There is a consensus that the global economy has evolved from being predominantly industrial to an information society. The world today is characterised by an escalation of information produced every day, availed in various formats, of different opinion and from diverse originators. The information explosion is in direct response to an increasing demand for information as man incessantly appreciates the need for the commodity to provide solutions to daily challenges. The global village, as it is now referred to, has also fallen victim to an escalating growth in procedures used in gathering, processing, communicating and storing information in personal, educational, business and social life. The persistence of information explosion and the dominance of information technology have necessitated an urgent need for dynamic and competent information professionals with the mental alacrity and enthusiasm to avail relevant and adequate information promptly.

Information Science as a tool for socio-economic development: Libraries taking the lead in transforming society in Zimbabwe

By: Collence.T.Chisita

Abstract

The AfricaAdapt Symposium opened in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia at the UNECA conference centre on March 9 2011. Leading from the opening session, the first panel of the event focused on ‘Community Led Responses – from local to global’. This interactive session followed well after the opening addresses, where the need to link international and national policies processes to local decision making on the ground was strongly emphasised.

Dr. Fatima Denton, who leads IDRC’s research on adaptation strategies in Africa, chaired this session. Fatima opened the discussion noting the value of community knowledge and how it should be used as a foundation for developing suitable and sustainable adaptation strategies that are resilient to climate shocks and stresses.
What’s a priority among Kenyan farmers around climate adaptation?

At the symposum, the challenge has been given to participants:
sum up your project's or organisation's message to policymakers in under 150 characters (not words!).
So, for AfricaAdapt, I'd write:
'Creating environment or development policy? Are you part of Africa’s leading knowledge-sharing network yet? Go to Africa-adapt.net, find what you need.'

What would yours be? Write it below and we'll share the best ones on Twitter.

How can we build a respect for indigenous knowledge into our adaptation and mitigation strategies?

How do we build networks of reciprocity - alliances and creating safety nets?

How do we define resilience and transformation?

Answers and discussions welcome below or on AfricaAdapt Symposium discussion page
http://www.africa-adapt.net/aa/ProjectDiscussion.aspx?PID=NxDcOtqzgiA%3d