Gracian PA

ITOCA Information Training & Outreach Centre for Africa

Contact: Gracian Chimwaza gracian@itoca.org

PROPOSAL

LINKING AFRICAN NETWORKS TO AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES Helping soil health user groups locate and access information cost-effectively

The objectives of the proposed project are to:

identify networks and other communities of practice working on “soil health” issues in Africa;
understand how they operate and relate to each other, particularly with regards to information/knowledge sharing,
locate relevant free, reduced-cost and fee-based soil health information resources and
determine potentially efficient and effective ways to link networks and user groups together to improve information access and sharing. While this project relates specifically to soil health, the model and implementation approach is easily adapted to other agricultural subjects

Strategy

Map networks, communities of practice (COPs) and other substantial user groups with a significant interest in soil health.
Determine the overlap and interaction among these networks/COPs, how the networks communicate with their members and how information needs by network participants are currently being met.
Locate free, reduced-cost and fee-based resources available to researchers and practitioners of soil health and closely related topics and determine who is allowed to access restricted sources.
Determine possible ways to link (in a timely and cost-effective manner) the networks and other user groups

Expected Outcomes

Networks and communities of practice with a significant soil health component mapped, modes of communication and knowledge sharing established, relevant information resources identified and possible strategies for delivering updated information on accessing soil health-related knowledge resources determined.
Article for the IAALD Journal of Agricultural Information (2007 or 2008).
Possible paper or poster presentation at the Fourth African Agricultural Science Week and FARA General Assembly, June 10-16, 2007, in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Use of insights from the project to enhance ITOCA ongoing agricultural information resource trainings (AGORA/TEEAL/OARE) in Africa.
Description of project findings on Worldwide Portal to Information on Soil Health and CIIFAD websites and in ITOCA e-Newsletter.
Follow-up plans outlined to continue studying how new knowledge-sharing strategies can be used to allow and encourage networks/COPS with soil health components (or working on African soil fertility issues) to share and learn from each.

Suggestions from the Peer Assist group

Try to create alliance with Africa Soil Science Society , CG Centers in Africa to identify and linking with the networks they already might be working with in Africa
Consider possible collaboration with UNECA- ICT and Science & Technology Division
Think about highlighting the narrower scope for the Harambee SGF so that its clear what will be achieved with the project.
Be careful with indirect surveys as they can be difficult to administer and get meaningful responses.
Take advantage of face to face platforms/meeting and opportunities to get input from the soil scientists
Try to link any portal development with real needs
Consider of a Listserv/ mailing list to get more input from the scientists.
Think through where you draw the line with the networks, eg do you include all crop focused networks?
Consider the students stakeholder as they become practicing scientists in future
Highlight Indicators of Success in the project
A means of verification of these indicators