Second Level Connectivity

Internet Connectivity for CGIAR Regional and Country Offices

History

The objective of the Second Level Connectivity Project was to upgrade Internet access at up to 50 CGIAR small and mid-sized remote locations, with particular emphasis on Africa, enabling scientists at these sites to be able to connect with partners and access information resources around the globe, leading to a new level of collaboration and information sharing.

At the end of 2006, the project had completed the installation of improved Internet connectivity in 10 locations and had committed funds for installations at two more sites. Another four sites had improved Internet connectivity following advice from the project but without requesting funds from the project. Seventeen sites from the original priority list no longer required financial assistance to upgrade their connectivity. These offices were no longer a priority or had been closed by their Centre. As a result of these changes, some Centers requested to change their priority sites and in three cases these requests were accepted. The ICT Briefcase was in its final stages of development and was relying on Centers to provide information with which to populate it.

An extension to cover new installations was put on hold while an evaluation of project interventions was carried out. The evaluation found that the project had provided a good basis for future improvements in connectivity in the CGIAR regional and country offices. Several important recommendations were made including improving communications and monitoring and evaluation. Once the project extension was approved, work started immediately to implement the pilot project to provide improved IT support to the East and Southern Africa Region.

As of March 2008, the project had improved Internet connectivity at 17 sites, one upgrade was in progress, 9 offices required no upgrade, and 12 had not been upgraded, for various reasons.

In 2009, the ICT Briefcase was further developed, renamed Infopoint and allocated a permanent space on CGX 2.0

Lead Administrative Center

International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), with strong support provided by the World AgroForestry Centre (ICRAF)