INBAR-CIBART Documentation Centre |
The
absence of a dedicated information and documentation system causes much
of the information available and generated to go unrecorded or not properly
recorded for future use. This loss, often irretrievable, of information
and knowledge erodes a substantial part of the learning experience that
a program or project is expected to provide. This is particularly so when
such programs and projects are sited in remote locations with minimal
infrastructure, managed by field staff working in gruelling conditions.
Yet, it could be information and knowledge from such locations that might
need top be properly recorded. |
Stakeholders
in any activity are investors who have financial or other interests in
that activity. Donors, financing institutions, share holders, beneficiaries,
collaborating agencies, policy-making bodies – all these stakeholders
need information on the program or project activity that they are participating
in. Thus, another key function of documentation activity is reporting.
It is necessary to have a coordinated output delivery system that would
make reporting to stakeholders more systematic and easier. |
A
regular and systematic documentation activity will also facilitate timely
and effective monitoring and evaluation of field activities. The data
collected from field units could be analysed and the analysis fed as input
for decision making. This is a key function particularly when remote field
activities are part of a program or project, as frequent visits by managers
are not a feasible option. Regular monitoring of activities would help
assess impacts and make necessary course corrections in time. |
Institutions
also need to communicate to their constituencies the results of their
activities, besides promoting their role and activities to garner vital
support. |
Considering
the above, the International Network for Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR) and
the Centre for Indian Bamboo Resource and Technology (CIBART) thought
that an effective and joint documentation, monitoring, evaluation and
impact reporting system is essential to capture and disseminate the experiences
of their development programmes, particularly field-based programmes. |
The
INBAR-CIBART Documentation Centre (Doc Centre), formally set up in Bangalore
in January 2006, is intended to address the above issues and provide solutions.
The unit functions as an information collection, collation and packaging
centre, with a support role for INBAR’s regional office staff to
enable them also to collect and collate raw field data and produce information
packages. The Doc Centre is also geared to produce a range of structured
outputs for different audiences and end-users. |
The
Doc Centre builds on the base already established in the CIBART regional
office in Bangalore that is focused on documentation, and assumes the
role of a technical centre of documentation production for INBAR’s
Livelihood Development and Outreach Programmes. It has staff skilled in
different aspects of documentation production, including written and visual
documentation. |
| The Doc Centre has the
following primary functions: |
1. |
Prepare project proposals/reports
based on inputs from INBAR/CIBART staff |
2. |
Produce case studies based on inputs
from INBAR/CIBART staff |
3. |
Carry out impact analysis and produce
associated reports |
4. |
Undertake Technology validation documentation,
includin |
5. |
Document information
– both textual and visual – generated by INBAR/CIBART systems
in formats that would support on-demand use |
6. |
Provide information
support for INBAR/CIBART Programmes (including information search, extraction
and documentation), as needed |
7. |
Produce publications for INBAR and
CIBART systems |
8. |
Extract and circulate important bamboo
and rattan-related information from other sources |
| Outputs of the Doc Centre
would be direct derivatives of its functions cited above, and would include: |
• |
Project proposals and reports |
• |
Case studies |
• |
Impact analysis and reports |
•
|
Technology validation documents |
• |
Edited and structured digitized visuals
(videos and stills) |
• |
Edited and structured information |
• |
Publications |
•
|
Useful information snippets and alerts |
|
Contact information:
|
INBAR-CIBART Documentation Centre,
3/F Vasishta Paradise,
32/1, 1st Temple Street,
Malleswaram, Bangalore 560003.
|
|
Tel/Fax: +91 (80) 2346 4604.
|
|
E-mail: doc.centre@gmail.com.
|
