Frequently Asked Questions
To submit a new article you must be a registered user. Once you have registered click on SUBMIT NEWS in the COMMUNITY WORKSPACE area of the left-hand navigation column.
You may write your article using plain text or HTML code. HTML code is useful if you wish to include hyperlinks or have more formatting options. For longer articles, please use the Extended Text option.
Please select a topical area for your news article. If none of the topics are suitable, the administrator has the option of creating a new topic.
You may click the PREVIEW button to see how your article will look once it is published.
All news submissions are subject to approval and editing by the PRGA site administrator.
TopThe right hand column of the home page contains a hyperlink for creating a user account. Click on it and choose the REGISTER option. You will be asked to create a username and enter a password. Your username will become your nickname in the User's directory.
If you are a member of the PNRM or PPB working groups, you will be registered as a user by the administrator, unless you requested not to be registered. Your default username will be of the format: firstname_lastname. If you wish to change your username or to provide further information about yourself for the User Directory, Click on MY ACCOUNT in the SITE OPTIONS area of the left-hand navigation column.
TopIf you forget your password, click on MY ACCOUNT in the SITE OPTIONS area near the bottom of the left-hand navigation column. Choose the RETRIEVE LOST PASSWORD option and set a new password.
TopOnce you become a registered user you can manage your user account by clicking on YOUR ACCOUNT in the SITE OPTIONS area of the left hand navigation bar.
Clicking on CHANGE YOUR HOMEPAGE allows you to create a personal area at the bottom of the left hand navigation column. You may create this area using text or HTML code.
Clicking on CHANGE YOUR INFO allows you to modify the information that appears about you in the User's Directory. Your username becomes your Nickname in the directory. You also have the option of providing your real name. In addition can choose to share your email address, location and information about your interests. The field called SIGNATURE accepts HTML code. You may also upload a photo of yourself.
Users may post comments about the news articles and resources on the PRGA website. To configure how the comments appear to you, click on CONFIGURE COMMENTS.
TopThis website is powered by PostNuke, a popular open-source content management application. PostNuke is portal software that supports web-based collaboration. The PostNuke collaborative environment supports news and document sharing, threaded discussions (integrated with email lists), a shared calendar, collaborative writing and editing of documents, and many other functions.
As open-source software, PostNuke is free for anyone to use. The "blueprints" or source code for the software are also freely available to be adapted and improved upon, as long as credit is given to contributors along the way.
TopThe PRGA website has eight main areas. Here's what each one offers.
The HOME hyperlink allows you to return to the home page of the PRGA website from any other location in the site.
The HELPDESK is a collection of Frequently Asked Questions specifically about this website and how to use it. If you do not find the answer to your question, you can submit it to the administrator by clicking on ASK A QUESTION. You may also contact the site administrator. To do this navigate to the USER DIRECTORY in the COMMUNITY WORKSPACE area of the left-hand navigation column. The administrator's username is PNADMIN. Click on "P" to find PNADMIN in the list of registered users and then click on PNADMIN. You can then send a message to the administrator by clicking on SEND A PRIVATE MESSAGE TO PNADMIN.
You may SEARCH for resources and information by entering key words. You may limit your search to PRGA PUBLICATIONS or RECOMMENDED RESOURCES.
If you search the ENTIRE SITE, the search engine will check for downloadable documents, weblinks, news stories, user comments and frequently asked questions containing these key words. If you only wish to search certain categories simply uncheck those you do not wish to include.
This area is devoted to the five main research themes of the PRGA program. Two of these, Plant Breeding and Natural Resource Management, are the focus of PRGA working groups. Information about each of these groups can be accessed through the "PPB Working Group" and "NRM Working Group" menu links in the Community Workspace. To learn more about some of the participatory research and gender analysis initiatives at CGIAR centers follow the link to the the "PR & GA in the CGIAR" section.
This area offers:
The community workspace is a set of interactive tools and resources to support the participatory plant breeding and participatory natural resource management working groups. The tools are only available to registered users of this site. They include:
This area presents offers a program description with general information about the objectives, approach, donors, partners, governance and staff of the PRGA Program, a summary of main achievements during the first 5 year phase (1997-2001), a description of the focus for the current phase of the program, and contact details.
This area provides registered users with access to their accounts. Site use statistics are publically available through the site statistics link.
Who's online tells you how many guests and registered users are online with you and if you are logged in it shows your username.
TopAs a registered user you can:
Members of the PRGA working group on Participatory Natural Resource Management can access the online version of the group's listserver.
TopTo submit a document you must be a registered user. Click on SUBMIT DOCUMENTS in the COMMUNITY WORKSPACE area of the left-hand navigation column. Enter a title and description of your document. At the beginning of the description please give the full citation using the following example as a model:
Anasi, J. and M. Sartori. 4139. Participatory research: a history. Journal of Ancient History. Galaxy University Press. New Kathmandu. 99 pp.
Participatory research has its roots in the late 20th century. From slow beginnings it gave rise to a large number of innovative approaches . This article reviews the applications and impact of participatory research in natural resource management, plant breeding and biotechnology in the first half of the 21st century.
Upload the document from your computer by clicking on the BROWSE button. Please remember to include your name and email address so that the administrator can contact you if necessary. All submitted documents are subject to approval by the site administrator.
TopYou must be a registered user to submit weblinks.
Click on SUBMIT WEBLINKS in tbe COMMUNITY WORKSPACE area of the left-hand navigation column and complete the online form. You may recommend websites or links to specific documents. Recommended weblinks are posted subject to approval of the site administrator.
TopOnly registered users can submit items for the calendar.
Click on CALENDAR in the COMMUNITY WORKSPACE area of the left-hand navigation column. Then click on SUBMIT. Complete the online form. Your submission is subject to the approval of the site administrator.
TopYou must be a registered user to use the Meeting Rooms. If you are registered and it still doesn't work you may need to check your browser settings. Webchat rooms use pop up windows. Make sure that these are enabled in your browser.
If you have installed the Google toolbar in your browser, you may have disabled pop up windows. In this case click on OPTIONS in the Google toolbar and disable the Popup Blocker.
TopThe "Meeting Rooms" are virtual chat rooms where you can interact with colleagues online. You must be a registered user of this website in order to use the Meeting Rooms
Click on MEETING ROOMS in the COMMUNITY WORKSPACE area of the left-hand navigation column to access these. You may either use an existing meeting room by clicking on the name of the room or create a new one.
Meeting Rooms can be either public or private. You can create a private meeting room by setting a password for it and providing the password to the people who wil be using the room.
Pop-up windows must be enabled in your browser in order to use the PRGA's virtual Meeting Room facility.
The PRGA chat rooms are for the exclusive use of the global community of those with an interested in participatory, gender-sensitive approaches to research on plant breeding, crop and natural resource management.
TopEXPERTISE is an application that facilitates the location of people by their expertise, knowledge an experience. People are grouped in communities with a common working area and contribute detailed information that can be used to make searching for expertise more specific and effective. This information can be uploaded in any kind of format and can be updated at anytime. People can also interact with each other by using communication means like chats, forums, news and e-mails.
TopMake sure that you are a registered user and that you have logged in. Then navigate to the USER DIRECTORY in the COMMUNITY WORKSPACE area of the left-hand navigation column. The administrator's username is PNADMIN. Click on "P" to find PNADMIN in the list of registered users and then click on PNADMIN. You can then send a message to the administrator by clicking on SEND A PRIVATE MESSAGE TO PNADMIN.
TopTo do this navigate to the USER DIRECTORY in the COMMUNITY WORKSPACE area of the left-hand navigation column. Find the name of the person you wish to contact. Click on NICKNAME. You can then send a message to him/her by clicking on SEND A PRIVATE MESSAGE TO...
TopNO, you can not speed up access. HOWEVER, you can request that the document be sent to you by email. To do this send a message to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
TopIf you are a registerd user you should log in when you wish to submit news or documents, comment on a news story or the value of a resource, recommend weblinks, access the User' Directory, participate in a forum or webchat or ask a question that isn't already answered in the FAQ.
If you are visiting the site to locate resources on participatory research and gender analysis you will be able to browse and search without logging in.
Top TopClick on PROJECT INVENTORIES in the RESOURCES area of the left-hand navigation column.
Click on UPDATE OR ADD A NEW CASE. This takes you to a screen asking for a username and password. If you participated in the original PRGA inventory process you received a username and password from the Project I nventories administrator. If you know this username and password enter it.
If you did not participate in the original inventory or have lost your username and password, click on CLICK HERE to complete the user registration form.
If you have problems or questions contact Nina Lilja ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )
TopThe resources on the PRGA website are stored in two major databases called "downloads" and "weblinks". The "downloads" database contains publications developed by the PRGA program. The "weblinks" database contains weblinks to a large variety of other resources on participatory research, gender analysis, impact assessment and other important areas of interest to the PRGA community. It also contains documents that some collaborators have asked us to host.
If you are browsing the "downloads" or "weblinks" databases the search boxes that appear on those pages allow you to search only those databases.
If you wish to search the whole PRGA website, click on the ENTIRE SITE hyperlink under SEARCH. You will find SEARCH near the top of the left-hand navigation column.
Copyright © Participatory Research and Gender Analysis 2003-2005. All rights reserved.
The PRGA gratefully acknowledges the support of Bellanet, CIAT and Juliana Aristizábal in the development of this website.