IP06: The Way Ahead
The ICT-KM Program's 2006 Investment Plan (IP06), which covers Phase II of the Program, focuses on providing follow-on support for several critical, System-wide activities that were started under the 2004 Investment Plan (IP04). Only by consolidating the gains of these activities can all CGIAR staff and partners benefit from their potential returns. Efforts have also been initiated to ensure that the necessary human resources are in place to enable the Program to effectively fulfill its objectives and plan for future investments.
The main scope of the 2006 Investment Plan is centered on two relatively large projects: CGXchange and Improving CGIAR Effectiveness through Knowledge Sharing (KS).
CGXchangeWith this intranet/extranet system's basic technical infrastructure and content elements firmly in place, Phase II provides ongoing maintenance and management for the platform, develops content, tools and services further, ensures content providers are able to make their content available on a sustainable basis to those who need it, and enables easy access to collaboration tools.
Two major resources implemented under IP04 are being further developed in close alignment with the CGXchange: the CGVlibrary and the Online Learning Resources both of which are accessible through the intranet site.
The CGVlibraryThis already popular resource gives users instant access to leading agricultural information databases, including the online libraries of all the CGIAR Centers and the full text of thousands of publications. The second phase of the CGVlibrary Project will help increase access to additional information resources in agriculture, facilitate their use by researchers, and publicize the availability of the service to researchers both within the CGIAR and beyond.
Online Learning Resources (OLR)The OLR Project established a Learning Object Repository using internationally recognized standards that allow exchanges with other learning object referatories and repositories. The second phase of the Project will increase the availability, accessibility and re-usability of CGIAR digital content for learning through the repository; establish a quality assurance and management system; and strengthen the CGIAR network of the training community of practice and its collaborating partners.
CGIAR MTP Analysis Program (CG-MAP)CG-MAP will also be brought into the CGXchange fold. This System-wide application will help CGIAR Centers and Challenge Programs compile information for their annual MTP submissions and make all project information available from one location, thereby promoting knowledge and information sharing and increasing System-wide analysis.
Improving CGIAR Effectiveness through Knowledge Sharing (KS)The second phase of the KS Project will mainstream KS in the CGIAR (Scaling Up) by extending to other Centers and Programs the lessons learned from the KS pilots and other Project activities carried out under IP04. The CGIAR community of KS practitioners will also be further developed to involve professionals from different disciplines. In another activity (Scaling Out), opportunities to enhance collaborative learning and innovation in major CGIAR partnerships through the use of KS approaches will be identified and pursued.
Planning for the FutureIn early 2005, the Program conducted a two-week online consultation involving over 200 participants with the aim of identifying specific ICT-KM interventions needed to improve the quality, relevance and collaboration in generating Global Public Goods (GPGs). This provided the inputs for a new proposal/strategy that IP06 activities will build on by conducting a comprehensive user needs study; carrying out internal and external consultations about needs and future directions; building partnerships with other critical players; and developing and implementing a process to finalize the information GPG strategy and investment plan.
The 2006 Investment Plan enables the ICT-KM Program to continue working towards its vision of a CGIAR without boundaries; a CGIAR that functions as an organic, distributed, collaborative system.
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