Improving
Knowledge Sharing in the CGIAR: An investment plan for
shared platforms, tools and systems
Knowledge related to food, fisheries, forestry,
livestock and policies is increasingly recognized as a
fundamental element of the global public goods the CGIAR
generates. Harnessing the potential offered by the new
advances in information and communication technology (ICT)
and knowledge management (KM) practices and tools offers
unparalleled opportunities for maximizing development
impact. A new information and knowledge initiative of
the CGIAR is set to significantly improve the way the
CGIAR centers share their knowledge, link with partners
and deliver their public goods.
The three-year strategy and work plan, adopted by the
Center Directors Committee, proposes investments in a
new series of information networks and knowledge tools.
The goal is to change the way the CGIAR works by creating
a CGIAR without boundaries, giving all researchers access
to high performance computing and communication, and better
managing the CGIAR’s global public goods to make
them easily accessible to partners and users worldwide.
"This is a unique approach for the system,"
says Enrica Porcari, CGIAR Chief Information Officer.
"By developing the strategy through our communities,
we encourage more integration and reduce competition between
the centers in this key area where there has been much
duplication of effort in the past. The end result will
be a series of CGIAR-wide information tools, knowledge
platforms and practices."
The strategy was developed by the CGIAR ICT-KM Advisory
Group which brings together representatives of the key
professional communities in the system: research, marketing,
library and information management, information and communication
technologies, training and education specialists, deputy
directors and directors general.
The strategy presents a number of priority areas for investment,
identified by the communities as critical areas for investment
in ICT and KM. The science community organized an internal
call for proposals, with all research groups (not Centers)
in the system encouraged to respond.
The strategy is organized around three main thrust areas:
ICT for Tomorrow’s Science, Content for Development,
and CGIAR Without Boundaries.
The ICT-KM strategy and program are being finalized. At
AGM 2003, projects will be proposed for adoption with
a investment plan kick-off scheduled for early 2004.
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