Note: although this concept note was developed for a six month DFID project to help FAO develop a proposal for a strategic programme for information in support of sustainable livelihoods through relevant policies, institutions and processes, the project was not implemented. The preparatory project ideas continued through other channels, including presentation of a summary of the results during FAO's 2nd Consultation on Agricultural Information Management in September 2002, and which were also reformatted for a wider audience on the FAO web site.

Strategic Context
The Strategic Programme for Information in support of Rural Livelihoods (RL-Info) is designed to strengthen FAO's normative information services, to promote a livelihoods orientation throughout FAO's information, and to enhance the information components of the other three DFID extra-budgetary livelihoods projects.  A six-month preparatory project included discussions among DFID and FAO staff in Rome and London, a desk study to identify how to improve information for sustainable livelihoods, field visits to meet internal and external stakeholders in Ghana, Uganda and India, and a series of meetings by an interdisciplinary expert panel within FAO Rome.  This has coincided with DFID's preparation of an Institutional Strategy Paper (ISP) to guide its support to FAO over the next five years.  Although still under development, the ISP is likely to focus on strengthening FAO's ability to achieve its five strategic objectives through greater interdisciplinarity, focus on poverty elimination and the Millenium Development Goals, strengthened partnerships with other international organisations, a more holistic approach to rural development and a strengthened focus on livelihoods, poverty, and trade.  The programme will focus on the following four themes:

• National Poverty Reduction Strategies
• Trade
• Livelihoods
• Food Security

Information Constraints and Needs of Key External Stakeholders
The preparatory project confirmed the strategic importance of FAO's information provision for policy makers in international and national agencies and governments, and service institutions.  However, many stakeholders felt that, although FAO produces a vast amount of information in print and on its web-site, the sectoral orientation and highly technical nature of the information make it less useful for policy makers and practitioners involved in broader livelihoods-oriented development processes. 

The desk study identified seven critical issues for improving the impact of FAO's information on livelihoods, particularly for poor people in rural areas.

Further analysis of the results of the desk study and country visits identified five different external stakeholder groups for information from FAO:

FAO's comparative advantage lies primarily in its status as an inter-governmental organisation with a mandate to collect and synthesise national-level information into useful information products at a global or international level.  Although all of the above external stakeholders use FAO information, the primary targets for FAO's normative information products are International, National and Sub-National Decision Makers, and National and Sub-National Food Production and Rural Service institutions who provide information and other services, especially to poor rural producers.  FAO also needs to understand how information circulates among and between community organisations and rural producers at National and Sub-National level to ensure that it provides the right sort of advice and information products in the right formats to decision makers and service institutions.

Internal Stakeholders and Processes
The process of transforming the information gathered from Member States into useful products and services for external stakeholders, involves a diverse set of stakeholders and processes within FAO itself.  There are over 20 technical divisions whose programmes of work impinge on the thematic areas identified as well as numerous formal and informal interdepartmental working groups.  In addition, several of the 16 Priority Areas for Interdisciplinary Action (PAIAs) developed within the Medium Term Plan are highly relevant:

Key International Agricultural Policies and Issues
Extract from emerging DFID Agricultural Strategy Paper, identifying major current issues in agricultural development and economics, and how the programme will contribute where relevant.

Project Approach
Principles
RL-Info will learn about and promote improved information processes within FAO and its Member States by collaborating with stakeholders on case-studies addressing specific information issues and problems.  The case studies will provide opportunities for the programme to learn about information processes, and how information can contribute to a number of themes including national poverty reduction strategies, trade, livelihoods approaches and food security.  They will develop, test, evaluate and disseminate appropriate and sustainable information management processes, approaches and tools which will continue to be used beyond the end of the programme.  The programme will identify and engage with stakeholders keen to collaborate, and help them to conceptualise and internalise these approaches, document lessons, and advocate for wider lesson learning and application. 

Potential Case Studies
The programme preparation process identified many opportunities for RL-Info to engage collaboratively with a range of partners in FAO Rome, India, Uganda and Ghana, which would both address the partners' immediate information needs, and help FAO to learn more about how best to collect and provide information to support sustainable livelihoods through its role as a global knowledge broker.  RL-Info will also seek to learn from others involved in relevant initiatives in FAO and other development agencies, incorporating validated results into the programme where appropriate.  Criteria for selecting case studies included adding value to other DFID-funded projects within FAO, working and complimenting DFID's programmes in priority countries, as well as priority issues within FAO, and the enthusiasm of stakeholders to collaborate with the programme.  Further work is needed to develop these potential case studies into clear activities that will deliver the necessary outputs, and to identify other external contributors.  This will be done during the final project preparation period and the first few months of the project.

Rome-based case studies:
1. Developing an institutional learning platform for the LSP: RL-Info will work closely with the DFID-funded Livelihoods Support Programme (LSP) to develop information management and dissemination components of the Institutional Learning component.  This would help FAO to develop mechanisms to strengthen interdisciplinary learning and collaboration on livelihood issues, and will contribute to FAO's PAIA on "Local Institution Building to Improve Capacity for Achieving Sustainable Rural Livelihoods".

2. Improving the dissemination of information about trade:  RL-Info will work closely with the Agricultural Policy Support Service to synthesise and improve dissemination of distance-learning materials on trade to inform policy makers involved in the forthcoming WTO negotiations.  This will help FAO to develop mechanisms to synthesise and deliver information from countries to international policy proceses, and will contribute to FAO's PAIA on "WTO Multilateral Trade Negotiations on Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry".

3. Supporting the establishment of an electronic pro-poor livestock policies network: Working closely with the DFID-funded Pro-poor Livestock Policy Facility, RL-Info will provide advice and guidelines for the development of an electronic network to improve information dissemination among agencies involved in livestock development policies.  This will help FAO to learn about the application of livelihoods approaches, and develop mechanisms to generate and provide information to improve regional and national policies within a specific sector.

4. Helping to develop and disseminate guidelines for National FIVIMS:  RL-Info will supply information-system expertise to the FIVIMS group in FAO currently working on defining new participatory indicators of food insecurity vulnerability.  This will help FAO develop new mechanisms to manage information gathered through participatory processes, and contribute to the PAIAs "Global Perspective Studies" and "Spatial information management and decision support systems".  This will also contribute to strengthening in-country capacity to participate in the Common Country Assessment (CCA) and UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) and to help monitor the implementation of Poverty Reduction Strategies ( see also country case study 6 below).

Country-based case studies:
5. Enhancing FAO's normative role in support of the Poverty Reduction Strategy Processes:  RL-info will strengthen the capacity of FAO in India and Uganda to provide information to key stakeholders and to better support the design and implementation of National PRSPs, through improved internal information management and delivery systems, active promotion of FAO information, and provision of normative advice about information to stakeholders.  Systems for regular evaluation of the impact of FAO's information will also be established.  Communicating the results of this work through the FAORs at country level and the Office for Coordination of Normative, Operational and Decentralised Activities (OCD) will help to affirm the importance and increase the sustainability of these activities at country level.

6. Strengthening capacity within the national FIVIMS programmes: RL-Info will work closely with the FIVIMS pilot projects in India and Uganda to extend the approach to lower administrative levels.  Partners in India will include a wide range of national Ministries and major agencies, local government, NGOs, multi- and bilateral agencies, and university academics.  In Uganda, the programme will collaborate with the Uganda National Statistics Bureau to help them develop indicators and information systems for a national FIVIMS (which will also be useful for monitoring the PMA process and assisting in national policy planning).  This case-study will help FAO develop new methodologies, tools and guidelines which will be documented and communicated through FAO's information systems to other national FIVIMS processes.

7. Development of normative guidelines for national rural information systems in support of PRSP design and implementation - institutional component:  Separate case studies will be developed within two PRSPs, specifically under the World Bank's National Agricultural Technology Project (NATP) and the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) in India and Uganda respectively.  RL-Info will develop and test guidelines, methods, and tools for differentiated information systems for key rural service institutions in the governmental, non-governmental and private sectors.  Work will begin in one or more specific geographical locations with sufficient but manageable numbers of stakeholders, after which experiences will be fully documented and packaged for application elsewhere in these two countries and in other Member States.  The main objectives will be to strengthen linkages between institutions, improve knowledge mobilization, access and exchange (especially public goods, and including FAO's own information), introduce and/or strengthen two-way communication processes.

8. Development of normative guidelines for national rural information systems - community component:  Separate case studies will be undertaken within (a) PRSPs in Uganda and Ghana, (b) the FAO/DFID Sustainable Fisheries Livelihoods Programme (SFLP) in West Africa, and (c) the DFID-funded Andra Pradesh Rural Livelihoods Programme (APRLD) in India.  RL-Info will develop and test guidelines, methods, and tools for livelihoods-oriented information systems at the community-level, and which are explicitly linked to the institutional systems where these are to be considered in case study 7.  Work will begin in one or more specific geographical locations in each country with sufficient but manageable numbers of stakeholders, e.g. Soroti District, Uganda.  These interventions will be designed in close consultation with national stakeholders, and will bring together inputs from FAO's experience in participatory community development, farming systems, and market information systems.  Experiences will be fully documented and packaged for application elsewhere in these countries/programmes and wider.

9. Development of normative guidelines for information systems in support of national rural policies:  RL-Info will support the development and implementation of coordinated and coherent information and communications strategies underpinning delivery of Uganda's Plan for the Modernisation of Agriculture (PMA) within the Poverty Eradication Action Plan (PEAP).  FAO will work specifically with the PMA Secretariat and the National Agricultural Advisory Service (NAADS) and other public and private partners.

Sustainability
Mechanisms within FAO that will contribute to the success and sustainability of the project include:

Budget
£750,000 per year, breakdown to be completed.

Timing and Reporting
To be completed.

Summary Log Frame

Goal	Objectively Verifiable Indicators
FAO makes a more effective contribution to poverty elimination and food security.	1. Contribution by FAO to Poverty Reduction Strategy Processes demonstrated. 2. FAO's contribution to attainment of the World Food Summit and Millenium Development Goals on food security enhanced
Purpose
Enhanced impact of FAO as a global knowledge broker through improved information for policies and rural services, focusing on national poverty reduction strategies; trade; livelihoods, and food security.	1. FAO influences the World Bank to specify resource allocation for agricultural information exchange within PRSPs. 2. Effective use of FAO's information products by Member States for international trade policy discussions 3. Livelihoods principles reflected in FAO's information outputs 4. Participation in FIVIMS in Member States increased
Outputs
1.      Improved understanding of the information needs of international and national policy-makers and national rural service institutions.	1. Proportion of FAO information products based on assessment of needs of rural policy-makers and services increased from Y % to Z %.
2.  Mechanisms for enhanced information management for strategic inter-disciplinary areas developed and validated.	2.1. At least 5 technical divisions contribute to mechanisms. 2.2. Measurable improvement in PAIAs
3.  Normative guidelines, methodologies and tools for improved information exchange and communication developed and validated.	3.1  At least 15 RL-Info guidelines, methodologies and tools developed and tested by WAICENT/SDRE 3.2  Uptake of RL-Info experience in at least 10 Member States by 2005.
4.       International and national policy-makers and national rural service institutions more aware of and actively using FAO information, guidelines and methodologies.	4.1  X % of a representative sample of stakeholders in project pilot countries use and are satisfied with FAO information by end of project. 4.2  Demand for information services from FAO offices in X countries increased
5.       Increased coherence and interdisciplinarity of FAO information outputs.	5.1  Improved coherence and interdisciplinarity of programme outputs for normative information functions in PWB 2004/5. 5.2  All technical departments actively involved with GIL/WAICENT in preparation for COAIM 2004.
6.       Effective institutional mechanisms for programme implementation established.	6.1 Programme Coordination Unit in Rome operational in WAICENT 6.2  Programme Task Force operational in Rome led by WAICENT and SDRE 6.3  Country Support Units in FAO Offices operational in case-study countries 6.4  Strategy for learning and sharing lessons from RL-Info established by WAICENT and SDRE in first six months 6.5  Viable mechanism for assuring coherence between FAO norms in information and communication and FAO country activities established by WAICENT and SDRE

Activities

1.   Improved understanding of the information needs of international and national rural policy-makers and national rural service institutions

1.1   Identification of stakeholders within selected groups (viz. international and national policy-makers and national rural service institutions) 1.2   Development of guidelines for assessing demand for FAO information 1.3   Differentiated demand assessments

2.     Mechanisms for enhanced information management established for strategic inter-disciplinary areas developed and validated.

2.1 Further development with ESDG of Global FIVIMS website and communication network 2.2 Enhancement of the TCA-led trade-related distance learning programme 2.3 Development of information management and dissemination components of LSP Institutional Learning Platform 2.4 Provision of advice and guidelines for development of information platform of Pro-poor Livestock Policy Facility

3.     Normative guidelines, methodologies and tools for improved information exchange and communication using modern technologies developed and validated by case studies in FAO Headquarters, India, Uganda, and Ghana

3.1 Further development with ESDG of Global FIVIMS website and communication network 3.2 Enhancement of the TCA-led trade-related distance learning programme 3.3 Development of information management and dissemination components of LSP Institutional Learning Platform 3.4 Provision of advice and guidelines for development of information platform of Pro-poor Livestock Policy Facility 3.5 Development of coherent strategies for information systems in support of pro-poor policy-making and guidelines for their implementation (FIVIMS in India, and FIVIMS/Agricultural Statistics in Uganda) 3.6 Development and testing of guidelines for strengthening information systems for agricultural service institutions (NATP and APRLP in India, and NAADS in Uganda) 3.7 Development and testing of guidelines for strengthening community information networks. (APRLP in India, FFS in Uganda, and District-level systems in Ghana)

4.      International and national rural policy-makers and national rural service institutions more aware of and actively using FAO information, guidelines and methodologies.

4.1  Sensitization of selected groups (viz. international and national rural policy-makers and national rural service institutions) through FAO's Council, COAG, COAIM, workshops, and distribution of promotional materials. 4.2  Participation in international policy processes in information, such as the G8-DOT Force and the Communication Initiative.

5.      Increased coherence and interdisciplinarity of FAO information outputs.

5.1  Collection, assessment and incorporation of lessons learned into regular programme field activities and policy discussions by WAICENT/SDRE management 5.2  Collaboration between WAICENT/SDRE management and the Office for Coordination of Normative Operational and Decentralized Activities (OCD) to devise mechanisms for uptake of relevant lessons by FAORs 5.3  Preparation of COAIM 2002/2004 by WAICENT, SDRE and other FAO units 5.4  Provision of inputs from Programme Task Force for consideration by the WAICENT Committee 5.5  Development of information management and dissemination components of LSP Institutional Learning Platform

6.       Effective institutional network for programme implementation established

6.1 Establishment of Programme Coordination Unit in WAICENT. 6.2  Establishment of Support Units in FAO Representations in case-study countries 6.3  Establishment of Programme Task Force led by WAICENT and SDRE 6.4  RL-Info Learning Platform established by WAICENT and SDRE 6.5  Monitoring and Evaluation of Programme