Name Yanyun Li Age 34 Place of birth Lanzhou, China Languages Chinese, English, some Italian and French

Job title
Data Management/Computer Specialist

"I manage the Web site for FAO’s Global Information and Early Warning System on Food and Agriculture (GIEWS), which monitors areas at risk of food crises and warns of imminent dangers.

GIEWS Web site is a window to the world, giving information on factors including climate, crop production and soil quality. Experts such as economists then use these details to guide them in estimating food and funding requirements for a country.

For example I recently put up a short alert about flooding in Bolivia. This features crops affected and the areas in which food shortages are foreseen. It also uses weather forecasting from the National Metereological Service to show when further rains might come, so we can be ready.

It’s important that information is set out clearly and accurately. We like to use graphic designs such as tables, graphs, photos and maps to highlight what is happening in each country. For example tables can show the average amounts of rainfall during different times of the year, to help the timing of seed planting. Satellite imagery is also important. Some of our images are provided by the French space agency CNES, and show for example green shaded areas where crops grow well, and others where production has been lower. This helps staff target those areas of land needing more attention.

The Web site features information on every country in the world, and so of course it is important that as many people can read it as possible. When I started this job in 2003, one of my roles was to set up a Chinese version, to add to the English, Spanish, French and Arabic versions.

There are many reasons why people might find the site useful: maybe a local economist will be interested in trade issues, while emergency staff may want to check on climates. I can direct these people to the site by highlighting key words such as ‘trade’ and ‘climate’, so that when they do Internet searches with Google or Yahoo for example, the GIEWS site will come up. About 25 percent of people using the site reach it this way.

I also have to think about the different computer systems out there. It’s important I make the layout lively and clear, but not too flashy or colourful, as this makes it harder for people with slow Internet connections or less sophisticated computers to access the pages.

I can’t image how we could do our job without taking advantage of advanced technology. GIEWS helps plan ahead and so increases our ability to help those affected by food shortages and hunger. I get satisfaction if I know I’ve helped provide colleagues and other specialists with the tools they need to do their job."