Boniface Akuku

eRAILs & KARI ICT Presentation

KARI Headquarters

30TH September 2013

“We cannot become what we need by

remaining what we are"

The project objective was to, ◦ undertake advocacy to encourage increased

investment in Agricultural Information Systems (AIS) by African governments and institutions; improve access to information and the ability of African stakeholders to contribute to global agricultural knowledge;

◦ facilitate synergies by linking African information conduits to global providers of agricultural information; and develop an African platform for agricultural information and learning systems.

The concept of learning teams was introduced and included members from multi-disciplinary section: ◦ Research, extension, agricultural line ministries,

academic institutions, farmer organizations, civil society organizations and the private sector, comprising of information professionals

◦ The RAILS learning teams were expected to serve as facilitators of change, advocate for a learning culture in agricultural research and development

◦ The learning teams were expected to build on existing structures and use existing information channels to coordinate and facilitate eRAILS project activities in the country through leadership role model

eRAILS Kenya focused mainly in ensuring that the platform achieves its objective through; ◦ facilitation and mobilization of relevant local content

and particularly research outputs, local knowledge and experiences from various Kenya stakeholders for knowledge sharing;

◦ building capacity among the various stakeholders in agriculture on managing and sharing knowledge using the various ICT channels;

◦ training and empowering the learning teams members to facilitate knowledge exchange among agricultural research for development stakeholders within the region.

There are over 26 institutions from various stakeholders ranging from: - o farmers’ organizations; (for example KENFAB)o extension: (for example Ujunga) o research institutions; (for example KARI, KEFRI)o education institutions, (for example Moi University)o Media, NGOs, government ministries, (for example KBC) o international organizations, (for example Biovisions)o the private sector o sub-regional organizations. o Ministry; (Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock & Fishery)

The RAILS learning teams were expected to serve as facilitators of change, ◦ advocate for a learning culture in agricultural research and

development. In addition, the learning teams were expected to build on existing structures and use existing information channels to coordinate and facilitate eRAILS project activities in the country through leadership role model.

◦ The responsibilities of learning teams included: facilitation of information exchange among and within the NARS stakeholders and the building of a national agricultural information and learning system;

◦ participation in the development of and maintenance of the national agricultural information portal/gateway on www.erails.net; contribution to the sensitization of NARS stakeholders on the use of international information management and sharing standards;

◦ contribution to the building synergies, wherever possible, between RAILS activities and national initiatives undertaken by national partners and active participation in activities organized within the RAILS.

The criteria for selecting members of the team were emphasized before conducting

elections through nomination and voting. The following members were elected as the national (Kenya) Core

Learning Team,which later held a brief planning meeting

National Focal Point Person

(Assistant Director IMCT)

Boniface Akuku

Research KARI

Educational Institutions Joel Musonik

Extension Felicia Ndungu

Farmers Organization George Odhiambo

Information Professional Josephine Wareta

International Organization, NGO, Development Partners

Anne Bruntse

Kenyan eRAILS Portal Administrator Richard Kedemi

FARA through eRAILS supported

Kenya Agricultural Information Network (KAINet)

KAINet repository launched in 2009 Provides online access to more than 15,000 records

(http://www.KAINet.or.ke),

include grey literature held in agricultural institutions; Promotes open access among the KAINet institutions. Provides linkages to other institutional sites such as

KARI’s (http://www.kari.org) and the Ministry of Agriculture’s (http://www.kilimo.or.ke).

Support Received

Fund Inception Workshop US $ 10,000 First Phase US $ 10,000 Second Phase US $ 24,000

2 Servers 10 notebooks 4 computers

In progress Internet connectivity for 2 sites in Kenya

Inception of eRAILS Kenya Establishment of Core Learning Team Capacity Building (ToTs) Awareness creations and sensitizations of the

eRAILS platform (promotions materials and workshops)

Documentation of best practices Building of websites Video documentary of success stories Impact assessment done and findings reported

Some of the learning team members came up proactive strategies to address additional concept as value addition to the eRAILS project. These included: -

◦assessment of user needs, ◦delivering the content to the farmers ◦and awareness creation of the portal’s existence through demonstration of already existing information on the portal as shown below.

Other approaches that worked

Use of eRAILS promotional materials◦ eRAILS promotional materials

designed and distributed, these promotional materials includes among others a training manual on how to open an account, how to design a website and upload content.

◦ eRAILS Kenya Training Brochures

◦ Training brochure designed to promote the Portal during meetings, workshops and other agricultural activities was very successful and effective

Follow-up trainings were carried out in two main parts of the country, central and western with almost 40 persons attending. The trainings were carried out by the learning team, an indication that the first training of trainers was successful.

The follow ups were planned to ensure that content is uploaded onto the websites created during the first trainings. As a result of these strategies, more awareness was created on the eRAILS platform and a number of sites were loaded with content.

A farmer from Western Kenya Mr. Hasa Omutelema of Ebuhuka focal group in EMUHAYA district VIHIGA County has greatly achieved as far as improved soil fertility management is concerned after getting information from e-RAILS Portal on Ecological Organic Agriculture (EOA)

http://www.erails.net/KE/airc/airc http://www.erails.net/KE/charles/ucrckenya http://www.erails.net/KE/katoloni-mission-

cbo/katoloni-mission-cbo/ http://www.erails.net/KE/kenya-seed-

shortage/maize-lethal-necrosis/Home/ http://www.erails.net/KE/kipleting/the-

mushroom-center/Home/

The country’s Focal Person took the initiative in ensuring that RAILS and DONATA in the country have coordinated activities including the implementation of the Local Area Networks and Internet Connectivity at DONATA sites where QPM and OSPF project were implemented.

Training of DONATA teams and follow up meetings with both DONATA focal persons in both sites coupled with joint activities ensured that DONATA content is uploaded onto the site.

Quality content uploaded: Over 150 websites created, with majority having good relevant content.

eRAILS Video documentary: Success stories in Kenya : Detailed video documentaries recorded covering success stories of the platform, these documentaries included farmers, experts, eRAILS country focal point persons, and eRAILS voucher system.

Impact assessment and project evaluation: The Kenya e RAILS country focal person and a team of core learning team members conducted an impact assessment and project evaluation in attempt to ascertain the level of impact, the other objective of this exercise was to enumerate the challenges and limitations that should inform future project involvement.

Strong DONATA and eRAILS linkages: A strong linkage was established between the two sister projects and success stories documented from both projects.

Collaborations and Networking's linkages: Strong linkages were established via the Core Learning Teams between different stakeholders in the agriculture sector.

Knowledge and information source: - The platform provided vital knowledge and information with practical reported cases of improved agricultural production and income from farmers who obtained shared knowledge from the portal and applied the knowledge with fantastic results (see video documentaries).

Notebook acquisition: - The project received ten notebook computers which were given to core learning teams and has been useful in training and content uploading.

Internet services provision and Local area network: - The project received internet provision and local area network in two sites where DONATA are very strong.

Web 2.0 tools capacity built: - Knowledge management skills were developed during the various training sessions.

Core Learning Team◦ More Farmers organizations should have been invited◦ More time allocated for the training session

Opening accounts without subsequent content posting/website development was identified as a source of failure

Slow uploading of images and video clips Lack of standard formats presentation of info Lack of operational protocol for clients, LT and

Admin. Lack of records/statistics of visits to the portal

Resources to facilitate Learning Team meetings and activities

The need of MOU’s (binding/commitment of institutions to post content onto the portal)

Lack of awareness about eRAILS hence need for promotional activities

Varied and/or limiting level of ICT capacity among the various stakeholders

Wider knowledge of resources, potentials, and opportunities

Enhanced partnerships and collaboration-Dgroups Enhanced outreach and technology transfer Improved ICT based info sharing Reduced duplication of efforts Increased innovations Increased awareness Increased expertise sharing

Approving or rejecting accounts is challenging considering the varied information presented.

Need for website validation/holding stage before launching them online- to avoid emptiness.

Time allocation/availability for eRAILS is assumed dormancy of Learning team Staffing needs- esp administration anticipated

Follow-up on content generations and uploading. strengthening ICT human resource capacity among

stakeholders create and promote awareness about the use of

emerging ICTs in dissemination of agricultural information.

catalyse partnerships among key information professionals and organizations to promote information sharing e.g. using group tools and other available technologies.

actively work with multiple stakeholders to improve information generation, processing and dissemination

There is need to increase content from stakeholders. This calls for substantive framework on generating content, packaging and sharing of information.

There is need to streamline the partnership structures of the core learning team. This involves a developing an MOU and policy framework.

More funding is required to improve internet access by stakeholder, training,

Develop knowledge management strategies among stakeholders to ensure best practices of knowledge use and re-use

Develop and institutionalize knowledge sharing culture among stakeholders.

Encourage adoption of e-learning systems as a platform for capacity building and training

E-RAILS 2 Expand the scope by involving more farmers

groups after the pilot involving Katoloni and Aberdares farmers groups.

Increase the number of vouchers availed for the project.

There is need for increased capacity for stakeholders, on the best practices in capturing, packaging and disseminating information for more efficiency

E-RAILS 2 Sensitise farmers on how to access and

utilise information available in the runetwork knowledge bank

Sensitize experts on registration in the experts database for improved efficiency in dissemination of information .

Carry out an impact study in order to improve the service

Develop mechanisms for monitoring and evaluation

Rice knowledge bank e-Mifugo and e-Mimea (e-Mimi) to include an

SMS function Kenya Agricultural Information Network ASAL Research Information & Training Unit

(Hub/Portal)

Identifying the knowledge holders within the organization and country

Develop Motivation strategies for sharing Designing a sharing mechanism to facilitate

the transfer Executing the share and transfer plan Measuring to ensure the transfer (M$E) Applying the knowledge transferred

Better information for better research using eRAILS platform

Acknowledging that better research starts with better information.

Recognition of the role of ICT systems such eRAILS within the APVC as an agent and a catalyst of knowledge and information transfer

Develop and adopt processes and services for ICT technologies that create information -driven research environment and accelerate innovation

Empower researchers and stakeholders with technology and process.

Unlock information from the shackles of paper.

Unleash innovation to drive better Research outcomes & leverage cutting-edge ICT technology.

Ensure Data becomes knowledge to move research beyond theory to practical application through the eRAILS platform

Participants made several suggestions on the way forward for eRAILS including: training on development and maintenance of websites to

full utilization of the RAILS portal; seek ways of funds to support more eRAILS activities ; creation of awareness about eRAILS, promote and market

it; eRAILS to be the source of current and timely information lobby policy makers to ensure other relevant organizations

come on board and support how to maintain constant consultation between the focal

point and member institutions; sustainability of Kenya RAILS after the project period?; how to actively engage private-public partnership actors; capacity building/training of stakeholders to enhance

participation and content sharing on the platform; develop an action plan

Agricultural development is fundamentally a social process in which people construct solutions to their problems, often by modifying both new technologies and their own production systems to take advantage of new opportunities offered by the technologies and eRAILS is an opportunity