Near East and North Africa Rural & Agricultural Knowledge and Information Network [NERAKIN] is built on Regional Agricultural Information System [RAIS].
NERAKIN-RAIS is a web-based integrated, multilingual regional information and communication system. It enables agricultural researchers and scientists to capture and disseminate information about research institutes, researchers working in those institutes, publications issued by those researchers, completed or currently active projects, and good practices on agricultural and veterinary research in NARS.
NERAKIN-RAIS is the knowledge sharing and collaboration for development platform which is initiated and developed by FAO, endorsed by AARINENA and other regional and international organizations, and facilitated by FAO and AARINENA for improving regional and national information infrastructure and building common standards and platform for knowledge exchange and information management in the Near East and North Africa region.
The immediate objective of the Network is to strengthen the capacity of the Ministries of Agriculture and Agricultural and Rural Research Institutions for effective information management and knowledge exchange in support of rural and agricultural development in the region.
The ultimate development objective of NERAKIN-RAIS is to enhance information and knowledge access and exchange within the region for ARD in
Near East and
North Africa , and at the global level. This network would provide mechanisms to strengthen, coordinate, and add value to national, regional and international initiatives in order to increase agricultural production and improve food security in Near East countries, and for the benefit of improving performance of farmers and agrarian businesses.
The NERAKIN-RAIS Network is expected to produce, during its first phase of three years of operations (2007-2010), the following specific outputs:
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A pilot Rural and Agricultural Knowledge and Information Network (NERAKIN-RAIS) through building a Regional Gateway function and a collaborative network of technical institutions and organizations committed to capacity building in this area.
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A pilot NERAKIN-RAIS knowledge and information management system of national components including modules (information systems) on documents, institutions, experts and projects; facilitating access to other agricultural information services and databases relevant to the rural and agricultural sector; and enabling the exchange of information and knowledge among stakeholder groups.
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Networked all ARC agricultural institutions through a regional portal as well as through national portals.
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A team of nationally selected focal points and technical staff at the different agricultural institutions trained on how to adopt and integrate information from their institutions into the NERAKIN-RAIS and to maintain it as a high-quality information and communication resource using NERAKIN-RAIS content management system and modern information management. These trained staff will be expected to train others in the future.
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Development of operational plans for the network that would strengthen knowledge-sharing and learning process and foster partnerships for broader knowledge-sharing and learning at national and regional levels.
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Development of an operational framework that would define the roles and responsibilities of all the stakeholders at the national level.