News Stories
Information policies and plans for the Pacific
by Seniorl Anzu (21/09/09)
The need for effective management and dissemination of appropriate and real time information is eminent for enhanced agricultural and rural development in the Pacific. Agricultural stakeholders therefore require sound Information Communication Management (ICM) policies and plans, since their absence is a cause for the lack of appropriate resources and poor formulation and implementation of ICM activities. A better understanding of the role of effective ICM among administrators and planners, and the consequent development of ICM policies and plans will lead to improved resource allocation and utilisation for the ultimate benefit of researchers, farmers and rural communities.
The Netherlands-based Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation ACP-EU (CTA), in collaboration with the Secretariat of the Pacific Community’s Land Resources Division of Fiji, conducted a regional workshop for the Pacific on formulating strategic ICM policies and plans for agricultural stakeholders. Titled ‘Information and Communication Management Policy and Strategy in the Pacific: From Plan to Action’, the workshop was conducted in Nadi, Fiji, from September 14-17. More than 30 representatives from government ministries, NGOs, civil society and regional organisations in 14 Pacific Island countries and territories participated. PNG was represented by the Department of Agriculture and Livestock, NARI, Coffee Industry Corporation, Coco Coconut Institute and the National Research Institute.
The main objectives of the workshop were to (1) sensitise decision-makers to the value and importance of effective and efficient information and communication (ICM) policies; (2) develop confidence among participants to encourage them to formulate ICM policies and plans within their own institution and in partnership with others using appropriate ICM tools; and (3) promote networking and collaboration among participating institutions at a national and regional level. The overall objective was to contribute to improving rural livelihoods in the Pacific. 
The participants examined different tools, methodologies, challenges and management issues related to the development of information strategies, beginning with the formulation of draft strategies for their respective institutions. The initiative was a build up from experiences gained from a number of CTA sponsored initiatives between 2003-2008, including a country information needs assessment study and priority setting which PNG participated through NARI.
CTA (www.cta.int) is an ACP-EU institution working in the field of information for development with the aim to better serve the ever-changing information needs of all stakeholders in agricultural and rural development in ACP countries.