Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
02ROME5916
2002-12-10 14:53:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Rome
Cable title:
FAO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY UPDATE - "AHEAD OF THE
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ROME 005916
SIPDIS
FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME
USDA/FAS FOR U/S PENN, MCHAMBLISS AND LREICH
USAID FOR A/NATSIOS, AA/EGAT ESIMMONS, AA/DCHA WINTER,
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 02 ROME 05916 01 OF 03 101628Z
DAA/PPC JSIMON
STATE FOR A/S IO HOLMES, A/S PRM DEWEY, U/S GLOBAL
DOBRIANSKY, IO/EDA WINNICK
NSC FOR JDWORKEN
USEU BRUSSELS FOR USAID/PLERNER
TOKYO FOR USAID REP
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EU WFP FAO UN EUEAID WFP FAO UN EUEAID WFP FAO UN
SUBJECT: FAO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY UPDATE - "AHEAD OF THE
CURVE"
-------
SUMMARY
-------
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ROME 005916
SIPDIS
FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME
USDA/FAS FOR U/S PENN, MCHAMBLISS AND LREICH
USAID FOR A/NATSIOS, AA/EGAT ESIMMONS, AA/DCHA WINTER,
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 02 ROME 05916 01 OF 03 101628Z
DAA/PPC JSIMON
STATE FOR A/S IO HOLMES, A/S PRM DEWEY, U/S GLOBAL
DOBRIANSKY, IO/EDA WINNICK
NSC FOR JDWORKEN
USEU BRUSSELS FOR USAID/PLERNER
TOKYO FOR USAID REP
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EU WFP FAO UN EUEAID WFP FAO UN EUEAID WFP FAO UN
SUBJECT: FAO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY UPDATE - "AHEAD OF THE
CURVE"
--------------
SUMMARY
--------------
1. CHRISTOPHER RITTER OF USAID'S BUREAU FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH,
AGRICULTURE & TRADE (EGAT) RECENTLY REVIEWED FAO'S WORLD
AGRICULTURAL INFORMATION CENTRE (WAICENT) AND RELATED
PROJECTS IN SETTING STANDARDS IN AGRICULTURAL INFORMATION
MANAGEMENT AND CAPACITY BUILDING IN INFORMATION MANAGEMENT
FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES. KEY FOCAL ISSUES WERE: MAKING SURE
THE INFORMATION FAO DELIVERS IS ACTUALLY USEFUL AND ITS
SUCCESS IN CONVINCING POLICY-MAKERS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF
INFORMATION MANAGEMENT. HE CONCLUDED THAT FAO IS "AHEAD OF
THE CURVE" IN COPING WITH THE PROBLEM OF AGRICULTURAL
KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT IN DEVELOPMENT. MOREOVER, HE IDENTIFIED
AREAS FOR POSSIBLE FAO/USAID COLLABORATION. END SUMMARY.
-------------- --------------
BACKGROUND - IMPROVING RURAL COMMUNICATION - INSTITUTIONS
AND PROCESSES; AND CAPACITY BUILDING
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 03 ROME 05916 01 OF 03 101628Z
-------------- --------------
2. CHRISTOPHER RITTER, A AAAS DIPLOMACY FELLOW WITH
USAID/EGAT, RECENTLY REVIEWED FAO'S WORLD AGRICULTURAL
INFORMATION CENTRE (WAICENT) AND ITS EFFORTS RELATED TO
SETTING STANDARDS IN AGRICULTURAL INFORMATION MANAGEMENT AND
CAPACITY BUILDING IN INFORMATION MANAGEMENT FOR DEVELOPING
COUNTRIES.
3. FAO HAS RECENTLY DEVELOPED TWO MODELS WHICH ADDRESS
DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF IMPROVING AGRICULTURAL INFORMATION
EXCHANGE AND COMMUNICATION. THE VIRTUAL EXTENSION, RESEARCH
AND COMMUNICATION NETWORK (VERCON) MODEL AIMS AT ENHANCING
LINKAGES BETWEEN THE RESEARCH AND EXTENSION FUNCTIONS, BASED
MAINLY ON IMPROVED EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION USING MODERN
INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES (ICTS).
THE IDEA IS TO SUPPORT DIRECT, TWO-WAY COMMUNICATION BETWEEN
FIELD EXTENSION STAFF AND RESEARCHERS WHO, IN THE EXISTING
REGIME, ONLY HAVE CONTACT THAT IS MEDIATED BY HIGHER
ADMINISTRATIVE LEVELS--IF THEY HAVE ANY AT ALL.
4. THE VERCON CONCEPT IS CURRENTLY BEING PILOTED IN EGYPT,
WHERE CONVENTIONAL PHONE-BASED E-MAIL CONNECTIONS ARE HAVING
A LARGE EFFECT IN CUTTING THROUGH LAYERS OF BUREAUCRACY TO
CONNECT EXTENSIONISTS DIRECTLY, AND ESSENTIALLY FOR THE
FIRST TIME, WITH RESEARCHERS AND NEW SOURCES OF AGRICULTURAL
INFORMATION.
5. THE FARMER INFORMATION NETWORK (FARMNET) MODEL AIMS AT
BUILDING COMMUNICATION NETWORKS BETWEEN AGRICULTURAL
PRODUCERS THEMSELVES, OR THEIR REPRESENTATIVES IN RURAL
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 04 ROME 05916 01 OF 03 101628Z
COMMUNITIES, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE AGRICULTURAL SERVICE
PROVIDERS OF MANY FORMS, AND INTERFACES WITH THE "MARKET"
FOR RURAL PRODUCE. FARMNET IS MEANT TO EXPLOIT FULLY THE
EXISTING COMMUNICATION INFRASTRUCTURE, INCLUDING TELEPHONY,
PRINT AND RADIO, WHILE ALSO AUGMENTING INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY (IT) SELECTIVELY USING APPROPRIATE NEWER ICTS.
FARMNET PILOT STUDIES ARE UNDERWAY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
GOVERNMENTS IN NAMIBIA AND UGANDA. SPECIFICALLY, THE FARMNET
PROJECT IN UGANDA RETAINS A FOCUS ON RADIO, BUT WILL INCLUDE
E-MAIL, ALONG WITH OTHER OLDER AND NEWER ICTS TO IMPROVE
WEATHER AND MARKET INFORMATION DELIVERY. LINKING VERCONS
WITH FARMNETS IS AN OBVIOUS THING TO WORK ON.
6. ON CAPACITY BUILDING, FAO IS WORKING ON AN INFORMATION
MANAGEMENT RESOURCE KIT AIMED AT ADDRESSING THE DEMANDS OF
ITS MEMBERS IN AGRICULTURAL INFORMATION MANAGEMENT USING
MODERN ICTS. THE RESOURCE KIT CONSISTS OF A SET OF
EDUCATIONAL MODULES, DELIVERED THROUGH COMPUTER-BASED
DISTANCE LEARNING AND FOUR MODULES ARE IN VARIOUS STAGES OF
DEVELOPMENT. THE CONTENT OF THE MODULES IS BEING DEVELOPED
BY CONTRACTORS, INCLUDING CORNELL UNIVERSITY, THE UNIVERSITY
OF SASKATCHEWAN, THE TECHNICAL CENTRE FOR AGRICULTURAL AND
RURAL COOPERATION IN WAGENINGEN (CTA),
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED PTQ2965
PAGE 01 ROME 05916 02 OF 03 101629Z
ACTION IO-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 AMAD-00 CIAE-00 COME-00 CTME-00
WHA-00 SRPP-00 EAP-00 EB-00 EUR-00 E-00 UTED-00
VC-00 TEDE-00 INR-00 VCE-00 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OES-00
OIC-02 OMB-01 IRM-00 STR-00 TEST-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00
R-00 PRM-00 SAS-00 /003W
-------------- 158BA7 101739Z /38
P 101453Z DEC 02
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7264
INFO EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
AMEMBASSY OTTAWA
AMEMBASSY CANBERRA
AMEMBASSY TOKYO
AMEMBASSY BERN
USDA FAS WASHDC 2459
USEU BRUSSELS 2995
USMISSION GENEVA
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 03 ROME 005916
SIPDIS
FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME
USDA/FAS FOR U/S PENN, MCHAMBLISS AND LREICH
USAID FOR A/NATSIOS, AA/EGAT ESIMMONS, AA/DCHA WINTER,
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 02 ROME 05916 02 OF 03 101629Z
DAA/PPC JSIMON
STATE FOR A/S IO HOLMES, A/S PRM DEWEY, U/S GLOBAL
DOBRIANSKY, IO/EDA WINNICK
NSC FOR JDWORKEN
USEU BRUSSELS FOR USAID/PLERNER
TOKYO FOR USAID REP
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EU WFP FAO UN EUEAID WFP FAO UN EUEAID WFP FAO UN
SUBJECT: FAO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY UPDATE - "AHEAD OF THE
CURVE"
AND THE INTERNATIONAL SERVICE FOR NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL
RESEARCH (ISNAR) IN THE HAGUE. FAO WORKS WITH A LOCAL
INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGNER TO TRANSLATE CONTRACTORS' CONTENT
MATERIAL INTO SELF-STRUCTURED, COMPUTER-BASED INSTRUCTIONAL
UNITS APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES IN LENGTH. IN GENERAL, RITTER
IS OF THE VIEW THAT FAO HAS A QUALITY PRODUCT AND A SOLID
PROCESS WITH GOOD PROSPECTS FOR MAINTAINING A HIGH LEVEL OF
QUALITY.
7. FAO IS ALSO FACILITATING THE DEVELOPMENT OF A GLOBAL
PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVE, CALLED AGORA (ACCESS TO GLOBAL
ONLINE RESEARCH IN AGRICULTURE),WHICH AIMS TO PROVIDE FREE
OR REDUCED-PRICE ACCESS TO LEARNED JOURNALS IN AGRICULTURE
FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES. THIS IS A PROJECT THAT IS ENGAGING
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS (IPR) MATTERS WITH THE GOAL OF
INCREASING ACCESS TO AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH THAT IS CURRENTLY
DISSEMINATED THROUGH PROPRIETARY CHANNELS -MAINLY
COPYRIGHTED JOURNALS, SUBSCRIPTIONS - WHICH ARE TOO COSTLY
FOR INDIVIDUALS OR INSTITUTIONS IN MANY DEVELOPING
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 03 ROME 05916 02 OF 03 101629Z
COUNTRIES. THIS PROJECT BUILDS ON THE MODEL OF THE HEALTH
INTERNETWORK ACCESS TO RESEARCH INITIATIVE (HINARI),AN
INITIATIVE IN THE HEALTH SECTOR DEVELOPED BY THE WORLD
HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO),WHICH HAS BROUGHT THE MAJOR
COMMERCIAL PUBLISHERS INTO AN AGREEMENT TO PERMIT ACCESS TO
SEVERAL HUNDRED JOURNALS.
--------------
THE MASSIVE JOB OF KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT
--------------
8. FAO'S WORLD AGRICULTURAL INFORMATION CENTER (WAICENT)
AIMS AT IMPROVING MEMBERS' ACCESS TO THE COLLECTION OF
CONTENT ON THE ORGANIZATION'S WEBSITE AND INTRANET
(PRESENTLY OVER 500,000 WEB PAGES, 100,000 FULL-TEXT
DOCUMENTS, ETC). IMPROVING ACCESS TO SUCH ENORMOUS
QUANTITIES OF DIGITALLY BASED INFORMATION IS A MAJOR
"TASKER" FOR ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS FAO.
9. FAO'S APPROACH TO INCREASING ACCESS TO AGRICULTURAL
INFORMATION IS THROUGH INNOVATIVE WORK IN THE TECHNOLOGY OF
MANAGING HUGE AMOUNTS OF INFORMATION. THE WEAKEST PART OF
WAICENT IS ITS USER INTERFACE, WHICH NEEDS WORK. TO ITS
CREDIT, FAO REALIZES REFINEMENT THOUGH TESTING AMONG END
USERS OUTSIDE OF FAO IS REQUIRED. HOWEVER, THE UNDERLYING
DESIGN OF WAICENT IS IMPRESSIVE AND OFFERS A SOLID
FOUNDATION ON WHICH TO REFINE THE PUBLIC FACE OF WAICENT.
FAO IS ALSO SLOWLY COMING TO GRIPS WITH THE ULTIMATE, BUT
VERY DIFFICULT TO ANSWER QUESTION: HOW WAICENT'S INFORMATION
RESOURCES ARE ACTUALLY BEING USED AND WHAT IMPACT THAT USE
IS HAVING ON AGRICULTURE.
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 04 ROME 05916 02 OF 03 101629Z
--------------
CONCLUSIONS
--------------
10. MANAGING LARGE AMOUNTS OF INFORMATION OF RADICALLY
DIFFERENT TYPES - INCLUDING CONVENTIONAL PRINT SOURCES,
IMAGES, STATISTICAL DATABASES, INTERACTIVE APPLICATIONS, AND
MULTIMEDIA RESOURCES - IS A RELATIVELY NEW PROBLEM FOR FAO,
USAID, AND ALL OTHER MAJOR DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS.
ATTENTION SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO SUPPORTING THE AGENCIES THAT
ARE MAKING THE BEST EFFORTS AND TAKING LESSONS FROM THEM
THAT CAN BE WIDELY APPLIED TO IMPROVE WHAT EACH PLAYER IN
THIS DOMAIN IS DOING.
11. IN GENERAL, FAO IS WELL PLACED TO WORK ON INTERNATIONAL
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTUE, POLICIES AND
STANDARDS.
12. ON THE FAO RESOURCES KIT, SINCE FAO HAS A QUALITY
PRODUCT AND THE PROCESS THEY HAVE IN PLACE FOR PRODUCING
MORE HAS GOOD PROSPECTS OF MAINTAINING THE QUALITY LEVEL,
USAID AND ITS CONTRACTORS SHOULD CONSIDER PARTNERING WITH
FAO TO EXPANDED USAGE OF THE RESOURCE KIT WHEREVER
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED PTQ3015
PAGE 01 ROME 05916 03 OF 03 101629Z
ACTION IO-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 AMAD-00 CIAE-00 COME-00 CTME-00
WHA-00 SRPP-00 EAP-00 EB-00 EUR-00 E-00 UTED-00
VC-00 TEDE-00 INR-00 VCE-00 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OES-00
OIC-02 OMB-01 IRM-00 STR-00 TEST-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00
PRM-00 SAS-00 /003W
-------------- 158D85 101750Z /38
P 101453Z DEC 02
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7265
INFO EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
AMEMBASSY OTTAWA
AMEMBASSY CANBERRA
AMEMBASSY TOKYO
AMEMBASSY BERN
USDA FAS WASHDC 2460
USEU BRUSSELS 2996
USMISSION GENEVA
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
UNCLAS SECTION 03 OF 03 ROME 005916
SIPDIS
FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 02 ROME 05916 03 OF 03 101629Z
USDA/FAS FOR U/S PENN, MCHAMBLISS AND LREICH
USAID FOR A/NATSIOS, AA/EGAT ESIMMONS, AA/DCHA WINTER,
DAA/PPC JSIMON
STATE FOR A/S IO HOLMES, A/S PRM DEWEY, U/S GLOBAL
DOBRIANSKY, IO/EDA WINNICK
NSC FOR JDWORKEN
USEU BRUSSELS FOR USAID/PLERNER
TOKYO FOR USAID REP
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EU WFP FAO UN EUEAID WFP FAO UN EUEAID WFP FAO UN
SUBJECT: FAO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY UPDATE - "AHEAD OF THE
CURVE"
APPROPRIATE.
13. FAO WOULD WELCOME USAID'S PARTICIPATION IN AGORA. USAID
COULD PROVIDE, AMONG OTHER THINGS, VALUABLE ASSISTANCE IN
DEVELOPING A SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MODEL FOR AGORA.
14. LASTLY, BOTH WAICENT AND AGORA ARE IMPORTANT WORKS IN
PROGRESS THAT THIS MISSION DEEMS WORTHY OF USG SUPPORT.
HALL
UNCLASSIFIED
>
2002ROME05916 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
SIPDIS
FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME
USDA/FAS FOR U/S PENN, MCHAMBLISS AND LREICH
USAID FOR A/NATSIOS, AA/EGAT ESIMMONS, AA/DCHA WINTER,
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 02 ROME 05916 01 OF 03 101628Z
DAA/PPC JSIMON
STATE FOR A/S IO HOLMES, A/S PRM DEWEY, U/S GLOBAL
DOBRIANSKY, IO/EDA WINNICK
NSC FOR JDWORKEN
USEU BRUSSELS FOR USAID/PLERNER
TOKYO FOR USAID REP
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EU WFP FAO UN EUEAID WFP FAO UN EUEAID WFP FAO UN
SUBJECT: FAO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY UPDATE - "AHEAD OF THE
CURVE"
--------------
SUMMARY
--------------
1. CHRISTOPHER RITTER OF USAID'S BUREAU FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH,
AGRICULTURE & TRADE (EGAT) RECENTLY REVIEWED FAO'S WORLD
AGRICULTURAL INFORMATION CENTRE (WAICENT) AND RELATED
PROJECTS IN SETTING STANDARDS IN AGRICULTURAL INFORMATION
MANAGEMENT AND CAPACITY BUILDING IN INFORMATION MANAGEMENT
FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES. KEY FOCAL ISSUES WERE: MAKING SURE
THE INFORMATION FAO DELIVERS IS ACTUALLY USEFUL AND ITS
SUCCESS IN CONVINCING POLICY-MAKERS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF
INFORMATION MANAGEMENT. HE CONCLUDED THAT FAO IS "AHEAD OF
THE CURVE" IN COPING WITH THE PROBLEM OF AGRICULTURAL
KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT IN DEVELOPMENT. MOREOVER, HE IDENTIFIED
AREAS FOR POSSIBLE FAO/USAID COLLABORATION. END SUMMARY.
-------------- --------------
BACKGROUND - IMPROVING RURAL COMMUNICATION - INSTITUTIONS
AND PROCESSES; AND CAPACITY BUILDING
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 03 ROME 05916 01 OF 03 101628Z
-------------- --------------
2. CHRISTOPHER RITTER, A AAAS DIPLOMACY FELLOW WITH
USAID/EGAT, RECENTLY REVIEWED FAO'S WORLD AGRICULTURAL
INFORMATION CENTRE (WAICENT) AND ITS EFFORTS RELATED TO
SETTING STANDARDS IN AGRICULTURAL INFORMATION MANAGEMENT AND
CAPACITY BUILDING IN INFORMATION MANAGEMENT FOR DEVELOPING
COUNTRIES.
3. FAO HAS RECENTLY DEVELOPED TWO MODELS WHICH ADDRESS
DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF IMPROVING AGRICULTURAL INFORMATION
EXCHANGE AND COMMUNICATION. THE VIRTUAL EXTENSION, RESEARCH
AND COMMUNICATION NETWORK (VERCON) MODEL AIMS AT ENHANCING
LINKAGES BETWEEN THE RESEARCH AND EXTENSION FUNCTIONS, BASED
MAINLY ON IMPROVED EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION USING MODERN
INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES (ICTS).
THE IDEA IS TO SUPPORT DIRECT, TWO-WAY COMMUNICATION BETWEEN
FIELD EXTENSION STAFF AND RESEARCHERS WHO, IN THE EXISTING
REGIME, ONLY HAVE CONTACT THAT IS MEDIATED BY HIGHER
ADMINISTRATIVE LEVELS--IF THEY HAVE ANY AT ALL.
4. THE VERCON CONCEPT IS CURRENTLY BEING PILOTED IN EGYPT,
WHERE CONVENTIONAL PHONE-BASED E-MAIL CONNECTIONS ARE HAVING
A LARGE EFFECT IN CUTTING THROUGH LAYERS OF BUREAUCRACY TO
CONNECT EXTENSIONISTS DIRECTLY, AND ESSENTIALLY FOR THE
FIRST TIME, WITH RESEARCHERS AND NEW SOURCES OF AGRICULTURAL
INFORMATION.
5. THE FARMER INFORMATION NETWORK (FARMNET) MODEL AIMS AT
BUILDING COMMUNICATION NETWORKS BETWEEN AGRICULTURAL
PRODUCERS THEMSELVES, OR THEIR REPRESENTATIVES IN RURAL
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 04 ROME 05916 01 OF 03 101628Z
COMMUNITIES, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE AGRICULTURAL SERVICE
PROVIDERS OF MANY FORMS, AND INTERFACES WITH THE "MARKET"
FOR RURAL PRODUCE. FARMNET IS MEANT TO EXPLOIT FULLY THE
EXISTING COMMUNICATION INFRASTRUCTURE, INCLUDING TELEPHONY,
PRINT AND RADIO, WHILE ALSO AUGMENTING INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY (IT) SELECTIVELY USING APPROPRIATE NEWER ICTS.
FARMNET PILOT STUDIES ARE UNDERWAY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
GOVERNMENTS IN NAMIBIA AND UGANDA. SPECIFICALLY, THE FARMNET
PROJECT IN UGANDA RETAINS A FOCUS ON RADIO, BUT WILL INCLUDE
E-MAIL, ALONG WITH OTHER OLDER AND NEWER ICTS TO IMPROVE
WEATHER AND MARKET INFORMATION DELIVERY. LINKING VERCONS
WITH FARMNETS IS AN OBVIOUS THING TO WORK ON.
6. ON CAPACITY BUILDING, FAO IS WORKING ON AN INFORMATION
MANAGEMENT RESOURCE KIT AIMED AT ADDRESSING THE DEMANDS OF
ITS MEMBERS IN AGRICULTURAL INFORMATION MANAGEMENT USING
MODERN ICTS. THE RESOURCE KIT CONSISTS OF A SET OF
EDUCATIONAL MODULES, DELIVERED THROUGH COMPUTER-BASED
DISTANCE LEARNING AND FOUR MODULES ARE IN VARIOUS STAGES OF
DEVELOPMENT. THE CONTENT OF THE MODULES IS BEING DEVELOPED
BY CONTRACTORS, INCLUDING CORNELL UNIVERSITY, THE UNIVERSITY
OF SASKATCHEWAN, THE TECHNICAL CENTRE FOR AGRICULTURAL AND
RURAL COOPERATION IN WAGENINGEN (CTA),
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED PTQ2965
PAGE 01 ROME 05916 02 OF 03 101629Z
ACTION IO-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 AMAD-00 CIAE-00 COME-00 CTME-00
WHA-00 SRPP-00 EAP-00 EB-00 EUR-00 E-00 UTED-00
VC-00 TEDE-00 INR-00 VCE-00 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OES-00
OIC-02 OMB-01 IRM-00 STR-00 TEST-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00
R-00 PRM-00 SAS-00 /003W
-------------- 158BA7 101739Z /38
P 101453Z DEC 02
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7264
INFO EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
AMEMBASSY OTTAWA
AMEMBASSY CANBERRA
AMEMBASSY TOKYO
AMEMBASSY BERN
USDA FAS WASHDC 2459
USEU BRUSSELS 2995
USMISSION GENEVA
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 03 ROME 005916
SIPDIS
FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME
USDA/FAS FOR U/S PENN, MCHAMBLISS AND LREICH
USAID FOR A/NATSIOS, AA/EGAT ESIMMONS, AA/DCHA WINTER,
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 02 ROME 05916 02 OF 03 101629Z
DAA/PPC JSIMON
STATE FOR A/S IO HOLMES, A/S PRM DEWEY, U/S GLOBAL
DOBRIANSKY, IO/EDA WINNICK
NSC FOR JDWORKEN
USEU BRUSSELS FOR USAID/PLERNER
TOKYO FOR USAID REP
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EU WFP FAO UN EUEAID WFP FAO UN EUEAID WFP FAO UN
SUBJECT: FAO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY UPDATE - "AHEAD OF THE
CURVE"
AND THE INTERNATIONAL SERVICE FOR NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL
RESEARCH (ISNAR) IN THE HAGUE. FAO WORKS WITH A LOCAL
INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGNER TO TRANSLATE CONTRACTORS' CONTENT
MATERIAL INTO SELF-STRUCTURED, COMPUTER-BASED INSTRUCTIONAL
UNITS APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES IN LENGTH. IN GENERAL, RITTER
IS OF THE VIEW THAT FAO HAS A QUALITY PRODUCT AND A SOLID
PROCESS WITH GOOD PROSPECTS FOR MAINTAINING A HIGH LEVEL OF
QUALITY.
7. FAO IS ALSO FACILITATING THE DEVELOPMENT OF A GLOBAL
PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVE, CALLED AGORA (ACCESS TO GLOBAL
ONLINE RESEARCH IN AGRICULTURE),WHICH AIMS TO PROVIDE FREE
OR REDUCED-PRICE ACCESS TO LEARNED JOURNALS IN AGRICULTURE
FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES. THIS IS A PROJECT THAT IS ENGAGING
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS (IPR) MATTERS WITH THE GOAL OF
INCREASING ACCESS TO AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH THAT IS CURRENTLY
DISSEMINATED THROUGH PROPRIETARY CHANNELS -MAINLY
COPYRIGHTED JOURNALS, SUBSCRIPTIONS - WHICH ARE TOO COSTLY
FOR INDIVIDUALS OR INSTITUTIONS IN MANY DEVELOPING
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 03 ROME 05916 02 OF 03 101629Z
COUNTRIES. THIS PROJECT BUILDS ON THE MODEL OF THE HEALTH
INTERNETWORK ACCESS TO RESEARCH INITIATIVE (HINARI),AN
INITIATIVE IN THE HEALTH SECTOR DEVELOPED BY THE WORLD
HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO),WHICH HAS BROUGHT THE MAJOR
COMMERCIAL PUBLISHERS INTO AN AGREEMENT TO PERMIT ACCESS TO
SEVERAL HUNDRED JOURNALS.
--------------
THE MASSIVE JOB OF KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT
--------------
8. FAO'S WORLD AGRICULTURAL INFORMATION CENTER (WAICENT)
AIMS AT IMPROVING MEMBERS' ACCESS TO THE COLLECTION OF
CONTENT ON THE ORGANIZATION'S WEBSITE AND INTRANET
(PRESENTLY OVER 500,000 WEB PAGES, 100,000 FULL-TEXT
DOCUMENTS, ETC). IMPROVING ACCESS TO SUCH ENORMOUS
QUANTITIES OF DIGITALLY BASED INFORMATION IS A MAJOR
"TASKER" FOR ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS FAO.
9. FAO'S APPROACH TO INCREASING ACCESS TO AGRICULTURAL
INFORMATION IS THROUGH INNOVATIVE WORK IN THE TECHNOLOGY OF
MANAGING HUGE AMOUNTS OF INFORMATION. THE WEAKEST PART OF
WAICENT IS ITS USER INTERFACE, WHICH NEEDS WORK. TO ITS
CREDIT, FAO REALIZES REFINEMENT THOUGH TESTING AMONG END
USERS OUTSIDE OF FAO IS REQUIRED. HOWEVER, THE UNDERLYING
DESIGN OF WAICENT IS IMPRESSIVE AND OFFERS A SOLID
FOUNDATION ON WHICH TO REFINE THE PUBLIC FACE OF WAICENT.
FAO IS ALSO SLOWLY COMING TO GRIPS WITH THE ULTIMATE, BUT
VERY DIFFICULT TO ANSWER QUESTION: HOW WAICENT'S INFORMATION
RESOURCES ARE ACTUALLY BEING USED AND WHAT IMPACT THAT USE
IS HAVING ON AGRICULTURE.
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 04 ROME 05916 02 OF 03 101629Z
--------------
CONCLUSIONS
--------------
10. MANAGING LARGE AMOUNTS OF INFORMATION OF RADICALLY
DIFFERENT TYPES - INCLUDING CONVENTIONAL PRINT SOURCES,
IMAGES, STATISTICAL DATABASES, INTERACTIVE APPLICATIONS, AND
MULTIMEDIA RESOURCES - IS A RELATIVELY NEW PROBLEM FOR FAO,
USAID, AND ALL OTHER MAJOR DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS.
ATTENTION SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO SUPPORTING THE AGENCIES THAT
ARE MAKING THE BEST EFFORTS AND TAKING LESSONS FROM THEM
THAT CAN BE WIDELY APPLIED TO IMPROVE WHAT EACH PLAYER IN
THIS DOMAIN IS DOING.
11. IN GENERAL, FAO IS WELL PLACED TO WORK ON INTERNATIONAL
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTUE, POLICIES AND
STANDARDS.
12. ON THE FAO RESOURCES KIT, SINCE FAO HAS A QUALITY
PRODUCT AND THE PROCESS THEY HAVE IN PLACE FOR PRODUCING
MORE HAS GOOD PROSPECTS OF MAINTAINING THE QUALITY LEVEL,
USAID AND ITS CONTRACTORS SHOULD CONSIDER PARTNERING WITH
FAO TO EXPANDED USAGE OF THE RESOURCE KIT WHEREVER
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED PTQ3015
PAGE 01 ROME 05916 03 OF 03 101629Z
ACTION IO-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 AMAD-00 CIAE-00 COME-00 CTME-00
WHA-00 SRPP-00 EAP-00 EB-00 EUR-00 E-00 UTED-00
VC-00 TEDE-00 INR-00 VCE-00 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OES-00
OIC-02 OMB-01 IRM-00 STR-00 TEST-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00
PRM-00 SAS-00 /003W
-------------- 158D85 101750Z /38
P 101453Z DEC 02
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7265
INFO EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
AMEMBASSY OTTAWA
AMEMBASSY CANBERRA
AMEMBASSY TOKYO
AMEMBASSY BERN
USDA FAS WASHDC 2460
USEU BRUSSELS 2996
USMISSION GENEVA
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
UNCLAS SECTION 03 OF 03 ROME 005916
SIPDIS
FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 02 ROME 05916 03 OF 03 101629Z
USDA/FAS FOR U/S PENN, MCHAMBLISS AND LREICH
USAID FOR A/NATSIOS, AA/EGAT ESIMMONS, AA/DCHA WINTER,
DAA/PPC JSIMON
STATE FOR A/S IO HOLMES, A/S PRM DEWEY, U/S GLOBAL
DOBRIANSKY, IO/EDA WINNICK
NSC FOR JDWORKEN
USEU BRUSSELS FOR USAID/PLERNER
TOKYO FOR USAID REP
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EU WFP FAO UN EUEAID WFP FAO UN EUEAID WFP FAO UN
SUBJECT: FAO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY UPDATE - "AHEAD OF THE
CURVE"
APPROPRIATE.
13. FAO WOULD WELCOME USAID'S PARTICIPATION IN AGORA. USAID
COULD PROVIDE, AMONG OTHER THINGS, VALUABLE ASSISTANCE IN
DEVELOPING A SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MODEL FOR AGORA.
14. LASTLY, BOTH WAICENT AND AGORA ARE IMPORTANT WORKS IN
PROGRESS THAT THIS MISSION DEEMS WORTHY OF USG SUPPORT.
HALL
UNCLASSIFIED
>
2002ROME05916 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED