in the WANA Region

About 16 tables have been prepared

Each table for an Indicator or a related sub-indicator.

TABLE 1: ICT INFRASTRUCTURE: AVAILABILITY OF HARDWARE AND OTHER ICT COMPONENTS IN NARS



Table 1: ICT Infrastructure: Availability of Hardware and other ICT Components in NARS

Basic support systems like electricity, telephone and fax are available at national systems.

Full availability of hardware and other ICT components in the NARS with regard to computer systems, peripherals, internet connectivity, and network equipment.




web servers and mail servers are fully available.

Full availability of hardware and other ICT components in the NARS with regard to computer systems, peripherals, internet connectivity, and network equipment.




video conferencing facility is available in 8 countries in the region .

The community radio is emerging or already developed in most of national systems

The cellular phones are almost fully available in all the NARS.

TABLE 2. ICT INFRASTRUCTURE: AVAILABILITY OF NETWORKING COMPONENTS AND SOFTWARE IN NARS




The Internet connectivity in almost all the NARS is mostly well established or emerging in some of them.

In the broadband capacities, most of the NARS have well developed internet connectivity.




The intranet is also mostly established in most NARS in the region.

Networking facilities such as Wide Area Network (WAN), Virtual Private Networks (VPN) and WiFi connectivity exists in some of the NARS and some of them still in emerging phase.




Satellite communication and mobile satellite vehicles for agricultural research and extension purpose is limited.

Most of the NARS have operating system, office automation suits and database application software tools.




Open Source Software is not encouraging in some countries .

TABLE 3: ICM SKILLS AND CAPACITIES IN NARS



Table 3: ICM skills and capacities in NARS

Most of NARS in the regions have required skills in basic computing, internet and e-mail, programming, database management, network administration etc.



Table 3: ICM skills and capacities in NARS

HRD Policy in ICT/ICM in most countries in the region are emerging , poor or not exists.

TABLE 4: ICM SUPPORT TO INFORMATION SYSTEMS IN NARS



Table 4: ICM support to information systems in NARS

Sharing information through networks in most of the NARS are emerging.

All the NARS maintain website domains and disseminate information.

Use of social networking tools, web 2.0 and web 3.0, Wiki, RSS and blogs which improve participatory content creation and dialogue is not so encouraging.



Table 4: ICM support to information systems in NARS

Use of social networking tools, web 2.0 and web 3.0, Wiki, RSS and blogs which improve participatory content creation and dialogue is not so encouraging.

TABLE 5. POLICY AND STRATEGY SUPPORT TO ICM IN NARS



Table 5: Policy and strategy support to ICM in NARS

Most of the national systems are still evolving policies or struggling with poor policy support.

Agricultural policies of most of the countries in the region do not have adequate clarity and strategies on how ICT/ICM can and are to be use in agricultural development.



Table 5: Policy and strategy support to ICM in NARS

Very few NARS follow global standards for managing ARD information, metadata standards and adopt proper intellectual property rights for sharing research information.

TABLE 6. CONTENT INDICATORS: AVAILABILITY OF SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS IN NARS



Table 6: Content indicators: Availability of scientific and technical information systems in NARS

Science and Technical Information Research Data Research Management Information Information for learning in agricultural

communities such as for extension and education Market related information which informs

producers how to participate effectively in markets .




Most of the countries have been developed or in the process of developing cataloguing and indexing services of agricultural literature through their library and documentation centres on regular basis.




In case of abstracts and bibliographies also most of countries have been developed or in the process of developing.

Most national agricultural research systems offer or emerge electronic services(CD-ROM based databases, online-database, electronic journal )




The situation in institutional repositories and open archive initiative is almost promising. Although in few countries it is poor .

Most of the countries are evolving their institutional repositories

Open Archive initiatives are weak in the region.




Slow in shifting print-based content in the form of catalogues, indexes, abstracts etc., to electronic platform for greater sharing at different levels.

TABLE 7. RESEARCH DATA AND INFORMATION IN NARS



Table 7. Research Data and Information in NARS

Availability of Research data and information in NARS are emerging.

Except few countries , Knowledge based systems are poor or not exists.

TABLE 8. RESEARCH MANAGEMENT INFORMATION IN NARS



Table 8. Research Management Information in NARS

Most of the countries have developed or are evolving their research management information system ; few countries are poor in this .

TABLE 9. . ICM APPLICATIONS IN LIBRARY AUTOMATION AND NETWORKING




Table 9 indicates that library automation and library information Networks are well established in 50% of the countries in the region and 40% of the countries are poor or not exist in library automation applications and library information Networks.




It was observed that some of the developing countries in the region did full automation and networking of libraries with several information services such as circulation of documents, access to virtual libraries, access to on-line journals, access to open source journals and cooperate with other libraries as consortium members to get access to priced sources of information.




It seems almost all countries in NENA region have access to the electronic and open journals , but still there are differences which the reasons could, be inadequate leadership, poor investments and capacities as also lack of awareness.

TABLE 10. ICM APPLICATIONS THAT ENABLE MANAGEMENT IN NARS



Table 10. ICM Applications that enable management in NARS

Cyprus and Jordan emerge and maintain all types of information resources in readily accessible form with the application of latest ICT technologies in crop modeling, precision agriculture, knowledge-based systems and information systems that support research management at institutional level.

TABLE 11. ICM APPLICATIONS THAT ENABLE FARM ADVISORY, EXTENSION AND MARKETING



Table 11. ICM applications that enable farm advisory, extension and marketing

Table 11 illustrates that ICT applications which satisfy the information needs of farmers, extension agents and agri-entrepreneurs to provide relevant market related information to enable producers participate effectively in markets, are not fully developed in many agricultural research and innovation systems in the region.



Table 11. ICM applications that enable farm advisory, extension and marketing

The application of ICTs in agricultural marketing functions across the value chain of a commodity is missing in almost all the countries with an exception to Jordan, , Oman and Turkey.

A majority of the countries have poor ICT use ICTs or are at emerging levels even to provide market price information in.

TABLE12. ICT APPLICATIONS THAT ENABLE AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION



Table12. ICM applications that enable agricultural education

Table 12 indicates that ICT applications in the campus education, distance education and open education are either mostly emerging, not exist or poor in existence in the most countries while in few countries they are developed.

TABLE 13. ICM APPLICATIONS THAT ENABLE ORGANIZATIONAL MANAGEMENT



Table 13. ICM applications that enable organizational management

Table 13 indicates that many developing countries still emerging or poor in existence in the use of ICT for organizational management.

It is also an observation that the financial management systems and personal management are almost developed only in a few countries and the picture is not satisfactory in majority of countries.


Conclusion of the Report

ICT Infrastructure which includes hardware, software, connectivity, skills etc. Is almost fully developed in the region, but still there are weak components such as community radio, videoconferencing, open source softwares, Satellite communication and mobiles atellite vehicle, in the region


Conclusion of the Report(cont.)

Related to the ICM skills and capacities in NARS for web management, programming, Network management, etc. which includes hardware, software, connectivity, skills etc. Is almost fully developed in the region and most of NARS in the regions have required skills.



Related to the information systems in NARS, although Sharing information through networks in most of the NARS are emerging and all the NARS maintain website domains and disseminate information, but use of social networking tools, web 2.0 and web 3.0, Wiki, RSS and blogs which improve participatory content creation and dialogue is not so encouraging and there are weaknesses in this area.



Related to the policies and strategies related to the information integration, , the NARS need to strengthen and change the policies toward more interaction and integration with regional and international standards. We need clarity and strategies on how ICT/ICM can and are to be use in agricultural development.



Related to the Content, which refers to scientific and technical information, research data, research management, etc. , NARS are almost developed their systems but still there are weak points in accessing electronic journals and open archive initiatives.



Related to the Content, research databases, information on project, knowledge based systems, etc., we need to strengthen or develop them in the region.



Related to the ICT/ICM applications, the NARS, although some of the countries have successful applications in library automation,virtual libraries,etc.,but still there are weaknesses in knowledge based applications, GIS, Precision agriculture, etc. which we need to strengthen or develop them .



Related to the ICT/ICM applications there are a big gap and weaknesses in the NARS related to the Farm Advisory & Agricultural Extension Applications, Agricultural Marketing Information System Applications,Educational and Organizational managementand Administrative information systems applications.



Related to the ICT/ICM services , the same problem related to Farm Advisory & Agricultural Extension services,and speciaaly related to the Agricultural Marketing Information System services,Educational and Organizational management and administrative information systems services.



Related to the Information and Communication Channels used for services , such as internet, intranet, email, website, discussion forums,… fortunately we are in good situation in the region , but we need to strengthen services such as teleconferencing, videoconferencing, sms-based services and community of practices in NARS.


Recommendations

We already have a strong ICT Infrastructure, good skilled human resources and even good tools and initiatives which Regional and International Organizations offer us( NERAKIN-RAIS, AARINENA Web Tools, CIARD RING,etc.); so it is an urgent priority to benefit from them.


Recommendations

Need to strengthening the awareness and understanding of the benefits of ICT/ICM

Developing and strengthening the institutional information strategies and policies

Strengthening of national networks and networking


Recommendations(cont.)Agricultural marketing and online

marketing are important challenges which should focus on their development.

the role of NINPs at national and regional levels: They should be more active to use the new ICM tools and topics to exchange information and knowledge within the region.


Recommendations(cont.)Farm Advisory & Agricultural Extension

Information Services , such as Farmers Call Centre service, On-line documents or guides to farmers and extension workers, Village information centers, etc., should be developed and strengthened , so the farmers can be benefited .


Recommendations(cont.)NARS should benefit from Social Media

tools as well as CIARD RING to share effectively information related to agricultural research and innovation for development (ARD).

The content issue and its important role in information and knowledge sharing should be clarified and It is needed to advocate the benefits of the digital accessibility of content.


Recommendations(cont.)We need to advocate for the development of

ICT/ICM at national and regional levels. All stakeholders (researchers, librarians, IT staff, administrators and students) need to know of the advantages that this will bring.

We need to work together to change the attitudes of key decision makers by developing clear messages supported by evidence of benefits that will influence policies and lead to the reform of institutions.


Thanks for your

attention

icm status report in wana region ,2011

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