Farmafripedia
Farmafripedia is a platform for different stakeholders in the agricultural sector from the African continent to collectively learn and share from each other, especially on issues pertaining to best farming practices using local content.
By submitting articles, it is possible to share news and information on local and global knowledge on this platform. Based on the Wikipedia model, it is possible to easily add and edit articles. Contributors can submit content by clicking on one of two links: crops or livestock. Existing pages can be edited by clicking on the ‘edit with form’ link at the top of every page. Farmafripedia also has a support team to help potential contributors upload content or take the process
off their hands.
PAFPNet
The Pacific Agriculture and Forestry Policy Network (PAFPNet)
is a regional network that helps to connect the people of the Pacific by facilitating the sharing of experiences on issues related to agricultural and forestry policy at home and further afield. PAFPNet strengthens communication and engagement among stakeholders and encourages open and constructive discussions. These discussions make it possible to share information at the local, national, regional and international levels and improve the way activities are coordinated. Each Pacific member country and territory has a National Focal Point to facilitate and coordinate national networking. Members of the network have access to various types of information on issues related to agriculture and forestry policy, including communications on research and development, regional and international events, workshops, meetings and conferences in the region; updates on national and regional activities and developments in the agriculture and forestry policy sector; national and regional policy documents and sector policies and plans; information about network members and experts; and information about and contact details for related networks, organisations and groups at all levels. PAFPNet also facilitates capacity-building initiatives on agriculture and forestry policy processes.
The case of Ayuda Urbana
Ayuda Urbana is a constellation of communities of practice focused on urban issues and challenges in Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean region. The Ayuda Urbana initiative generated from a conversation between the World Bank’s urban specialists and several mayors of municipalities of these countries. It represents a clear example of the efforts to assist 10 huge cities in the Central American region to improve their technical expertise and municipal effectiveness by connecting mayors and their staff into forming communities of practice. The members of the network include the mayors and their staff, specialists in various areas of urban development and management. Eight topics – from e-government to disaster prevention – were selected by participants and seven CoPs were started, bringing together 128 members from 10 cities. Different cities volunteered to coordinate one or two communities of practice. They were each launched through a two-day workshop, facilitated by a team of the World Bank. A web-based tool was made available to continue online conversations and stay in touch. Furthermore, there was a website serving as a repository.
Want to start a CoP?
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) produced a Communities of Practice Guide describing the design, promotion, facilitation and monitoring of
CoP. It provides recommendations about how to facilitate the performance of such communities within the framework of development initiatives. As an integral part of the institutional strategy on knowledge exchange, it outlines how to start a CoP, which consists of the following steps:
- A design stage in which the main goal is to define the subject matter, the strategy, the rationale of the CoP and its operative framework; in this stage the types of participants are outlined, as well as the means of communication and the action plan.
- A motivation stage in which the main goal is to call for participants, to promote the exchange of knowledge and to establish communication and collaboration channels. This stage also includes finding consensus on the subject and action plan, instrumental activities to trigger action among the CoP members.
- A development stage that encourages the use, generation and dissemination of knowledge.
- A stage of evolution in which the CoP acquires recognition and becomes a reference point on the subject matter. Here, strategies are reviewed, new goals are set and a new action plan is designed.
CoP on food loss reduction
The Community of Practice (CoP) on food loss reduction launched in 2014, serves as a global convener and an integrator of knowledge related to post-harvest loss reduction. It offers a platform to facilitate linkages and information sharing among stakeholders and relevant networks, projects and programmes such as SAVE FOOD and SDC-funded projects on post-harvest management. Implemented by FAO, IFAD and WFP, this platform includes background information, relevant news, events, online discussion fora, resources (online libraries, databases and repositories with relevant materials) and links to partners. A number of online trainings and e-learning modules on post-harvest management are also available on the platform. To join the CoP on Food loss reduction click register @ http://www.fao.org/food-loss-reduction/register/en/
Ag2Nut CoP
The Agriculture-Nutrition Community of Practice (Ag2Nut CoP) emerged in 2010 to facilitate communication and discussions on the link between agriculture and nutrition. The CoP is designed to be a virtual space for sharing resources to build a common evidence pool, facilitating communication across sectors, and developing key message to communicate to the broader development community. The group has facilitated face-to-face meetings at various conferences and events, held periodic thematic discussions by conference call, and disseminated research findings, tools and guidance materials. The CoP includes more than 1,000 members from national and international NGOs, UN organisations, universities, independent professionals, bilateral institutions and donor organisations from 73 countries. You can join this community by registering @ https://knowledge-gateway.org/ag2nut
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