InK4Dev Information and Knowledge for Development

Recently (26-29 April 2010), the International Association of Agricultural Information Specialists (IAALD) held its 13^th World Congress in Montpellier, France, bringing together approximately 200 agricultural information specialists from over 50 countries. The main theme of the meeting was 'Scientific and Technical Information and Rural Development: Highlight of Innovative Practices'. In keeping with this theme, Dr Ibrahim Khadar (CTA) in his keynote address on 'Targeted Information Products and Services: Balancing Stakeholder Needs, Learning and Strategy' spoke about the challenges facing information professionals to make their information products and services relevant and useful. Four guiding principles for designing and providing agricultural information products and services were provided, but there was one overriding principle which called for greater involvement of stakeholders - always put the stakeholders (i.e. the intended user or user groups) before the product or service. To do this successfully, however, information professionals needed to acquire skills that would allow them to actively participate in planning, monitoring and evaluation on a regular basis.

The work of CTA in this area was highlighted and the Smart toolkit was cited as an example of a support tool that can help information professionals become more skilful in planning, monitoring and evaluation. Of note, a key recommendation coming out the meeting was the need to invite key stakeholders like farmers, extensionists, researchers and policy-makers to future meetings.

During plenary sessions, the opportunity was also taken to present the toolkit. Copies of the toolkit were made available to the delegates.