The framework of the Collaborative Programs

Transcription

1 The framework of the Collaborative Programs (Draft for Discussion) Introduction The recommendation number 23.a of Cairo ICT consultation endorsed the Proposal for regional agricultural information system for WANA Region, prepared by AARINENA, in April 2001, as a relevant regional framework for actions. Consequently the logical framework suggested in this proposal will be used as our general logical framework (see Annex 1). The recommended programs by Cairo ICT consultation participants are actually part of the outputs indicated in the logical framework. These recommended programs are: Enhancing management information systems at national level. That would include the following modules (a) management of institutional information, (b) management of research activities and research project information, (c) management of information on experts, and (d) management of information on research outputs, Launching of electronic forum of discussion enabling and fostering dialogues within and amongst all the stakeholders involved in agricultural research for development in the region, Launching of a question and answer service at the regional level, Establishment of a gateway function at the regional level facilitating accesses to information managed by NARS. It should be noted that the indicators, means of verification, and assumption of risks must be considered when developing the details proposals of each project taking into the consideration the general approved framework (Appendix 1) In this document we will try to split these programs into small projects. Each project will have a specific objective and a set of outputs. Detailed proposals will be made once we agree on this set of projects. I believe that the two last programs namely the question and answer service, and the gateway function could be delayed until a progress is made at the national level.

2 Project 1: Design MIS Database The identified information management modules contain common data. In order to enhance the developed management information system at the national level, there is a need to build a database that each of the identified modules can share. Designing this database properly will lead to the integrity and efficiency of the data stored. The objective of this project is to design a database for the identified five modules of the Management Information System at the national level namely: Institution Information System, Experts and Researchers Information System, Projects Information System, Research Information System. 1. A detailed design document of the database. 2. A conceptual design of the different information management modules 3. Classification ontology of the agricultural research topics. 4. A for developing the information management modules 5. Standard set of tools that will be used in the development 6. A training document on the Methodology and Standard set of tools persons trained on the development and the implementation of the database using the standard set of tools This project is to be implemented before any other projects and is to be led by one of the leading countries in the region

3 Project 2: Design and Implementation of Experts Information System(EIS) This system is the lowest level system that is needed by other information system. The Institution Information System (IIS) will need to consult this system to get the number of researchers at a certain institution. It is better to make the IIS query this system dynamically about researchers than statically storing this number in the IIS. The Project and Research Information Systems will have links with this system to get the information of researchers participated in a project or produced a certain publication. The objective of this project is to develop an Experts Information system that will include basic information of Experts together with their broad and narrow specialty persons trained from each national institution in the country This project can be implemented by one of the countries using the common database. After successful implementation, it can be repeated in the other countries.

4 Project 3: Design and Implementation of Institutes Information System(IIS) A prototype of this system is available for all NARS s research institutes. Therefore, each NARS could get the previous collected data and update it. The prototype can be used to validate the requirements of the system and check if there is any modifications that must be done. The objective of this project is to develop an Institution Information system that will include basic information of Institutes integrated with a query system that can retrieve the researchers working in this institutes, projects implemented or being executed, research outputs..etc using different criteria to be determined persons trained from each national institution in the country This project can be implemented by one of the countries using the common database. After successful implementation, it can be repeated in the other countries. Although this system may need inputs from the EIS, it can be implemented in parallel taking into consideration these parts that will be completed when the EIS is available.

5 Project 4 Design and Implementation of Projects Information System(PIS) This system can make use of the experience in CARIS taking into consideration the integration with the EIS and IIS. The objective of this project is to develop a Project Information system that will include basic information of a project such as its objectives, achievements, funding agency, institution, and principle investigator, researchers, topic etc. Accessing a certain projects, detailed information about executing institution, researchers, documents can be retrieved form the appropriate database 4. 2 persons trained from each national institution in the country This project can be implemented by one of the countries using the common database. After successful implementation, it can be repeated in the other countries. Although this system may need inputs from the EIS, and IIS, it can be implemented in parallel taking into consideration these parts that will be completed when the EIS, and IIS are available. In effect the IIS, and EIS are needed to enter the proper information in the PIS, and link the retrieval system through a query such that when a request is made to retrieve the Institution or PI information, the system will send this query to the IIS, or EIS.

6 Project 5 Design and Implementation of Resrach Information System(RIS) This system can make use of the experience in AGRIS taking into consideration the integration with the EIS and IIS. The objective of this project is to develop a Research Information system that will include basic information of a document (thesis, report, proposals ) such as its title, author(s), keywords, general topic, specific topic, abstract, and full text etc. Accessing a certain document, detailed information about authors, their institutions, can be retrieved form the appropriate database 4. 2 persons trained from each national institution in the country This project can be implemented by one of the countries using the common database. After successful implementation, it can be repeated in the other countries. Although this system may need inputs from the EIS, and IIS, it can be implemented in parallel taking into consideration these parts that will be completed when the EIS, and IIS are available. In effect the IIS, and EIS are needed to enter the proper information in the RIS, and link the retrieval system through a query such that when a request is made to retrieve the Institution or authors information, the system will send this query to the IIS, or EIS. This system is different from AGRIS as the content will be what we call gray literature. The AGRIS centers could be strengthened in this project to enter the journal publications and others that are being entered now but to have a national database integrated with NAIS.

7 Project 6 Electronic Forum for Discussion This project is to launch an electronic forum of discussion enabling and fostering dialogues within and amongst all the stakeholders involved in agricultural research for development in the region The objective of this project is to develop an electronic forum system or modify a current electronic forum to be used on the regional level to enable dialogue among all stakeholders persons trained from each country This project can be implemented by one of the countries by taking one of such available forums system and customized according stakeholders needs. The system should be hosted on the server hosting the AARINENA web site to group all regional activities at one place.

8 Logical Framework Narrative ly Verifiable Indicators Means of verification Assumptions/Risks Goal To increase the effectiveness of agricultural research for development (ARD) in West Africa and North Africa (WANA) to contribute to improved food security, poverty alleviation and sustainable development. - Better research outputs from national research programs - More participation in the regional research networks - National production and poverty statistics. - Agricultural research for development can enhance agricultural development and food security - Increase of production in the participating countries Purpose To improve the exchange of information and knowledge between members of the ARD community in WANA and their major stakeholders, and to improve the information management capacity at the national and regional level within that community. - Functional information management focal points at national and regional level. - Functional information networks between ARD institutions and other stakeholders - Published information in digital formats - Number of publications in national and international journals - Number of participants active in the networks - Annual reports of ARD institutions - NARS place priority on information systems development 1. Role of regional forum in ARD strengthened, including involvement of wider range of stakeholders 2. Regional and national information systems for ARD in WANA developed and/or strengthened 3. Institutional capacities and human resources in information management at national level developed. 4. Increased efficiency of information/knowledge exchange to and from the ARD community - Focal points identified - Contents determined - Improved national capacity - NAIS and RAIS completed as specified and accessible - Workshops and training courses conducted -Workshop Reports -Operational Framework document -List of national personnel trained and managing the focal points -Training material -Compare the contents identified in the requirement specifications of each sub-system against the implemented system. - NARS stakeholders have human resources and ICT infrastructure. -Access the RAIS and NAIS of each country and test different functions provided

9 Activities 1. Role of RAIS/NAIS - Prepare operational framework - Conduct planning workshops in pilot countries - Conduct planning workshops at the sub-regional level - Revise operational framework 2. Information System Development - Finalise the operational framework document - NAIS needs assessments and design - Implementation, testing and revision of NAIS - Identified focal points at regional and national levels - Guidlines and procedures for operating the RAIS, and NAIS - NAIS technical specifications, design, implentation - Hardware and software deployed at appropriate points - Training courses and workshops conducted - Project reports and other related outputs. - Websites and content. - Training materials and workshop reports. - Feedback with network participants - Five countries correctly selected for pilots - Governments will provide the hardware and connectivity - Define RAIS requirements, contents and functions - Implementation, testing and revision of RAIS 3. Training Conduct training in the 5 pilot sites Conduct 5 sub-regional training cycles for the 16 countries