Welcome to the UGANDA RAILS

 Background

The Regional Agricultural Information and Learning Systems (RAILS) is an undertaking initiated by the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) in collaboration with the Sub-regional  Organizations (SROS), ASARECA, CORAF/WECARD and SADC and the National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS).


RAILS objectives are:

  1. To undertake advocacy to encourage increased investment in agricultural information systems (AIS) by African governments and institutions;

  2. To improve access to information and the ability of African stakeholders to contribute to global agricultural knowledge;

  3. To facilitate synergies by linking African information conduits to global providers of agricultural information; and

  4. To develop an African platform for agricultural information and learning systems. 

RAILS is currently being funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB) for a six-year period (2007-2012) to implement its activities at national, sub-regional and regional level.

In the ASARECA Sub-region, FARA/RAILS is working with the information and communication unit of ASARECA  which is in turn working with the national agricultural research systems (NARS)  in the member countries to implement some activities under RAILS, called ASARECA/RAILS.  

In February 2009, ASARECA organized, in collaboration with FARA, a sub-regional stakeholders meeting in Entebbe, Uganda to launch the implementation of the RAILS project in the ASARECA sub-region based on the needs and requirements of ASARECA and its member NARS. During the meeting, participants agreed on the organization of national consultations to advance the implementation of the RAILS at national level.

The NARS are expected to form National RAILS learning team through which RAILS activities will be implemented in their respective countries. In line with this, an online discussion around the RAILS Learning team concept and implementation has been launched and facilitated by the RAILS Taskforce members. The outcomes of the online discussion will be shared with participants.