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September 2006


Snippets

M&E in the CGIAR
Although monitoring and evaluation (M&E) are widely regarded as useful components in program and project management, many organizations have cultures, histories or procedures that undermine their effective use for learning and reporting. Based on two years experience with the M&E components of the CGIAR’s ICT-KM Program, a prominent M&E specialist has recently finished writing a case study that gives suggestions for overcoming constraints to the use of M&E by programs and projects in the CGIAR System. Look out for the link to this report in the next issue of ICT-KM News.

A Publishing Gem
Emerald, a niche publisher with the world’s largest, most comprehensive collection of peer-reviewed management articles and resources for researchers and managers alike, has granted the CGIAR a trial access to 141 full text publications from 2 October to 30 November 2006. This is the first of a series of trials being organized with FAO as part of the new collaborative efforts in the area of journal subscriptions. Contact your Information Manager for more details.

Upcoming Events

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.

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Collaborate, Create, Communicate...

One of the highlights of September was the IT Managers’ Meeting, which saw representatives flying into Peru from all over the world. Lima is a wonderful place to hold a meeting – for a start, there are our efficient and hospitable colleagues at CIP, and then there is the great food, and the fabulous scenic backdrops ...

We all know travel is becoming increasingly difficult these days, so if you are looking for a way of collaborating with people in different locations that doesn’t involve hopping on a plane or making a long road trip, you might be interested in our latest booklet “No Travel Required”. To download your copy, please read further.

This month's issue of ICT-KM News also features a consultant who has contributed enormously to CGXchange, our intranet/extranet system. This industrious young woman illustrates what can be achieved when you turn a passion into a career. Other highlights include a prestigious membership invitation and a rebranding exercise at a CGIAR Center.

In our continuous efforts to improve our communication tools, we changed the look of ICT-KM News last month. We would appreciate it if you could take a few minutes to give us your feedback, not just on the new design but also on the content. What would you like to read in this newsletter? What would you like to see continued? What should be changed? Please email us at ictkm@cgiar.org with your comments and suggestions.

Next month, we plan to launch our new website – look out for the announcement in the next issue of ICT-KM News.


Enrica Porcari
Chief Information Officer
CGIAR


Main News

CGIAR-CSI Recognized with Invitation
The CGIAR-CSI (Consortium for Spatial Information) has been invited to make an application to become a full member of the United Nations Geographic Information Working Group (UNGIWG). Membership in the group will give the Consortium members the opportunity to participate with other experts in the field of geographical information science and also give them a platform to share their own unique CGIAR perspective on the global discourse on geospatial data and infrastructure.
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IT Managers Meet in Peru
On 4 September 2006, CGIAR IT Managers from around the globe converged in Lima, Peru, for their Annual Meeting. Collectively, they traveled thousands of miles and cut across five continents to reach their final destination, such was their enthusiasm for yet another opportunity to share experiences, ideas and information with their CGIAR counterparts.

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Behind the Scenes - Silvia Ticconi
More than two years ago, Silvia Ticconi made a detour from her planned career path that would change her life in many ways. A passion that had stemmed from a hobby took her from the University of Rome “La Sapienza” to an Italian web design company and then on to the IT department of an international organization.
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Rebranding Underway at IPGRI
Come the beginning of December this year, IPGRI will be known as “Bioversity International” or “Bioversity” for short. The new name was chosen because it echoes the Center’s new strategy, which focuses on improving people’s lives through biodiversity research.
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No Travel Required
The Internet and email have changed the way we communicate with each other. Technology in the 21st century has ‘shrunk’ physical distances and expanded the possibilities for discussions among people who live in geographically dispersed locations. Indeed, it is now possible to take part in a meeting without having to leave the comfort of your own home or office. For example, you can have a morning coffee in Lima, attend a seminar in Rome before lunch and still have time to squeeze in a workshop in Washington before dinner. No Travel Required!
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We welcome feedback on the ICT-KM News, so please feel free to contact us at ictkm@cgiar.org