Guiding Principles/Objectives

Programmes

IFAD uses ICTs and traditional communication methods to enable poor rural people, governments, project staff, donors and others to exchange information, knowledge, experiences and lessons learned. Within projects, IFAD uses ICTs to enhance the ability of grass-roots development workers to gather ideas and information requests from rural farmers and rural communities so that they can provide them with relevant information to improve their livelihoods. The preservation of local cultures, languages, heritage and indigenous knowledge is always a priority. IFAD shares its experience through its rural poverty knowledgebase and electronic networks in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Areas of Application:

► ENRAP's focus is on use of ICTs strategically to address the issue of rural poverty.  It supports IFAD projects in strengthening electronic connectivity, building human capacity to use ICTs, building and supporting knowledge networks and testing innovative initiatives in connecting rural communities.
► FIDAMERICA: Learning, sharing and knowledge management, connecting people.
► FIDAFRIQUE: Information and knowledge sharing, connectivity.
► KARIANET: Knowledge management, Community-based ICT.

The Knowledge Networking for Rural Development in Asia/Pacific Region (ENRAP) was set up to support and encourage strategic use of Information and Communication Technologies (including email and electronic newsletters) and develop a knowledge network linking IFAD-supported projects in Asia and the Pacific among themselves, with their stakeholders and with local and global knowledge resources.  ENRAP has succeeded in raising awareness of, and building capacity in, Internet use, documentation and dissemination of information, website design, and managing information. It continues to support these efforts and project staff now recognise the importance of capturing and sharing local knowledge and good practices; and that effective communication leads to stronger impact.  (http://www.enrap.org/)

The FIDAMERICA network is a pioneer in Latin America in the exchange of information and the dissemination of lessons learned. It has conducted several electronic conferences and maintains electronic lists on selected themes. FIDAMERICA is supporting the development of human resources within IFAD's operations in the region in terms of internet use to: improve project/programme effectiveness; promote and organize dynamic sustainable processes for the systematisation, archiving and exchange of thematic knowledge information; and adapt or design specific Internet-based tools/services for key training and knowledge-generation projects. (http://www.fidamerica.cl/)

FIDAFRIQUE is an Internet-based network of IFAD projects and institutions dedicated to fighting rural poverty in western and central Africa by improving information and knowledge systems. The nucleus of FIDAFRIQUE is made up of 30 projects that IFAD finances in the region, together with a set of partner institutions. The first phase of FIDAFRIQUE has focused on enhancing communication capabilities through the provision of electronic mail services linking project sites, cooperating institutions and other partner agencies, and IFAD’s headquarters in Rome.  The second-phase of Fidafrique (to be initiated early next year) will continue to work on technical issues of connectivity, enhancing regional capacity to install and maintain IT equipment. It will also develop and disseminate thematic information. Phase II will put emphasis on building capacity in information management in IFAD projects and selected regional partner institutions, as well as ensuring timely generation of useful information to be used by IFAD project staff and their partners. This information will be in two broad areas – thematic rural development issues and project management issues.
(http://www.fidafrique.org/showdoc.asp?DocName=splashpage.html)

IFAD's KARIANET program seeks to develop a network among IFAD project stakeholders to capitalise on knowledge generated in fighting rural poverty.  The network seeks to provide a platform for capturing and sharing relevant, demand-driven knowledge at the local, national and regional level.  In order to do so, Karianet will start by improving knowledge management and intermediation capacities of IFAD projects in the NENA region, at the same time that it will pilot community-based ICT initiatives to be facilitated by ongoing IFAD projects.  

Participation in Multi-donor Programmes:

► ENRAP and KARIANET are co-financed by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada.
► International Farming Systems Research Methodology Networks (RIMISP).
► UNOPS

Asia; Pacific; Latin America; Caribbean; Western, Central, East and North Africa

► ENRAP: US$ 1.6 million for three years (2003-2005)
► FIDAMERICA: Phase III USD 913000
► FIDAFRIQUE: USD 900,000
► KARIANET: USD 1.3 million

► ENRAP: Ms. Shalini Kala, Program Coordinator, ENRAP IDRC South Asia Regional Office,  skala@idrc.org  and Mr. Ganesh Thapa, Regional Economist - IFAD, Rome g.thapa@ifad.org
► FIDAMERICA: Mr. Julio Berdegue (jberdegue@rimisp.cl), Mr. Enrique Murguia (e.murguia@ifad.org)
► FIDAFRIQUE: Mr. David Kingsbury, Regional Economist - IFAD, Rome (d.kingsbury@ifad.org)
► KARIANE: t.elzabri@ifad.org