The participatory web – New potentials for ICT in rural areas

GTZ have just published a report on the potential of Web 2.0 as platforms for networking and knowledge exchange in agriculture and rural development.

The report brings together several contributions: An introduction and overview from GTZ, an introduction to NABUUR's peer-to-peer platforms, a reflection on innovation systems and web 2.0 by Peter Ballantyne, the web 2.0 stories of the Kisan blog in India and Radio La Luna in Ecuador, a profile of ETC work with farmer-led Documentation, an exploration of mobile phone use by Cambodian farmers, and an article on the CGIAR's Knowledge Sharing ToolKit.

IAALD President Peter Ballantyne's contribution concludes:

"Where information and knowledge in agriculture once comprised rather linear processes managed by specialists, tomorrow’s harvests will spring from more organic approaches where innovators of all types become active creators and managers of information and knowledge. This is already happening as researchers and farmers become bloggers, extension workers build wikis, and librarians become film makers. Underlying it all, the new ‘social’ Web 2.0 acts as a catalyst for people to interact, for knowledge sharing and communication to flourish and for innovators to connect and act together."

Download the full report (pdf)

More web 2.0 posts on this blog

GTZ bulletin on agricultural knowledge sharing

Simone Staiger at the CGIAR draws our attention to a new AGRISERVICE Bulletin of GTZ looking at knowledge management in (agricultural) development cooperation.

The special issue (PDF format) has reports from a 2007 workshop.

As well as some general articles on KM in organisations, it has some interesting 'agricultural' cases....

Knowledge Generation and Facilitation in a National System for Agricultural Innovation (Bolivia)

Sustainet, the 'Sustainable Agriculture Information Network' that systematically evaluates, communicates and disseminates successful approaches to and concepts of sustainable agriculture.

Multi-Stakeholder Fora for the Management of Mobile Livestock Production Systems (Germany and Niger).

Social Networks for Information and Knowledge Management - drawing on experiences from CIAT in Latin America.

Knowledge Management and Communication in Smallholder Organisations (Ecuador)

OISAT, the Online Information Service for Non-Chemical Pest Management in the Tropics (East Africa).

Tags: agricultural information gtz knowledge management

FAO and GTZ workshop examines KM and communication for rural development

In June 2007, FAO and GTZ are holding a workshop on 'Communicating Knowledge: From good practice to systematic change.' Among the objectives:

• Give an overview on currents methods, disciplines and good practices in Knowledge management and communication for rural development;
• Create an understanding of how to implement Knowledge management strategies in rural areas and within development programs;
• Create the basis for a handbook/guidelines on Communication and Knowledge management in rural areas (critical success factors, issues, strategies, information sources, cases);
• Strengthen collaboration between experts and institutions participating in the workshop for further joint activities.
  

The web site contains links to the full text of several interesting papers prepared for the workshop:

• KM and Knowledge Systems for Rural Development
  
• Framework on Effective Rural Communication for Development
  
• Knowledge Management in development cooperation
  
• Knowledge management, learning and communication in value chains. A case analysis of the speciality coffee value chain of FAPECAFES, Ecuador
  

Read the AGRISERVICE Bulletin of December 2007 that contains reports from the workshop.

Tags: agricultural information communication knowledge fao gtz