Knowledge management

The implementation of a market-oriented agricultural development strategy will require improved access to knowledge on technology and institutional innovations. The IPMS Project works to assist the Ethiopian Minstiry of Agriculture and Rural Development in developing a knowledge management system that can help facilitate such access to agricultural knowledge and information -- including indigenous knowledge.

Our initiative in this area focuses on five tracks. These are:

• Support the assessment of the current state and requirements of agricultural knowledge on priority commodities
• Assist in the collection and presentation of knowledge on technology and institutional innovations on priority commodities for the pilot learning Woredas (PLW)
• Support the development of processes and mechanisms for enhanced knowledge sharing systems
• Support the establishment of ICT networks and infrastructure to strengthen links among Federal, Regional, & PLW stakeholders
• Support the establishment of a National Agricultural Information Resource Center (NAIRC) at MoARD

Activities that are already underway or implemented in eight of the pilot learning woredas (PLW) and at the Federal ministry include:

• Establishment of National Agricultural Information Resources Center – including Ethiopian Agriculture Portal, which is a web-based gateway to diverse agricultural resources is underway
• Woreda Knowledge Centers have been setup in eight Pilot Learning Woredas (PLW)
• Establishment of community of practice groups at Woreda and higher levels is at awareness creation stage
• National and Regional agricultural technology exhibitions have been held
• Study-tours and experience sharing of both policy makers and farmers have been facilitated
• Institutional setups that may help make KM a sustainable endeavor are actively promoted
• Rapid assessment of current KM practices and a that documented current methods and practices of access to knowledge has been conducted
• Project activities are publicized in both print and electronic media to actively share WHAT we have been doing, HOW we are doing what we do and the IMPACT of our activities