1. Information and Communication Management for Rural and Agricultural Development in Near East and North Africa Region (AARINENA.RAIS): Outputs and Lessons Learned Magdi Latif FAO Knowledge and Capacity For Development Division Knowledge Exchange, Research and Extension Office

2. AARINENA RAIS NERAKIN Initiative: Immediate Objective (2007) To strengthen the capacity of the Ministries of Agriculture and agricultural and rural research institutions for effective information management and knowledge exchange in support of rural and agricultural development in the region Contributing and Supporting Partners: AARINENA, GFAR, FAO, CGIAR “The regional initiative will add value in a coherent way to national system/networks, not substitute them.” “Build infrastructure tonetwork all ARC agricultural institutions through a regional portal as well as through national portals.”

6. Development of the regional thematic knowledge networks (Starting with Biotechnology Network).

7. Official launch of NERAKIN regional portal

8. Training of selected national technical staff to contribute to NERAKIN system

10. AGRIS Application Profile

11. AGROVOC Arabic/English

12. Real Simple Syndicate - RSS

13. Open Archives Initiative Compliance

14. Online Web services

15. Software – MySQL Open SourceTo develop and promote interoperability standards to facilitate the efficient dissemination of content. interoperability is connecting people, data and diverse systems. www.fao.org/aims

16. NERAKIN 2011 Interface

17. Outputs Regional Thematic Networks (from 2008 – present) Regional Agricultural Biotechnology Network Near East and North Africa Near East Plant Protection Network Regional Aquaculture Information system Preventive Desert Locust Management Network (EMPRES) and Commission for Controlling the Desert Locust in the Central Region (CRC) Regional Network]; Near East and North Africa Regional Network for Agricultural Policies.

19. December 2010: Organized regional Workshop on Knowledge Exchange Management System for Strengthening Rural Development (Near East Regional VERCON Network). Egypt, Jordon, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Sudan, Syria, Tunis, Yemen.

22. initiatives developed to help organizations active in agricultural science to publish and disseminate the results of their work

24. Relationship between NERAKIN and National Networks

25. VERCON Network RADCON Network

27. January 2008 in Oman: Regional Workshop for Strengthening National ICM Focal Units in Near East Region for strengthening and developing the agricultural information systems and Identifying stakeholders and beneficiaries of IS, and their needs. Participation: Egypt, Jordan, Morocco , Lebanon ,Libya ,Oman, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Yemen

28. October 2008 in Syria: Official launch of Near East and North Africa Rural and Agricultural Knowledge and Information (Nerakin-RAIS)

30. PEOPLE, NOT ONLY TECHNOLOGY:Networks depend on and work with people and not on technology alone;

31. Institutionalization of networks;

32. Acquiring knowledge-sharing culture that is based on collaborative methods and exchange mechanisms;

33. Network Facilitation: The significance need to network facilitation with face-to-face meetings; and

37. October 2007 Back end Interface

39. This system consists of a regional network gateway along with some 17 national knowledge and information portals. NERAKIN was launched in October 2008 and is designed to help member countries strengthen their regional networking and knowledge Sharing.

41. FAO provided the technical support necessary to develop a website for the Preventive Desert Locust Management Network (EMPRES) and the Commission for Controlling the Desert Locust in the Central Region (CRC). It is now fully operational (http://crc-empres.org/).

48. Exchange of information and knowledge,

49. Enhanced technical cooperation,

50. Reduced costs of operation,

51. Synergiesin information management,

53. Good Practices in National Networking Existence of a clearly defined strategy and objectives Tangible commitment to the strategy from major players including government Assurance of adequate funding resources for the network members Strong but sensitive leadership provided by a national focal point Participatory approach in the national network with appropriate recognition of all partners Development of information repositories of documents (metadata/full text) and people/organizations/activities Adoption of a single model for IM with common formats and standards Focus on content quality Focus on development of human resources

54. Operational Framework in National Networking Assign and build capacity of Coordinating/Focal Unit that includes National Admin/Focal point. Develop the system steering committee that includes a national coordinator, technical director and members. Assign stakeholders who will be responsible for managing their own information (1- Institute Admin 2- Data Entry Users). Connect institutional entities that are not connected and enhance the infrastructure within the different connected institutions (hardware installation). Install software system in institution servers (Plug and Work). Building capacities of institution staff on the use of system (training). Data collection/validation/publishing and feeding to system. Conduct awareness workshops and promote the system.

55. AARINENA Regional/Inter-Regional Thematic NetworksEstablished in collaboration with GFAR, FAO and ICARDA Other Regional Specialized Networks

57. Task Forces (Advocacy & Content Management)

58. Regional Activities

60. Relations between NAKEMS and MAFNET and Other Future Institutional Systems in Oman Using RSS Aggregators

61. Knowledge Community Networks Map

62. NERAKIN and Regional Thematic Networks – RSS Aggregators

63. NERAKIN and National Networks – RSS Aggregators

64. Relations between NAKEMS and MAFNET and Other Future Institutional Systems in Oman Using RSS Aggregators

66. Provide wider access to content;

67. Raise awareness of regional agricultural problems/issues;