4. Work Plan and Schedule of Work

The MEDRAP Project (through its Headquarters in Tunis), FAO-HQ backstopping and a few selected countries within the Project area, will launch a programme of work the aim of establishing an Integrated Information System to assist national and regional operators in the field of aquaculture. This target will be accomplished by the development of a SYSTEM PROTOTYPE to be finalized within the present MEDRAP II Project life though:

developing the methodology and providing a tool to collect and process in a systematic way information useful for aquaculture development in the region. In addition to their own compiled data, the countries will have direct access (from the same work station) to regional data and FAO data
designing and implementing a Regional module to put regional information at the disposal of the countries in a readable and comparable format. The Regional Information System will be alimented with non-confidential national data of regional interest which each country has put at the disposal of the Project
designing and implementing an FAO Information Module which will incorporate all the available authorized FAO data-bases of interest to this programme of work
designing and implementing a network linking remote sources of data and networks with the EXTENDED SIMPAM Module through automatic data transmission
assisting the selected countries in the use and maintenance of the system
extending the network whenever possible to other countries and other selected end-users and individuating the best network approach taking into account all various possibilities and constraints
At the end of the primary phase (development of the DOS Prototype) and analysis and evaluation of the whole programme of work will be undertaken, and proposals for the future technical development of SIPAM will be formulated (hardware/software platform, coverage, procedures, etc.). This will initiate a second phase where SIPAM will be redesigned (maintaining the data) making use of the advanced graphical user interface (GUI) environment and network facilities to enable it to switch from a data-base system to an information system.

Time Schedule:

Preparatory work:

Discussion review and approval of the above design
Ordering of the remaining computer equipment
Identification of the few countries to be included in the pilot
Regional Information System
Identification of possible source of funding

Complete delivery and installation of the remaining work - stations

Identification of a retrieval approach (Terminology, Function, Keyboard use, Logic data selection flow, etc.) most commonly used in a Desk Information System in the selected countries. Inventory of all pertinent national, regional and international data/information available for possible inclusion in SIPAM. Analysis of the immediate needs and the available national data in the selected countries

Phase I - System Design and Development:

Design and implementation of the pilot FAO Information Module
Design of the Regional Information Module
National coordinators of the selected countries reorganize output from national data/information systems into the SIPAM National Information Module structure (with advice from the MEDRAP Project)
Development of interfacing protocols to integrate national systems into the Regional Information Module
Revision and implementation of the Regional Information Module
Preliminary testing, evaluation and validation of the two Modules
Setting-up the pilot EXTENDED Module through arrangements and contracts with governmental and non-governmental institutions for direct access to their on-line DataBases and Networks. The information captured from these systems will be treated according to the agreed contract and processed with the same logic as in the other two Modules
Integration of the three Modules into the system.

Phase II-Evaluation/Revision/Improvement:

Delivery to and installation of the full configuration in the selected Centres and countries (training, etc., included)
Evaluation of the delivered system
Revision and improvement of the system
Delivery of associated documentation.

An additional phase may be envisaged before delivering the System:

Phase III - Consolidation/Expansion:

Expansion of the coverage of the system
Installation of the system into some other centre and/or countries

Completion of the System by finalising the EXTENDED Module.

The Work-Plan will be completed with the analysis and evaluation of the whole programme of work, delivery of final documentation and finally be setting-up a SIPAM on-line accessible network (anticipated 6 months).