Ever since their creation, MISs have been confronted with technical difficulties (reliability of information, dissemination speed, lack of feedback on the end use of disseminated information, lack of analysis), institutional difficulties (lack of incentives to innovate in order to better satisfy user needs, administrative rigidities) and financial difficulties (short-term project-based funding). Can technical and organizational innovations delivered by the second generation MISs (2GMISs which emerged in the late 1990s and early 2000) help solve these problems? In order to answer this question, two research projects were set up, one by CIRAD and INRA with funding by the AFD and the CTA, and the second by the MSU with funding by the Hewlett Foundation. The results of these two research studies were discussed during an international workshop held in Bamako, which brought together the representatives of thirty MISs in Africa and other parts of the world (such as India), different AMIS networks (AMIS of the Americas, AMIS of West Africa), Africa-wide and international information systems (FEWSNET, GIEWS - FAO), regional organizations (ECOWAS, CILSS, COMESA, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa), donors, market participants (farmers and traders) and researchers.
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CIRAD-INRA-AFD-CTA and MSU-Hewlett projects showed the benefits as well as the limits of innovations delivered by 2GMISs, and led to the formulation of a set of recommendations, which are summarized in a joint policy brief.
CIRAD-INRA-AFD-CTA and MSU-Hewlett projects have shown the existence of a wide range of different MIS models in Africa. This great diversity offers a great opportunity in terms of best practices, sharing of experiences and mutual learning. That is the reason why one of the main recommendations of the two projects has been to discuss further the feasibility of setting-up an African network of MISs. A draft concept note was then produced in early 2012 by CIRAD, CTA, UNECA and MSU and discussed in Addis Ababa on 8-10 May 2012 during a UNECA Expert Group Meeting on MIS.
Les systèmes d’information sur les marchés agricoles en Afrique sub-saharienne. De la première à la deuxième génération. David-Benz, H., Egg, J., Galtier, F., Rakotoson, J., Shen, Y., Kizoto, A. Paris: AFD, Collection Focales, n°14.
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