2017 ICT4D Conference

During the INGENAES Global Symposium held January 23-25, in Lusaka, an innovative ICT-based methodology for the emerging field of gender & nutrition integration within agricultural extension was pioneered. Participatory community mapping supported by the online Kumu network visualization tool was used to depict organizations, projects, themes, wisdoms (insights and lessons learnt-not only from the symposium- and commitments to action made during the symposium by the participants (as representatives of the organizations mapped). The map is available at https://kumu.io/ingenaes/2017-ingenaes-global-symposium (with instructions at https://workflowy.com/s/Try.hdQiTns7OD). The developers of KUMU added new functionality specifically for this symposium, namely targeted discussion fora for each element in the map. The map visualizes the community of actors in the field of integrating gender and nutrition into agricultural extension as represented at the symposium. It is a micro cosmos of the community at large; a zoomed in view of a subset of actors (organizations, projects) that are associated with the field. The map is a snapshot in time, an excerpt of a large number of actors in the field but it is expandable to include more projects, organizations and themes over time, or could be linked with additional maps created e.g. for a specific community in a particular country. The symposium was designed to foster networking, to build and strengthen community and the map visualizes existing and potential connections. It facilitates ongoing bi- and multilateral networking among participants and their organizations. Moreover, it is a critical sense-making tool for the emerging field of gender and nutrition integration in agricultural extension. It helps clarify and develop context for what is happening in the field. The map is not intended as another source of content but as a context through which to navigate that content. Another objective of using this tool was to pilot and evolve a taxonomy of themes &needed actions that will inform the further evolution of the field.