Selective Dissemination of Information

The Selective Dissemination of Information (SDI) service aims to help improve research capability by providing researchers with up-to-date information on their research topic. Specific goals include:

  • improved access, use and adoption of agricultural technologies;
  • improved priority setting and programme formulation;
  • enhanced knowledge of funding sources and mechanisms;
  • strengthened national and regional research networking;
  • greater integration of scientists into the global agricultural research community;
  • enhanced capacity of NARS to manage research programmes and improve the performance of research organisations;
  • reduced duplication of research activities through the sharing of experiences and knowledge.

Every 2 months, SDI beneficiaries are sent bibliographic records, including abstracts. The profiles are run on multiple databases (AGRIS, AGRICOLA, CAB-ABSTRACTS) to ensure optimum recall in terms of timeliness and subject, geographic and linguistic coverage. Priority is given to the beneficiary's language preference, within the following range: Dutch, English, French, Portuguese, Spanish and Russian.

In addition, each user has an annual quota of 12 units. A unit may be an article from a journal, report or book, or from a grey literature item. Records retrieved are processed to ensure that only one record is supplied for any given bibliographic item. All outgoing communications are sent by airmail or e-mail. The service focuses more on research priority programmes than on individuals.

The SDI is managed at four levels:

  1. national and regional research institutions identify the priority information themes and promote the use of the service in their institutions to reach as many beneficiaries as possible;
  2. service providers (CABI and CIRAD) are selected on the basis of their experience in tropical agriculture. CTA assesses their information resources (database, subject coverage, volume, quality, annual update, publications, and library services, including networks), the information technology infrastructure, staff qualifications and experience, especially relating to service delivery in developing counties;
  3. users and the partner organisations;
  4. the role of CTA is to define policies and strategies, to coordinate service delivery and to coordinate monitoring, evaluation and impact assessment activities.

To be eligible for the SDI service, applicants should be:

  • nationals of ACP countries working in agricultural research systems;
  • team leaders / senior scientists actively conducting research, or research managers of public institutions;
  • dealing with agricultural research topics of national or regional priority (the word agriculture being used in its widest sense, to include fisheries and forestry).

The selection of applicants is based on the following parameters:

  • researchers: their education level, experience, recognition and nature of responsibility
  • environment: type of institution and its resources
  • activities: scope, nature and duration of research.

How to apply

You may apply to receive SDI profiles for your programme by filling-in the request form. Please use the list of standard profiles listed to indicate the titles you wish to receive. The maximum number of titles should be ten.

If your request is accepted, you will receive bi-monthly profiles and be able to order for a limited number of articles.

You can download the request form as pdf file (12 Kb)

Monitoring

Recipients of the service must also fill-in the Client response form in order to be retained on the mailing list.

You can download the client response form as pdf file (10 Kb)

CONTACT: oguya@cta.int
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© Copyright 2004 Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation ACP-EU. Email: cta@cta.int