A Report and Guidelines on the Operationalisation of the PANAP Website and Knowledge Platform

Abstract

This report presents the operationalisation framework, technical architecture, and implementation guidelines for the PANAP Website and Knowledge Platform developed under the StEPPFoS project. The platform constitutes a federated and interoperable digital infrastructure designed to support evidence-based policymaking, research collaboration, knowledge exchange, and stakeholder engagement within the AU–EU Food and Nutrition Security and Sustainable Agriculture (FNSSA) Partnership.

Initially developed within the European Commission Joint Research Centre’s DataM environment, the PANAP platform has been expanded and integrated into FARA’s institutional digital infrastructure through the StEPPFoS Website and Knowledge Platform. The system links multiple complementary digital services, including FARADataInformS, ColabNet, AARIISpace, and external learning platforms, creating a coordinated knowledge ecosystem that supports modelling, policy analysis, training, collaboration, and long-term institutional sustainability.

The report documents the platform’s architecture, operational features, interoperability design, governance arrangements, and integration strategy. It highlights the federated approach adopted under WP3, which enables coordinated access to distributed knowledge systems while maintaining institutional mandates, data governance standards, FAIR principles, and GDPR compliance. The publication further outlines achievements, stakeholder engagement activities, planned interoperability enhancements, and future scaling opportunities for supporting regional policy networks and continental research initiatives across Africa and Europe.