Setting-up the knowledge management (KM) and knowledge sharing (KS) National network in Sudan Khartoum- Sudan, August 14 & 15, 2011

“Knowledge is like a Baobab tree, one person’s arms cannot encompass it.” – African proverb

Context of the workshop:

Knowledge Access for Rural Inter-connected Areas Network (KariaNet) is an open access regional network for the management and sharing of knowledge (KS), information and experience in agriculture and rural development in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region[1]. The project is a multi-stakeholder partnership between the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) & the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). KariaNet aims to link knowledge providers and brokers with knowledge seekers through three thematic networks: a) knowledge management (KM), b) food security, and c) rural enterprise development. It also seeks to mainstream knowledge management into development practice through KM/KS capacity building, action research and pertinent networking activities.

On a National level, the project intends to establish an inclusive network for the sharing of information and knowledge and answering the needs and expectations of its different members.

Sudan is one of the ten countries participating in the network, and the wealth of information and knowledge as well as expertise in the country is worth sharing and disseminating across the Arab region.  This networking visit-workshop was directed to promote knowledge management (KM) and knowledge sharing (KS) in agriculture and rural development in Sudan. It aimed at initializing kariaNet work in Sudan, starting-up the establishment of the national network and setting the plan for further activities in collaboration with IFAD and the different national stakeholders.

The workshop took place at the ministry of agriculture in Khartoum with the presence of his Excellency the minister of agriculture Dr. Mohamed Ali El Hag Alloba, and representatives of different ministries, IFAD-funded projects and research institutes. The participants met with the kariaNet team for two days and came up with a temporarily skeleton of the network structure, identified some of their learning priorities and capacity-building needs and finally drafted their work plan for the coming 6 months with a tentative budget that will be adjusted in the week to come according to IDRC’s template.

The objective of the workshop to Sudan was three-folded:

1-      To network and meet with the widest number of partners and projects working on KM-KS in rural and agricultural development in Sudan.

2-      To elaborate the Sudanese national roadmap in order to mainstream knowledge management in policies and practices.

3-      To establish a national network that will set the priority activities in KM-KS in Sudan.

Outputs of the workshop:

1-      Contacts of projects and programmes working in Sudan on rural and agricultural development

2-      National roadmap validated by all partners

3-      National network establishment initiated

4-      List of activities for the coming 6 months with expectations from KariaNet

Day 1, Sunday August 14, 2011

The workshop took place at the ministry of agriculture in Khartoum on the 14^th and 15^th of August, and was inaugurated by Dr. Mohamed Ali El Hag Alloba, the minister of agriculture. IFAD central coordination unit (CCU) was KariaNet’s counterpart and was represented by Engineer Rasha Omar, the Sudan country portfolio manager and Mr. Mohammad El Hag who was also the facilitator of the meeting during the two days.

The highlight of the welcoming addresses was the emphasis of knowledge management and knowledge sharing in food security and rural development. HE the minister, defined knowledge management as getting the right information at the right time to the right person and for the right purpose and he stressed on the importance of this meeting by promising that the ministry will adopt within its capabilities the recommendations of this event.

KariaNet was later introduced and its directions elaborated by Dr. Hammou Laamrani in terms of networking and sustainability, capacity building to create a mass of experts in KM-KS in the region and applied research to innovate and contextualize knowledge management. Dr. Laamrani also addressed the context of the project, its goal and objectives and finally what kariaNet is not so that there is no room for assumptions and the expectations are well-directed.

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