African Research and Innovation Partners Synergize to Accelerate Agricultural Knowledge Scaling

 

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia — December 13, 2024 — The CGIAR and CAADP-XP4 Partners successfully concluded the “Second Workshop to Operationalize the African Agricultural DSpace Repository” at the ILRI Campus in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. This three-day event, held from December 11 to 13, brought together Knowledge Management Officers, IT and web developers from CAADP-XP4 Partners (FARA, CCARDESA, AFAAS, CORAF, and ASARECA) alongside CGIAR experts led by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI). The workshop reinforced partnerships and took concrete steps toward advancing the African Agricultural Research Information and Innovation Space (AARIISpace).

Key Achievements of the Workshop
The workshop provided an invaluable opportunity to:

• Take Stock of Collaborative Progress: Participants reviewed achievements and challenges in implementing the Knowledge Management Partnership Framework signed during the AASW8 in Durban.
• Build Capacity and Share Lessons: The sessions drew on ILRI’s decade-long experience with CGSpace, enabling the integration of Indigenous knowledge, metadata standardization, and AI-driven insights into AARIISpace.
• Develop Technical Configurations: We discussed common vocabularies and functionalities for the AARIISpace platform, laying the groundwork for operational efficiency.
• Set Clear Actions: A timeline to configure, launch, and roll out AARIISpace by mid-2025 was agreed upon, ensuring widespread accessibility among regional and national partners.

Speaking at the event, Michael Victor, Head of Communications, Advocacy and Knowledge Management at ILRI, and Benjamin Abugri, Knowledge Management, Digitalization and Learning Lead Specialist, speaking on behalf of the partnership, noted, “This workshop underscores our shared commitment to transforming agricultural research and innovation through knowledge ... Read More