WISARD - interact !

Background

Content

What is WISARD?

WISARD is a web-based public domain information platform that provides searchable information on experts, organizations, outputs and projects in the fields of Agricultural Research for Development (ARD), Natural Resource Management (NRM) and sustainable development (SD) from the mid-nineties till to date.

It serves international networks, regional organizations and national systems including universities, research centers, NGOs, farmers’ organizations in the various continents.

At present WISARD is visited worldwide 20,000 times per month.

It addresses questions related to ‘Who is doing what where?' with a user-friendly interface for searching and management developed in cooperation with a broad group of end-users.

It makes it possible to identify e.g.:

Projects that are or have been conducted around the world in the fields of ARD, NRM and SD
Institutes focused on the same areas of research
Persons that may provide expertise to your project.
Outputs that contain relevant research information.

How does WISARD work?

WISARD allows decentralized data input and management. Focal points at organization, network or national level are responsible for data input and management on-line. The system is scalable and can be used at organization, network, national and the international level.

In addition to the information on projects, organizations and experts a module has been added for depositing outputs of research (such as e.g. publications, project reports and GIS meta-data) and another is under development for ‘Technologies and Best Practices’. Links to financial and accounting packages and project management tools are envisaged.

Who has developed WISARD?

All WISARD technology development resides with WIS International (WIS) and is grown out of the SHARED 1.0 system, developed by GTZ/NWO for the health sector in the late 90's. New concepts and constant dialogue with users requires regular overhauls of the system and functionality and the addition of new tools.

Our present partners

Present partners include among others the CGIAR-Centers, IPM-Europe, Rice-Wheat Consortium for the Indo-Gangetic Plains, FAO, several donors agencies, key international NGOs, national NGOs such as the collective Mexican farmer’s organizations, and the national agricultural research systems of India, Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh.

Various national systems and networks have expressed interest to participate e.g. biodiversity and tropical forestry research networks, national research organizations and NGOs.

What kind of information is stored in WISARD ?

At present some 3300 projects and 6000 organizations are registered in the database. The information has been classified by stakeholder group and is searchable by various keywords. Over 750,000 times WISARD have been visited since its start mid 1999.

Developments so far

Developments so far were:

New, more user-friendly search/classification system.
Revised Organizations module that allows direct input of Organization data in a multi-level system.
Development of a Persons/Expert module.
Development of a module to describe Outputs of research (publications, GIS maps, training material). Publications can be physically hosted elsewhere but will be searchable in the same manner as projects
Report generator (downloadable) for project and organization overviews.
Latitude and Longitude entry for project locations and organizations.
Advanced search capabilities
Distinguished search interfaces for specific user-networks

New developments in 2003

In 2003 the following developments are planned:

Development of ‘Technology’ Module (Best Practices/Lessons Learned/)’.
Development of a simple GIS (Geographic Information System) search module.

Why should you participate in WISARD?

WISARD is a shared information reservoir (SIR) that allows both integral searches and analysis. The ICT tools and storage procedures developed can be simultaneously used by participating organisations and networks. Developing it yourself will be a major exercise requiring skills. The integration at platform level assures efficiency in data management.

WISARD and AiDA/Development Gateway agreed on December 3, 2002 to exchange information. Thousands of agricultural, rural development and environmental projects that are uniquely managed in WISARD are now also visible at www.DevelopmentGateway.org, in combination with information from other major players, such as the World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, DFID and selected donor organizations. It will contribute greatly to complete the transparency of international collaboration.

With the further development of this platform more international, regional, national and organizational nodes will participate in the initiative and manage the information at their own level. Regional, national consultations, networks and organizations can propose the person to function as a node. An important first step for national or networks nodes are to register the organizations involved and make them visible.

Participate in WISARD

Steps to make information on your organization or network and your projects available on the Internet through WISARD.

Free registration. Register online as a user of WISARD at the interact tool.
Getting started. As a user you can enter data in WISARD (projects/ partners/ your own organization) by using the interact tool.
Request a OFP status for your organization at FP Request
Manage your information on-line with interact tool.
Link to your homepage.
Create a dynamic output of your projects to your website, e.g.

Network/ organization: the example of the CGIAR
Regional: W/C African projects and organization by country for CORAF/WECARD

Organization/network information management.
Once your organization/network masters this stage, data input can be done decentralized at the lowest possible level. The ‘clearing’ of the data should be done centrally in the organization/ network through the Focal Point with the Management Tool of WISARD. Only after ‘clearing’ the ‘approved’ data will be visible on the Internet. An example is Wageningen University & Research Centre where the departments perform data input but the Organizational Focal Point (OFP) functions as the ‘clearing’ authority.

WISARD memberships

Memberships are available for those organizations that require specific IT Services, such as a search interface or a ‘view’ for their own project information management or limited access to certified users of their organization/network to specific information. Memberships will also give access to extra tools such as organization-specific classifications and print functionality for institutional management.

How can we HELP you?

Helpdesk

We can help you with the input and management of data via e-mail support. Mail our day-to-day information manager for WISARD and get help in case questions arise.

Information on focal points
With the further development of this platform more international, regional, national and organizational focal points will participate in the initiative and manage the information at their own level. Regional, national consultations, networks and organizations can propose the person to function as a node. An important first step for national or networks node is to register the organizations involved so they are visible.

Capacity building

Awareness/Sensitization and training workshops may be required. This may be done by organizing a demonstration or training workshop in the region to familiarize information managers and end-users with present and future developments and tools and train people to use them. This will involve interaction with various partners on the concept of information management and the user requirements.

IT services and consultancies

IT services and consultancies are available to link the WISARD platform to in-house information systems for financial management or project monitoring and management or to add specific functionalities to a ‘View’.

Last updated July 2004