Collaborate, Create, Communicate...

There was no issue of ICT-KM News last month because many people involved in the Program took a well-earned break to spend time with family and friends.

Now that most of us are back at our desks with our batteries recharged, we have a renewed enthusiasm for carrying out the Program’s mission. A few of our projects have successfully achieved their respective goals (more about them in the next issue), and other activities are being planned to carry the Program’s work into the future.

This month, we must say goodbye to our Program Associate, a dynamic woman who will be sorely missed by many. We also highlight two Project Coordinators who have contributed immeasurably to the success of the Program.

In other news, we bring you details of a knowledge sharing workshop with a difference, a deal with an IT giant that allows several Centers to reap benefits that go beyond the financial, the launch of CGXchange at two Centers, and much, much more …

Enrica Porcari

Chief Information Officer

CGIAR

In this issue of ICT-KM News:

Centers Reap the Benefits of Collective Actions

Collectively the CGIAR spends millions of dollars every year on information technology, but until recently it appears that no major IT vendor had heard of the organization. Such a situation arose because the CGIAR's business was scattered globally among a number of different vendors. This situation quickly changed, though, when the IT industry began consolidating a few years ago and opportunities to change began to emerge.

Of Speed Dating, Chat Shows and World Cafés

The ICT-KM Program’s most recent knowledge sharing event turned out to be an interactive workshop with a difference. Conducted during the ‘First IAALD Africa Chapter Conference’, which was held in Nairobi, Kenya, the one-day side event covered a range of creative participatory activities such as a ‘speed dating’ session, a chat show and a world café gathering.

A Fond Farewell

This month, the ICT-KM Program bids farewell to a team member whose efficiency and helpfulness have touched just about everyone who has come in contact with her. Program Associate Florine Lim, who has worked closely with CIO Enrica Porcari for almost three years, will soon take up a new position managing IWMI’s regional office at the WorldFish Center in Penang, Malaysia.

IWMI Creates First Wiki on CGXchange

IWMI has the distinction of becoming the first CGIAR Center to set up its own Wiki on CGXchange. Staff at the Center are discovering how easy it is to use this simple tool and have already created several Wiki pages that can be edited by registered users.

Behind the Scenes - Dario Valori, Coordinator, VRCI Project

When CGXchange was officially launched at the CGIAR’s Annual General Meeting in Morocco at the end of 2005, Dario Valori was in the audience to witness the culmination of more than two years’ hard work involving several ICT-KM projects and numerous members of staff.

Behind the Scenes - Balaji, Coordinator, VASAT and DVC Projects

When Venkatraman Balaji received the prestigious World Technology Award in 2001, he shared the stage with a few other highly-accomplished individuals: Craig Venter, who was selected for his work sequencing the human genome, and Intel cofounder Gordon Moore. The first Indian to win such an award, Balaji was recognized for his contribution to a project that is responsible for bringing the benefits of IT to fishing villages in India.

Multi-way Videoconferencing Now Routine at IRRI

IRRI scientist Dr. Casiana Vera Cruz can now hold monthly meetings using simultaneous video and teleconferencing capabilities that enable her to interact with various research collaborators in the US and on the southern Philippine island of Mindanao at the same.

On the Road with CGXchange

After a successful launch at IPGRI a few months ago, the CGXchange road show made its way to South Asia.

An IWMI Trio

IWMI recently released two new online data resources and improved access to a third existing resource. The three sites, which are generating interest beyond the Sri Lankan Center, give users access to data relating to climate, water, agriculture and the environment.  

Snippets

ICT-KM Program at AARINENA General Conference

Nick Maliha, ICARDA’s Library and Information Services Manager, recently represented the ICT-KM Program at the 10th General Conference of The Association of Agricultural Research Institutions in the Near East and North Africa (AARINENA). Held in Sana’a, Yemen, the conference attracted speakers from several CGIAR Centers as well as from organizations like FAO and the Global Forum on Agricultural Research (GFAR). Nick’s presentation, which explained the importance of ICT in Agriculture and Rural Development (ARD), was well-received by the attendees.

Gateway to Global Agricultural Knowledge

Through the CGVlibrary (http://vlibrary.cgiar.org/), users within the CGIAR and partner organizations can discover resources, directly access the full text of thousands of publications, and keep up-to-date with CGIAR research. Find out more information by downloading the CGVlibrary Flyer. CGIAR users can also reach the CGVlibrary through the CGXchange home page: www.cgxchange.org.
 

CIP Connected to GeoNetwork

CIP is the latest CGIAR Center to get a dedicated Node on the GeoNetwork. As such, users can now easily access and discover geospatial data and data sources on the Center’s GeoNetwork site. Customized with French and Spanish, the CIP GeoNetwork Node is provided by the CGIAR-CSI to facilitate the sharing of geographically referenced spatial and thematic information. To find out more about the GeoNetwork, please go to http://csi.cgiar.org/geonetwork/

CGIAR Showcases Its Project

IPGRI IT Manager Dario Valori was given a rare opportunity to showcase CGXchange, the CGIAR’s System-wide intranet/extranet system, during a BEA Systems event held in Rome on 5 July 2006. BEA, a world leader in enterprise infrastructure software, recently acquired Plumtree, the same company that provided the technical platform for CGXchange.

During his presentation, Dario summarized the CGIAR’s experience in collecting requirements, selecting a platform and deploying the portal. It is hoped that these experiences will help other dispersed organizations contemplating similar portal technology. 

BEA presented both the Plumtree and the BEA portals as different aspects of a unique product; the company plans to unify the two portals under a single platform by early 2007.

Upcoming Events

IT Managers' Annual Meeting

On 4 September 2006, CGIAR IT Managers from around the globe will converge in Lima, Peru, for their Annual Meeting. Hosted by CIP, the five-day event will give IT Managers the opportunity to share ideas and information. Participants will also take advantage of the face-to-face meeting to make concrete plans to ensure that technology across the System remains efficient and adequate to the needs of a network as complex as that of the CGIAR.

Outcome Mapping Workshop

A four-day workshop entitled “Outcome Mapping: A Practical, Flexible, Participatory Approach to Monitoring & Evaluation” will be held from 23 to 26 October 2006 at the University of Guelph, Canada.

^ back to top

We welcome feedback on the ICT-KM News, so please feel free to contact us at ictkm@cgiar.org.