The Second-Level Connectivity Team

Ian Moore
Coordinator

Ian Moore is a man on the go. In between coping with the IT responsibilities of two CGIAR Centers, he still finds time in his remarkably busy schedule to spearhead the Second-Level Connectivity Project.

“Although I was ‘volunteered’ by the other IT Managers to take responsibility for this project, I immediately accepted,” says this soft-spoken man. “I’ve lived in Africa for 14 years, and I’m excited about extending ICT capabilities to the continent’s rural areas, the main focus of this endeavor.”

Africa and its people have always held a special place in Ian’s heart – a bond that has been strengthened by his marriage to a Cameroonian woman.  

“Eugenie comes from a place in Cameroon where there is no communication at all. I’m reminded of that every year when we visit her family and see how restricted they are in what they can do. So I do have a personal interest in that area.”

Ian feels that the lack of Internet connectivity at remote offices is something that should have been addressed years ago.

“We're finding that most of the regional and country offices have been neglected in terms of IT support, so we're using the project to help them implement standard infrastructure, configurations and best practice processes.

“Without this project, researchers and staff in general at some remote locations are unlikely to be able to benefit from the wealth of information available on the web and through the other projects implemented under the ICT-KM Program.”

Speaking about his responsibilities as Project Coordinator, Ian reveals, “At times it feels like everything is included in this role. I have a great team, but everyone involved has enough to do with their respective workloads in the CGIAR, and the project work can easily fall to the bottom of priority lists if I don’t keep on top of things.”

This Nairobi-based manager is quick to acknowledge the invaluable contribution of Nyawira Kailemia his Project Officer.

“Nyawira understands the technical side of this project and helps pull everything together,” he says. “She’s also very good at writing reports.”

As any project coordinator is bound to testify, there are always reports to be written.

Since the project’s implementation, Ian has learnt a lot about working with people who are remotely located. He knows the importance of not taking things for granted, especially when some of these people are trying to cope with poor connectivity.

He elaborates, “Communication is as important as the planning of any project. There are a lot of good people out there with surprising skills, and being flexible enough to take advantage of these skills in different ways is important.”

Patience is obviously key. A deep-rooted empathy for the people who will ultimately benefit from this project also helps, and in that respect, Ian’s feelings are quite obvious.

This Englishman’s love affair with Africa began in 1985 when he was sent to Malawi by the volunteer agency Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO). He spent two years there computerizing the health statistics for the country’s Ministry of Health before relocating to Cameroon, where he worked with two national agricultural research institutes – setting up, training and managing their IT facilities nationwide.

In 1993, he returned to the UK with Eugenie and their eight-year-old son, Will. But after working as a consultant in London for three years, he was lured overseas again with his first CGIAR post as IT Manager at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in the Philippines.

Ian’s ties to Africa soon proved to be too strong, though.

“When I was offered the position of IT Manager at the International Livestock Institute (ILRI), I accepted and moved to Nairobi in 1998,” he says. “A few years later, it was decided that I needed a bigger challenge so I was appointed IT Manager for the World AgroForestry Center (ICRAF) as well.”

On the home front, Ian’s son recently left for Canada to attend university, a move that created a vacuum in the Moore household. But instead of learning to take things easy, as many couples do when their children leave home, Ian and Eugenie decided to adopt a little Kenyan girl. Having a two-year-old at home has certainly added a new dimension to their lives.

One senses that Ian Moore is not just a man on the go; he is also a man with a big heart.

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More members of the Second-Level Connectivity Team coming soon...