Lessons from Working with the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA): The Case of the Ghana-Question and Answer Service (Ghana-QAS)

Authors

  • Joel Sam African Library and Information Associations and Institutions (AfLIA)

Keywords:

information sharing; information management; knowledge management; information provision; partnerships

Abstract

In Ghana from 2000 to 2011, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Institute for Scientific and Technological Information (CSIR-INSTI) with technical and financial support from the EU-ACP Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA), implemented the Question and Answer Service (QAS) to contribute towards the country?s developmental goal of achieving national food security and sustainable livelihoods. The overall objective of the QAS was to contribute towards improved agricultural productivity, food security and rural livelihoods through effective management and dissemination of agricultural information. This paper presents an overview of the Ghana-QAS, documents the achievements which ensured that stakeholders (farmers, research scientists, lecturers and students) were better served with timely, relevant and accurate information, the lessons learned from implementing the QAS in Ghana and experiences gained by working with the CTA.

 

References

Ballantyne, P. (2006). Enhancing the Impact of Agricultural Information Systems and Services in Ghana: Building the Next Generation of GAINS. Unpublished report of a CSIR-INSTI/CTA/FAO/IICD Meeting, 1-2 November 2006

Batjes-Sinclair, K. (2011). External Evaluation of CTA?s Question and Answer Service: Ghana Country Report (Draft). Unpublished report presented to the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) of the Netherlands

CSIR-INSTI (2011). First report of phase 7 of Ghana-Question and Answer Service: November 2012-July 2011. Accra: CSIR-INSTI. Unpublished report presented to the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) of the Netherlands

Dzandu, L., SK Osei and J Sam (2012). The use of information and communication technologies ((ICTs) in the dissemination of agricultural information to stakeholders: the Ghana Agricultural Information Network System (GAINS) experience, Ghana Library Journal 24(2), 20-31

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Sam, J. (2001). Final report of phase one of Ghana-Question and Answer Service: March 2000-February 2001. Accra: CSIR-INSTI. Unpublished report presented to the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) of the Netherlands

Sam, J. and E. Verster (2006). Developing and managing question and answer services: challenges and lessons from PRAIS and GAINS, IAALD Quarterly Bulletin, LI, ¾, 239-247.

Van Dyk, H. and H. van Tonder (2001). Programme for agricultural information services in the SADC countries. In: Adotevi, FJK, C. Entsua-Mensah and G. Caiquo eds., Managing a question and answer service: lessons learnt, Workshop proceedings, 23-27 April 2001, Accra, Ghana, 31-39.

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Published

2021-08-28