Summary FAO/EC on-going projects (Financially open) European Cooperation Office and DG Development

GCP/RAF/290/EEC - Communication Techniques for the Pan African Rinderpest Campaign (PARC)

Project Rationale and Justification

The Pan African Rinderpest Campaign (PARC) is coordinated by the OUA/IBAR in a region of thirty-five African countries, consisting mainly of least-developed ACP states. The root cause of the resurgence of the animal disease was recognised to be the deterioration of livestock services in Africa over the prior two decades, due to such factors as a lack of self-sustaining programmes and a lack of adequate funding. In many countries these circumstances caused field operations to cease functioning effectively, which in turn caused livestock owners to loose confidence in the livestock services, and livestock service personnel to become demoralised and demotivated. PARC has been developed to control and eradicate rinderpest, a highly contagious and often fatal disease of cattle and other cloven-hoofed animals; to target other major animal diseases; to restructure national livestock services so that they can become more financially self-sustaining and effective in the field; and to help control the risk of desertification of the African continent.

Soon after PARC phase one commenced operations in 1987 it became apparent that the desired level of participation in the Campaign by people was not automatic and in some cases difficult to obtain. Furthermore it was recognised that in order for the Campaign to achieve sufficient momentum and priority at the national level, it was highly important to deliberately increase the awareness of various organisations and the general public about PARC. To meet these needs, PARC added “Development Communication” as a key component in its overall strategy.

In 1995, the OAU, EU and the FAO agreed on the funding of a supporting “Communication Project”, GCP/RAF/290/EEC. An Implementing Agreement and a Technical Assistance Agreement covered the costs of two full-time communication advisers and associated costs. A total amount of ECU 820,204 has been released by the EU Commission for assessing the communication and training needs of the national PARC projects by these two advisers. A Work plan/Budget of ECU 187,500 (US$ 240,195) was approved by the Commission in December 1996, operating under the FAO code GCP/RAF/290/EC and funds were disbursed in April 1997. An Amendment 1 to the TAA was submitted in January and approved by the EC Commission in September 1997 to increase the budget by ECU 178,672 (total budget US$1,338,284). Amendment 2 signed in March 1998 further extended the project closure date to March 1999. A Work plan/Budget under FAO code GCP/RAF/345/EC of an amount of ECU 531,906 (US$ 580,841) was approved to implement activities in Year 2 and 3.

The project document originally formulated did not make any distinction between the three operational years, which are treated as different phases of the same Communication project.

Description

The overall objective of the project was to strengthen OAU/IBAR to coordinate national projects by building national capacity to formulate and implement communication components to better link up with rural communities, gain feedback and collaborate with them. More specifically, the project aimed at:

- Year 1: gaining the cooperation of people, governments, organisations and international agencies as needed for the success of PARC by building their awareness of PARC strategies for policy reforms, rinderpest eradication and environmental safeguards.

- Year 2: building people’s awareness of PARC’s strategies for policy reforms, rinderpest eradication and environmental safeguards, in order to strengthen people’s participation and make results of national PARC projects more sustainable.

- Year 3: improving the research skills of national personnel to rapidly and systematically gather, analyse and interpret information about communities’ communication systems, perceptions, attitudes, knowledge and practices.

Activities and main Results

In relation to the overall objective, all PARC countries have started, if not achieved, PARC strategies in policy reforms for privatisation of animal health services and near-rinderpest eradication. The number of countries following the OIE-pathway has increased from 3 in 1996 to 11 in 1999.

In relation to the general activities, regional communication advisers and Associate Professional Officers contributed in continued interest from donor community and stakeholders in African Animal Health delivery. 37 national PARC communication staff were trained in communication for development and communication materials have been produced and disseminated. PARC Core Communication Teams were identified, recruited and trained in 75 per cent of national PARC programmes, and national staff was monitored and assisted through 54 missions. Finally, capacity-building workshops were held in Addis Abeba, Bamako, Benin and Harare to train 35 national PARC communication staff from West, Central and East Africa in communication for development.

Through sub-contracts training packages were developed by the SADC Centre of “Communication for Development” in Harare (Zimbabwe) and in Cotonu (Benin). Key issues have been identified through Participatory Rural Communication Appraisal research in 14 countries in West, Central and East Africa leading to the formulation of National PARC Communication Strategies. A communication strategy with budget was formulated and approved also for Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. A substantial amount of human, financial and logistic resources was availed to the emergency programmes in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.

Constant assistance has been granted to the regional PARC Coordination Units through the production of reports, bulletins, OAU/IBAR homepage and the formulation of new projects. Noteworthy, national communication staff has now acquired basic skills to design effective communication programmes. Interest from national PARC Programmes for “Communication” was confirmed. E-mail linkages developed as planned, with 70 per cent of the PARC Programmes linked to an e-mail.

It is important to mention that this multi-faceted project was part of a major on-going programme for the eradication of rinderpest, mostly funded by EC. Other projects are being implemented within this programme. For more information, see for instance the cards relating to project GCP/RAF/317/EC, GCP/RAF/353/EC and GCP/RAF/318/EC.

Administrative and Financial Matters

- Commission Reference: ACP RPR 246

- Administrative Overhead: 13 per cent (development project).

- Year Instalment: 40 per cent upon signing of original agreement; 10 per cent upon receipt of first Progress Report; 13 per cent plus 33 per cent of the amount of the amendment 1 upon receipt of the three following Progress Reports; 10 per cent at project closure.

- Amendment 1: signed in September 1997 refers to consultancies and personnel costs.

- Amendment 2: signed on 20.3.98, introduced an un-allocated balance of US$ 171,146 and extended the project for four months.

- New revised NTE July 1999, as to Amendment 3 signed 31/3/99.

EC Contact point: Mr. A. P. Hecker, Head of Unit, F6

- FAO Contact point: Janos T. Lehel, Chief, TCAP.

GCP/RAF/317/EC, GCP/RAF/353/EC - Strengthening of Epidemiology Component for the Pan African Rinderpest Campaign (PARC)

Project Rationale and Justification

Towards the end of 19^th century rinderpest was introduced to Africa from India. A rapidly spreading pandemic carried the virus to all corners of the continent and already in the 1960’s the Inter-African Bureau of Animal Resources of the Organisation of Africa Unity (OUA) started a comprehensive campaign as a first attempt to eradicate the rinderpest. In the early 1980’s the virus re-established itself over much of Sub-Saharan Africa, and since then various projects and campaigns have been carried out, reaching important results such as a significant improvement of epizootiological status of rinderpest, improved veterinary infrastructures in Pan-Africa Rinderpest Campaign (PARC) countries.

The widespread presence of rinderpest in large areas of Kenya and in Tanzania, exacerbated by a serious drought situation appeared as a mater of great national and international socio-economic and ecological concern during the 1990’s, a situation which justifies the major on-going programme, the “Pan-African Rinderpest Campaign” funded mostly by EC.

Within this broader framework, the FAO implemented project GCP/RAF/317/EC started operations in April 1996 with the scope of strengthening PARC and assisting in the pursuing of control strategies in West, Central and East Africa to eradicate rinderpest.

It was decided to articulate the project through a complex structure, which foresees a Module II under the symbol GCP/RAF/339/EC, representing the Year 1 Workplan and Budget of the project. This Module II, which was started in February 1997 and was concluded in 1998, had a total budget of ECU 243,992. Under the Module II, the rinderpest surveillance network was made fully operational, focusing mostly on laboratory activities. The Module II also organised workshops to train field and laboratory staff in epidemio-surveillance.

In February 1998, Year 2 Workplan and Budget was started under the symbol GCP/RAF/353/EC, the closure of which was first extended to October 1999 with a total budget of US$ 440,926. Then, in order to permit the timely transfer of US$ 131,000 to AGE/Vienna for research contract in eight participating countries and the organization of a meeting in Cameroon, the project was further extended to 31 October 2000.

Description

Within the general development objective of strengthening PARC and providing assistance to pursue different control strategies in view of an eradication of rinderpest, the project aimed at providing continual assessment of control strategies allowing for their refinement, and at strengthening veterinary services through improved disease surveillance and national epidemiological skills.

The project GCP/RAF/317/EC had three main objectives. It intended to strengthen the epidemiology unit within PARC Co-ordination Unit in the OAU/IBAR office in Nairobi.

It also aimed at re-establishing the Sero-monitoring Network, and enhancing its expansion to include field epidemiological surveillance.

Finally, the project focused on the provision of advices to PARC Co-ordination Unit on the implementation of its rinderpest eradication strategy for Africa.

The main objective of project GCP/RAF/353/EC - which is the Year 2 workplan and budget project of GCP/RAF/317/EC - was to consolidate the laboratory-based sero-monitoring network to assist countries and start its transformation into a broader based surveillance network including the clinical search for rinderpest.

Activities and main Results

Various missions were carried out to many countries, involving interaction with PARC national programmes and their epidemiologists, and the development of national strategies for implementing the eradication of rinderpest.

In relation to Year 2 Workplan of the project (i.e. GCP/RAF/353/EC) the rinderpest surveillance network is now fully operational and linked in close collaboration with the Epidemiology Component of the OUA/IBAR-PARC Co-ordination Unit. Three additional countries (Eritrea, Benin and Guinea) joined the network and the capacity for the diagnosis of rinderpest based on antibody detection (competitive ELISA) and on antigen detection (immunocapture ELISA, AGIDT) is now available in all countries of the network, and all laboratories of the network resumed their activity with the exception of Uganda.

National workshops were held to train field and laboratory staff in epidemiosurveillance. The structure of the epidemiosurveillance networks in some countries is still focused on the laboratory activities, but in most cases - in particular in West Africa - they are increasingly linked to the routine rinderpest surveillance activities at the field level.

It is important to stress that this articulated project is part of a major on-going programme for the eradication of rinderpest, which also comprises projects aiming at developing communication techniques for people’s participation to PARC activities. For more information, see for instance the cards relating to project GCP/RAF/290/EEC, GCP/RAF/290/EC, GCP/RAF/345/EC and GCP/RAF/318/EC.

The conclusions presented in the last report conform to the objectives of the strengthening of the Epidemiology Unit within the PARC Coordination Unit in the OAU/IBAR office in Nairobi, and the establishment of laboratory facilities, which enabled participant countries to declare freedom from rinderpest infection. Most countries, however, do not have funds to continue with disease surveillance activities.

At its conclusion, the project had no evidence of any kind that rinderpest was present in any part of Africa accessible to surveillance or vaccination. The disease is restricted to certain areas where the security situation does not permit minimum levels of intervention. It’s suggested anyhow that rinderpest remain one of the main objectives of the PACE project, incorporating expanded diagnostic capacity.

Administrative and Financial Matters

- Commission Reference: 076279

- Administrative Overhead: 13 per cent (development project).

- Year Instalment: 40 per cent upon signing of the agreement; 50 per cent after six months implementation; 10 per cent at operational closure.

- Amendment 1: signed on 09.08.1999, it extended the project closure to October 1999.

- NTE: extended from 31 October 1999 to 31 October 2000

- EC Contact point: Chief, Gestion Financière et contractuelle, C6

- FAO Contact point: Janos T. Lehel, Chief, TCAP.

GCP/RAF/365/EC - Technical assistance to the Epidemiology component of the Pan African Programme for the Control of Epizootics (PACE Programme)

Project Rationale and Justification

The problem to be addressed is the precariousness of animal health in Africa. This represents a limiting factor on animal productivity, stockbreeders’ incomes, and the expansion of private investment in the sector and the development of inter-regional and international trade in livestock products. The main constraints that cause health insecurity are connected with the poor performance of the public services responsible for the surveillance of diseases, and the difficulty of assessing the impact of major epizootics, including the persistent threat of rinderpest. Creating a system to protect animal health will remove these constraints and will promote the development of all production systems and stock farmers’ incomes.

The project GCP/RAF/365/EC (PACE programme) will build on the very positive achievements of the PARC programme (Pan African Rinderpest Campaign), that offer a firm basis to eradicate rinderpest from Africa and controlling other major diseases. In fact the Pan-African Rinderpest Campaign (co-financed by the EC since 1986) has already done a great deal to improve health security by combating rinderpest, one of the most devastating contagious diseases of cattle.

The beneficiaries will be stock farmers and herdsmen; the second one is animal health professionals, many of whom already involved in a general privatisation process. Finally, consumers and national economies will benefit from the Programme, from the expected increase in production and enhanced trade and food security.

Description

The overall objective of the PACE programme is combating poverty among those involved in the livestock-farming sector (producers, services providers and consumers) by improving animal productivity, trade and food security. In particular the projects aims at:

- strengthening national and regional capacities to assess the technical and economic aspects of animal diseases and to generate appropriate programmes for their control;

- safeguarding animal health in Africa against the principal epizootic diseases.

The project is closely associated with EMPRES-Livestock Programme and linked also with the activities of animal disease component of the Nigerian UTF/NIR/047. There il a full compliance with the three basi objectives of national capacity building, mobilization of rural communities and sustainable management of natural resourses.

Activities and main Results

The project will cover 32 countries in the sub-Saharan Africa and will be implemented with a participatory approach, involving first livestock farmers and then animal health professionals. National operations will be will be planned and implemented in each country along with sub-regional and regional support and co-ordination components.

The expected results of the project are:

1. In each participating country will be reinforced animal epidemiology services (information, diagnosis and follow-up) as well as services for the control of major diseases.

2. Privatisation will be better organised and epidemiology capacities will be strengthened to the direct benefit of livestock farmers.

3. Rinderpest will be eradicated from Africa and there will be greater control over other epizootic diseases, in particular contagious bovine pleuro-pneumonia.

4. A sustainable system will be set up at pan-African level to co-ordinate national animal health systems and the fight against epizootic diseases.

The participating countries to this project recognise and approve some important conditions: undertaking to embark on and follow the OIE pathway for the verification of the eradication of rinderpest, continuation of the process of privatising veterinary medicine and full cost recovery, assumption of recurrent costs for the epidemiological surveillance networks. As regards the IBAR itself, before the end of the programme the OAU will have to find means of maintaining the essential personnel for the epidemiology and socio-economics part of animal health to ensure the sustainability of this Centre of Excellence.

Administrative and Financial Matters

- Commission Reference: REG/5007/005

- Administrative Overhead: 13 per cent (development project).

- Year Instalment: 40 per cent of the total contract value upon signing of the agreement; annually, after acceptance of annual reports, further payments of 20 per cent, 20 per cent and 10 per cent will be made in years 2, 3 and 4 of the programme; a final disbursement of 10 per cent, upon acceptance of final report, at project closure.

- Amendment 1: signed on July 2000, this agreement will expire on 31^st October 2004

- EC Contact point: Head of the Delegation EC in Kenya, Delegation of the European Commission in Rome

- FAO Contact point: Janos T. Lehel, Chief, TCAP.

GCP/INT/682/EC - Preparation of a Livestock Environmental Toolbox

Project Rationale and Justification

Between 1994 and 1997, a consortium of major donors commissioned a large number of studies on interactions between livestock and environment in a number of production systems and “impact domains”, summarised in three documents “Livestock-Environment Interactions: finding a balance”; “ Livestock and the Environment: Issues and Options” and “ Livestock and the Environment: Meeting the Challenge”. The context of these studies was the growing association, in Northern public opinion and among some Southern policy-makers, between livestock production and environmental degradation of various kind: overgrazing in semi-arid rangelands, supposedly livestock-driven deforestation in the humid tropics, and environmental pollution from industrial livestock production and processing. Demand for livestock products in developing countries, and thus in the world as a whole, is set to increase dramatically, “fuelled by a growing population, rising income and growing urbanisation”. Unless carefully managed, this rising demand would increase the negative environmental impacts already apparent. The idea of the GCP/INT/682/EC project, the Livestock-Environment Toolbox was conceived to convert the analysis of livestock-environment interactions into “concepts, terms and tools, which can be applied in a systematic fashion to different agro-ecosystems and agricultural production systems to reach environmentally friendlier livestock policies and investments. It was to contain modules on the major Livestock Production Systems, Environmental Assessment, Technology Options, Policy/Institutional Options and Training, Extension and Public Awareness.

The main actors and beneficiaries in the rural sector are policy makers in developing countries, decision-makers of multilateral and bilateral development agencies, regional and local partners, and farmers and livestock owners in the developing world.

Description

The ‘purpose of the project was to produce a livestock environment toolbox to provide policy makers and planners with a practical aid for decision making within the domain of livestock and environment interactions. This tool facilitates the systematic introduction of environmental objectives into the design of livestock projects, development programmes and policies.

The toolbox provides:

- practical guidelines for the assessment or evaluation of interactions between the livestock production and processing and the natural resource base;

- practical guidelines for the monitoring of the impact of livestock production and processing on the natural resources;

- an inventory of available policy instruments and overview of practical problems related to their introduction, as well as an inventory of available technologies to alleviate environmental pressure;

- an overview of possible institutional frameworks and participatory approaches to introduce and monitor environmental impacts;

- methods for training and extension to enhance public awareness on environmental issues amongst both livestock producers and consumers.

Activities and main Results

The methodology for the toolbox development has been fully implemented, including standard approaches for cost studies. The Livestock and Enviroment Toolbox is an electronic decision support tool for policy makers, planners and project leaders, to enable them to assess interactions between livestock and environment. The toolbox uses a “web structure” with linked htlm pages allowing the display of text, graphics and mixed media, and providing a non-linear structure for reviewing information. Following the construction of the homepage of the Livestock, Environment and Development (LEAD) Initiative, the toolbox was moved to the FAO webpage and launched publicly by e-mail to about 2,000 addresses in occasion of the World Environment Day.

The final version of the Livestock and Enviroment Toolbox in English was produced in CD-ROM format, most of them distributed to FAO members nations and handed out in seminars and workshops. It was as well translated into Spanish and French and distributed through FAO channels. The toolbox has been presented at familiarisation workshops in Denmark, Switzerland, France, Costa Rica and Ethiopia, in five case studies in Brazil, China, India, Senegal and Uganda and in workshops in Uganda and Belgium during the project implementation. It’s innovativeness, comprehensiveness, logical methodology and overall concept has been very well accepted by the policy makers and planners from developing countries and donor agencies.

Administrative and Financial Matters

- Commission Reference: B7-6200/97-15/VIII/ENV

- Administrative Overhead: Administration 6 per cent (normative project)

- Year Instalment: 40 per cent excluding contingencies, within 60 days upon receipt of counter-signed agreement; 50 per cent excluding contingencies, within 60 days after receipt and approval of progress report; 10 per cent including approved contingencies, upon receipt and approval of the financial report.

- Amendment 1: beginning of project operations on 12.01.1998, extended the duration of the project to 31.03.2001.

- Amendment 2: signed on 01.10.1999, increased the budget by ECU 97,930 to a total of ECU 560,671.

- EC Contact point: Mr. H. Zimmer, Head of Unit, C5

- FAO Contact point: Janos T. Lehel, Chief, TCAP.

GCP/INT/795/EC - On-going industrialization of the livestock sector in the peri-urban areas of developing countries and its effects on the poor and the environment

Project Rationale and Justification

The global livestock sector is facing very deep changes. A growing population, rising income and growing urbanisation are responsible for a rapid growth in demand for animal products over the next decades. Such demand is expected to produce significant changes in the structure of the livestock industry, as it will require much more intensive forms of production. This in turn will have very serious consequences on the natural resource base if the more intense production and processing are not carried out in an appropiate technological and policy framework.

The structural evolution of the sector determines large negative impacts on the environment, poor people, and public health and animal welfare. The multi-donor study “Interactions between livestock and the environment” has provided a thorough analysis of the principal forces driving the interactions between livestock and the natural resource base. That analysis must now help to create and use new concepts, terms and tools for different agro-ecological systems and agricultural productions.

The purpose of the project GCP/INT/795/EC, within the context of the Livestock, Enviroment and Development Initiative (LEAD) initiative is to conduct a deep investigation on the industrialization of the livestock sector to re-direct the sector onto more sustainable development paths. The main actors and beneficiaries in the rural sector are policy makers in developing countries, decision-makers of multilateral and bilateral development agencies, regional and local partners, and farmers and livestock owners in the developing world.

Description

The main development objective of the project is to protect and enhance at the same time natural resources affected by the negative interactions of the livestock production industrialization, while alleviating poverty.

In particular the project aims at equip policy makers and decision-makers with improved knowledge for environmentally sustainable and equitable forms of livestock development.

The strong interest for identification of specific and appropriate tools to understand and intervene in the livestock enviroment process interactions is increasing both among decision-makers and technicians. The institutional response was the creation of the Livestock, Enviroment and Development Initiative (LEAD), with the support and the contributions from 12 development agencies as well as amongst local and regional planners.

Activities and main Results

The purpose of the project is to provide a comprehensive analysis of the on-going transformation of the livestock sector, combining technical analysis and modelling with empirical research on four case studies. The focus of the analysis is on developing countries where the considered sector shows a very rapid growth in the industrialization. The study will be organised in the following stage: literature review, conceptual design, and case studies.

The project will produce the following outputs:

- a comprehensive analysis of the costs and benefits of the on-going industrialization of livestock production, in terms of environment and equity.

- a series of specific recommendations addressing public good issues and a strategic guidance on research and development regarding livestock, environment, poverty, equity and animal welfare, public health.

- dissemination and use of the project outcomes.

The revised first progress report (covering the period 17 July 2001 - 17 January 2002) states that a logical framework has been developed, the methodology and the work for the case studies has begun in all four countries, additional funding sources from UK have been obtained, contracts for national collaborating institutes have been awarded in three countries, a detailed time scheduled has been prepared. In particular, in July 2001 took place a meeting in Washinton DC with a subset of LEAD steering committee members to develop the conceptual design of the project. Terms of references for National Consultants were draft in August 2001. From August 2001 till January 2002 took place the visits to Thailand, Brazil, India and Philippines to determine the national collaborating institutes to conduct in each country the literature review, household surveys and modelling efforts. Data analysis will begin after surveys will be completed and data cleaned (December 2002).

Administrative and Financial Matters

- Commission Reference: B7-6200/08/DEV/ENV.

- Administrative Overhead: 13 per cent (development project).

- Year Instalment: 45 per cent of the commission contribution upon signing of the agreement (EURO 293.941); 15 per cent (EURO 97.980) will be paid -for 3 times- every six months after approval of each of the 3 progress reports that FAO will produce. The balance 10 per cent (EURO 65.321) will be made upon approval of the FAO final report.

- correspondence on the Commission’s side be addressed to Mr. A. Hecker, Head of Unit.

AIDCO F/6 (Financial and Contract Unit), J54

- NTE Extension: (project signed by EC 5 April 2001, by FAO 22 May 2001) revised project starting date from 01/01/01 to 17/07/01

- FAO Contact point: Mr Janos T. Lehel, Chief, TCAP

GCP/PAK/088/EC - Support for emergency prevention and control of main transboundary animal diseases in Pakistan (Rinderpest, FMD, PPR)

Project Rationale and Justification

Development of livestock production and progressive control of attendant epizootic diseases are priority issues within the drive towards poverty alleviation and food security, overall objective of the project GCP/PAK/088/EC. In Pakistan this is particularly marked since livestock husbandry is linked to the livelihoods of families and communities, in terms of nutrition, health and social life. Moreover, Pakistan has considerable potential for earnings from international livestock trading both in terms of meat “on-the-hoof” and breeding animals of high genetic value. Livestock trading in agreement with international norms is reliant on systems which work to sanitise the trade and which need considerable strengthening in Pakistan to give confidence to potential importers regarding OIE List A (main contagious animal diseases including Rinderpest, FMD and PPR). Therefore, the problem to be addressed in Pakistan is the lack of effective hazard management, which requires appropriate surveillance and control systems against main epizootic diseases.

The technical context of this project is related to the Global Rinderpest Eradication Programme, charged with providing technical co-ordination to the international effort to rid the world of this devastating disease by 2010.

Description

The main development objective of the project is to relieve poverty; to improve food security of people involved in the livestock-farming sector, namely producers, service providers and consumers in Pakistan and in the Region. At the same time the project aims at improving animal productivity and trade and at eradicating Rinderpest from the country.

The purpose of the project is to help national control systems for Rinderpest, FMD and PPR work efficiently.

By strengthening the diagnosis and surveillance of Rinderpest, FMD and PPR on a national scale, the project helps the development of a national Veterinary Investigation Service and animal disease emergency response system.

Activities and main Results

The project activities will be focussed mainly on strengthening disease control measures through enhanced disease surveillance, including active disease search and reporting of Rinderpest, FMD and PPR in the Provinces; strengthening laboratory diagnostic and sero-surveillance capacity for the above mentioned diseases at Provincial and Federal level; raising awareness of the farming and veterinary communities to the epidemic disease issues helping so the recognition of epidemiologically significant disease events; formulation of Federal disease control policies; strengthening emergency preparedness for Rinderpest at Provincial and Federal level: constitution of a National Emergency and Contingency Planning Committee, creation of a Rinderpest vaccine bank and contingency fund for containment of possible Rinderpest outbreaks.

Full implementation of the project was postponed until January 2002 and the first Progress Report states the following implemented activities:

- improved facilities for Disease Investigation Laboratories (10 operative laboratories)

- improved facilities for active disease surveillance and for the national diagnostic referral laboratory at all different levels (40 trainees, 2 training venues)

- maintenance of Rinderpest Officers’ village search database (increasing provision and capability of storage, retrieval, analysis and onward transmission of data)

- constitution of National Animal Disease Emergency Committee (convening meetings, establishing a vaccine bank)

- training and co-ordination workshops (20 trainees)

- technical assistance and in-country training

Administrative and Financial Matters

- Commission Reference: F54.20000552517

- Administrative Overhead: 13 per cent (development project).

- Yearly Instalments: 80 per cent of the budget of year one upon signing of the agreement (EURO 691,322); a second disbursement of the balance of year one plus advance of year two according to the scheduled activities; a third payment of balance of year two plus advance of year three upon presentation of the third progress report in year two; balance of year three, as final disbursement, will be released at operational closure of the project.

- Amendment 1: signed on July 2001, full implementation postponed to January 2002.

- Amendment 2: the total project budget remains the same, adjustments where made in the budget lines to meet the project field requirements.

- correspondence on the Commission’s side be addressed to Mr. A. Hecker, Head of Unit

AIDCO F/6 (Financial and Contract Unit), J54

- FAO Contact point: Mr. Janos T. Lehel, Chief, TCAP

MTF/INT/003/EEC - EC Funded Permanent Activities carried out by the FAO European Commission for the Control of Foot and Mouth Disease

Project Rationale and Justification

Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is one of the major ruminant diseases that impacts directly on food production and income generation as well as on constraints to trade. It causes a relevant production loss, especially in lactating dairy animals but also in small ruminants. The progressive control of epizootic diseases (FMD along with Rinderpest and PPR - Pest des Petits Ruminants) is one of the priorities on the way towards poverty alleviation and food security.

Beneficiaries of the project will be the member countries of EUFMD and other countries where the situation of FMD creates a direct or indirect threat of introduction of the disease in one or more of that member countries in Europe.

The present project will support the activities of National Veterinary Services and particularly the FMD control in the 33 member countries and in other FAO member countries.

Description

The recent FMD outbreak in UK and in Europe in February 2001 showed the urgency and the complexity of the problem to be faced. The project MTF/INT/003/EEC intends to prevent the risk of reintroduction of FMD in European countries, strengthening the measures for prevention. The immediate beneficiaries of the project will be the farmers of the EUFMD members and those of the countries around Europe: the countries more exposed to the risk will directly benefit of the project support for their control program, the other ones will see the risk of FMD reduced at their border. The project will also help the country concerned to eradicate FMD in the shortest delay possible and with minimal costs for the member countries and for the Commission.

Activities and main Results

The activities of the project will be focussed mainly on the reinforcement of epidemiological surveillance of FMD both in the EUFMD member countries and in adjacent countries in Europe as well as on the co-ordination of the measures for the control of the disease at regional level. The activities foreseen include also the supply of FMD vaccines and organisation of emergency vaccination campaigns as appropriate in co-ordination with the Commission and the Chief Veterinary Officers of the countries concerned; the reinforcement of the capabilities of EUFMD member countries for diagnosis, surveillance, prompt reporting and effective control of FMD; organisation of meetings, workshops, seminars.

Administrative and Financial Matters

- Commission Reference: TFEU970089129

- Administrative Overhead: 13 per cent (development project).

- Year Instalment: the Commission shall make available to the project the residual amount of 226,404 US$ (corresponding to the balance of TFMTF/INT/003/EEC911100) and the balance subvention of 773,596 US$. Once a year subsequent payments shall be made by the Commission on the basis of the expenditures incurred. The total payments for the four years period will not exceed 1,5 million US$.

- Amendment 1: signed on 31/8/01

- correspondence on the Commission’s side be addressed to Mr. Koelsenruijter, head of Unit E2, Directorate E

- FAO Contact point: Janos T. Lehel, Chief, TCAP

GCPS/ANG/024/EEC - Assistance au Département de la Sécurité Alimentaire en Angola

Project Rationale and Justification

Angola ranks among the twenty countries with the worst human development conditions among the countries listed on the Human Development Index, and approximately 60 per cent of the population live below the poverty line. In addition, and as a result of intensified armed conflicts and increasing internal displacements of the population, the domestic cereal production in 1998/99 fell by 11 per cent from the previous harvest cycle, in spite of generally favourable weather conditions.

The agricultural sector in Angola is important, not only because it involves approximately 65 per cent of the population and but also because of its contribution to the gross national product. In the past the country was able to meet its population’s needs for all basic food requirements. Given the income derived from petroleum and diamonds, combined with the country’s agricultural potential, there is no reason why Angola should be on of the poorest countries in the world. The present situation is often intended to be temporary and can be resolved as soon as the minimum conditions for development are created. The war and its negative effects have impoverished a large segment of the population, creating serious problems related to food insecurity and malnutrition. The number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) has grown continuously, nearly one-third of its total population. Access to land is limited, owing to the presence of land mines and limited population mobility within the security belt controlled by the Government. Regular farming activities have been seriously disrupted and have changed to adapt to the reality of war, taking into account the degree of insecurity, the risk of robbery, the shortage of inputs, tools and land and market disintegration. Also production has declined drastically, but is slowly recovering.

Technical support by FAO to establish a food security department dates back to 1991 (TCP/ANG/0052). Between 1991 and 1995 a regional project entitled “SADC Regional Early Warning System”, funded by the Government of Denmark and implemented by FAO, further provided assistance to strengthen the National Early Warning Unit of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. SADC training activities, interrupted in 1993, are expected to be restarted with EC funding in 2000.

The current project GCPS/ANG/024/EC was formulated in 1991/1992 with the aim of improving the food security situation in Angola in a context of post-war rehabilitation and development; the return of armed hostilities in 1998 called for a project redefinition of focus on emergency conditions.

Description

The overall development objective of the project was to assist the Government to reduce food insecurity in sustainable ways after the end of the civil war, ensuring physical and economic access to food for the whole population at all times and in all places.

The first operational objective of the project was to establish an information system to follow the food security situation and provide early warning information.

Secondly, the project was intended to improve the impact of food aid through a better knowledge of local production, and an improved understanding of local food markets and present food aid distribution system.

Finally, the project aimed at supporting technical and operational capacity within the Food Security Directorate (GSA) to function as a Technical Secretariat of the National Committee of Food Security.

At the Tripartite Review Meeting held in Luanda in October 1998 a new workplan was submitted to the parties, which took into consideration the changed political internal condition of the country. The above described immediate objectives were confirmed, but the following priorities to be pursued during the last two years’ implementation were also discussed and established: create a food crop forecasting information system; identify food-insecure populations groups; and analyse causes of, and vulnerability to, food insecurity for identified populations groups.

Activities and main Results

The current difficult overall working conditions within the government structure and the fact that project management was discontinuous caused a slow implementation of project activities, which became more dynamic only in 1999. The project was so extended for 9 months, to December 1999. This was the first of several extensions and, as a result of the lack of continuity in project funding and duration, it became difficult to set up a strategic workplan and implement project activities in an efficient manner. Despite these difficulties, the project made an important impact, in particular during the final two years of activities. A consultant in agro-statistics assisted the Food Security Directorate (GSA) in reactivating the national early warning system, focusing on crop yield estimates and food production forecasts, with the creation of a functional National early Warning Unit (UNAR). A manual for training in all aspects related to crop monitoring was designed; seven GSA staff members trained; more then 15 provincial workshops, attended by an average of 12 participants, were conducted.

A module on agro-meteorology was included in the manual for the crop monitoring system, so the staff was trained on it too. The project recruited an international consultant in Vulnerability assessment analysis who provided guidance to GSA on its intervention in this context: 9 papers were written and presented during a national seminar, during which all stakeholders discussed the vulnerability concept, methodologies and exchange of information.

Through all these activities GSA became the institution with the most complete set of publications concerning food aid, vulnerability, IDPs and assistance programmes.

The project also trained staff and developed a methodology to characterise the market in terms of structure and function. The exercise of studying the market, identifying the major constraints, proposing solutions should lead to the design of a strategy for more dynamic action within the Marketing Department and a better understanding of marketing behaviour and the key indicators affecting it.

Finally, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MINADER) has now gained an increased capacity in gathering data on food production, including methodological guidelines to produce yearly crop surveys. MINADER is also slowly assuming project ownership.

Administrative and Financial Matters

- Commission Reference: SCR.E4/PB/ANG.

- Administrative Overhead: 13 per cent (development project).

- Year Instalment: 40 per cent (EURO 664,000) upon signing of the agreement; 30 per cent (EURO 498,000) after the first six months; 25 per cent (EURO 415,000) upon workplan approval; any balance due, up to 5 per cent (EURO 83,000) at operational closure. Last payment was received on 4 September 2003.

- Amendment 1: signed on 29.07.1999, was extended several times and project activities ended 31.03.2001.

- EC Contact points: Mr. A. Hecker, Head of Unit AIDCO F/6

- FAO Contact point: Mr. Janos T. Lehel, (TCAP)

GCPS/ANG/027/EC - Assistance au Département de la Sécurité Alimentaire en Angola - phase II

Project Rationale and Justification

This is the phase II of the project CPS/ANG/024/EC, formulated in 1991/1992 but started only in 1997 with the arrival of the first CTA on duty station. While the first phase project was originally designed to focus on rehabilitation and development of food security, the return of armed hostilities in 1998 called for a project redefinition of focus on emergency conditions.

The present phase II of the Angola project responds to the still acute need for an accurate information system about food security conditions in the country. A long-deterioration in the food security area started with the armed struggle; strong food availability unbalances are present in the different regional areas and the same variability is common in the food market prices. Many households moved from their properties in order to avoid conflicts and civil unrests, abandoning their homes, land and traditional form of livelihood. This situation is also made more difficult from the lack of education, fact affecting one third of population. The key-role of food information will be determinant once civil conflict ends, along with: resettlements of displaced population, rebuilding of infrastrustures and re-establish various economic activities.

Prior to EC support, technical support by FAO to establish a food security department dates back to 1991 (TCP/ANG/0052). Between 1991 and 1995 a regional project entitled “SADC Regional Early Warning System”, funded by the Government of Denmark and implemented by FAO, further provided assistance to strengthen the National Early Warning Unit of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. SADC training activities, interrupted in 1993, restarted with EC funding in 2000.

Presently the ongoing hostilities have determined in the country a situation of dependency on the relief operation and food aid distribution for a large part of population. The effort will be, once the conflict is over, to rebuild the overall economy addressing structural problems of food insecurity

Description

The main development objective of the project is to increase the food security status for the whole population at all times and in all places.

In particular, the project will focus on the precarious situation of many segments of the population, i.e. the households, addressing their food insecurity problems.

A more in-depth analisys of chronic food insecurity, the provision information on food availability/fruition at all different levels (national, regional, household and individual one), the improving knowledge of local production and the understanding of local food markets are crucial elements to reach the main objective. Finally, the project aims at supporting technical and operational capacity within the Food Security Directorate (GSA) to function as a Technical Secretariat of the National Committee of Food Security.

Activities and main Results

The purpose of the project is to promote effective and co-ordinated interventions, policies and programmes to address food security problems, improving the capability of the Food Security Directorate (GSA) of providing and analizing information, conducting food security policy analisys and make policy recommendations. At the same time GSA will improve its capacity of establishing institutional linkages with other food security partners (national and provincial governments, UN and donour agencies, NGOs and private sector).

Finally, along with GSA there are other important inter-ministerial and inter-sectoral mechanisms to cope with the food security problems. Particular enphasis will be placed on improved agro-metereological information, crop monitoring and production estimates, and the construction of food balance sheets: these activities are expected to be fully taken over and continued by the GSA upon completion of phase two. Within the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MINADER) there is a growing awareness of the role of GSA in food security information and analysis work.

Administrative and Financial Matters

- Commission Reference: ANG/AIDCO/2001/0344/01

- Adminisrative Overhead: 13 per cent (development project).

- Year Installment: 80 per cent of the budget for the first year (EURO 642.080) upon signing of the agreement; the balance of year one -20 per cent - plus advance of year two - 80 per cent - in time for the execution of year two activities; a third payment, the balance of year two -20 per cent - plus advance of year three - 80 per cent - upon presentation of the progress report in year two. At the operational closure the final disbursement of the balance of year three -20 per cent - will be made.

- correspondence on the Commission’s side be addressed to Mr. A. Hecker, Head of Unit, AIDCO F/6 (Financial and Contract Unit), J54

- EC Contact points: Mr. A. Hecker, Head of Unit AIDCO F/6

- FAO Contact point: Mr. Janos T. Lehel, (TCAP)

GCPS/MOZ/060/EC - Assistance to the National Early Warning System of Mozambique

Project Rationale and Justification

Agricultural production in southern Africa is heavily dependent on rainfall; there is relatively little irrigation and small-holder farmers rely on a highly concentrated rainy season for much of their agricultural production. In many areas, the distribution of rainfall over time is far more critical than total rainfall for the season, in determining whether a farmer will have a good crop or a crop failure. Within this context, a well-functioning agro-meteorological monitoring system forms a critical component of any Early Warning System (EWS) in the sub-region, since it is the only component through which information concerning the crop and livestock situation is obtained on a 10-daily basis.

FAO investment in the National Early Warning System of Mozambique is a long term one. It started with two projects funded by Denmark from 1990 to 1995, and through a complementary FAO project funded by the Netherlands. In 1996 a project financed by the European Commission (GCPS/MOZ/049/EC, total budget US$ 2,085,653) was started in order to consolidate the NEWS activities, which include crop forecasting and monitoring activities, agro-meteorological monitoring and activities in support to an overall assessment of the food security situation in Mozambique for early warning purposes. The project intended to strengthen institutional capacities and linkages to ensure the sustained operation of the NEWS and to implement crop forecasting and monitoring methods and techniques based on technical manuals. The project was closed in 1997, when its present second phase was approved under the FAO code GCPS/MOZ/060/EC, currently ongoing.

Description

Under the project’s first phase (GCPS/MOZ/049/EC) the agricultural sample survey was extended to all ten provinces of the country. Extensive crop monitoring activities were conducted and extended to all 128 districts. Furthermore, a decentralised data entry and processing was introduced through the training of 10 provincial agricultural officers, to enhance the capacity of the provinces to collect, enter and analyse their own information. The project also conducted a study to identify an overall coordinating body for NEWS activities, in view of the implementation of its second phase.

The present second phase of the project (GCPS/MOZ/060/EC) is structured according to two main components, identified by the Tripartite Review Mission which took place in 1997: a component in support of the Crop Forecasting and Monitoring System (CFMS) and a component for the overall coordination of early warning activities in the country (EWIC).

The project has two specific objectives for each component. The first objective is to establish fully-developed and self-sustainable CFMU and agro-meteorological yield forecasting system (first component); and to set up an optimal institutional structure, a fully-developed national coordinating unit/focal point for the overall analysis of early warning information and equipped participating agencies (second component).

The second immediate objective is to develop early warning methods and techniques with appropriate manuals, for the acquisition and management of agronomic and agro-climatic information for forecast and estimates of staple crop production (first component). Within the same objective, the project aims at developing fully adapted methods and techniques for the flow, management, combined interpretation and presentation of early warning information to meet users’ needs at sub-national, national and regional levels (second component).

Following the conclusions and recommendations of the TPR consultations of October 2000, the budget revision extending the project by 12 months is to provide the time frame for the recommended activities.

Activities and main Results

The formal establishment of an Early Warning Department within the Directorate of Agriculture in the Ministry of Agriculture was formally approved in May 1999. The collaboration between the three main institutions involved in agro-meteorological yield forecasting is being strengthened, and equipment needs to be procured to participating agencies have been identified.

Annual training programmes in crop monitoring and forecasting techniques have taken place in all provinces during the 1998/1999 season. Noteworthly, the training was conducted by the national staff. Other activities which took place under the project were the calibration of satellite images for rainfall estimation, an improved methodology for yield estimation at district level, the creation of an agro-meteorological and agricultural database at district level, and the start of an evaluation of the methods used for the collection of information and the calculation of agricultural production.

Administrative and Financial Matters

- Commission Reference: EU14MZ98019

- Administrative Overhead: 13 per cent (development project).

- Year Instalment: 40 per cent (ECU 516,000) upon signing of agreement; 55 per cent (ECU 709,55) in the second year according to the progress report; final disbursement of outstanding balance 5 per cent (ECU 64,500) at project operational closure.

- Amendment 1: signed on 10 August 1998.

- Project NTE was extended to April 2002 as per agreement signed with Revision I. The revision is budget neutral.

- EC Contact point: Mr. A. Hecker, Chief, F6

- FAO Contact point: Janos T. Lehel, Chief, TCAP.

GCPS/MOZ/064/EC - Marketing Management Assistance for Food Security - phase II

Project Rationale and Justification

Following independence in 1975, the economy of Mozambique was devastated by a prolonged civil war that concluded with a peace settlement at the end of 1922. However, the country remains with a very weak physical, economic and social infrastructure and an acute shortage of skilled managerial and technical human resources. The development of the agricultural sector is highly affected by an extremely weak marketing/trading system; not only for the sector’s produce, but also for agricultural inputs and basic consumption items.

Technical assistance provided by the project GCPS/MOZ/064/EC will enhance Government’s operational and analytical capacity to monitor and facilitate the development of a more effective and efficient agricultural marketing and trade enviroment.

The assistance include the undertaking of applied market research studies, the restructuring of current market support mechanisms, revision of the legal framework, as well as the design of alternative market development support initiatives targeted at the private sector.

Description

The overall development objective of the project is the attainment of national food security within Mozambique by ensuring the realisation of the nation’s potential for staple food production and its improved distribution to, and access by, the population.

The project GCPS/MOZ/064/EC will contribute to that objective by enhancing the institutional capacity of the DNCI within the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism to analyse the food market, to formulate general policies and specific measures that will remove existing agricultural trade obstacles and barriers, and to provide agricultural market and trade information to the various actors in the liberalisation process. This will contribute to the establishment of a more transparent, liberalised and favourable enviroment for the production and trade of basic goods and services in general.

Activities and main Results

The immediate objectives of the project and the results reported are:

- establishing a more transparent and efficient marketing system for basic agricultural commodities;

- installing a fully operational Agricultural Commodity Market and Trade Information Network as a Management information system for DNCI and in support of market liberalisation;

- revising DNCI’s institutional structure and strengthening its capacity to monitor and analyse agricultural market and trade conditions and provide operational and policy-related advice on market and trade development issues.

Related to these objectives, work continued on improving the food balance sheet calculations and monitoring, on strengthening the monitoring of cereal stocks held by privat sector and commercial cereal imports/exports.

Work also continued on the identification and establishment of linkages with potential sources of market and trade data and marketing and trade policy information, both at international, sub-regional, national and provincial levels. The project continued liasing, on an informal basis, with private sector cereal trading companies and individual traders as well as with representatives of donor agencies, multilateral organisations and NGOs. The identification continued of relevant market and trade related information that is still not collected/accessed and that is considered necessary for commodity market and trade analysis, monitoring marketing performance, and broadening the dissemination of commodity trade and policy information. Continued attention was paid to the provision of regional market data (i.e. DASC, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa. A second batch of 10 motorbikes was imported to facilitate the market and trade data collection work by provincial staff.

Administrative and Financial Matters

- Commission Reference: 087025

- Administrative Overhead: 13 per cent (development project).

- Year Instalment: 95 per cent of the budget of the first year (EURO 1,037,326) upon signing of the agreement; a second disbursement of balance of year 1 plus 95 per cent of year 2 (globally EURO 1,100,660), according to the progress of project activities and expenditures; a third payment of the balance of year 2 plus 95 per cent of year 3 (globally EURO 631,666), will be made upon presentation of the respective report; a final disbursement of 5 per cent of year 3 will be made, upon acceptance of final report, at project closure.

- Amendment 1: signed on 28 June 2000

- EC Contact point: Mr. A. Hecker, Chief, F6

- FAO Contact point: Janos T. Lehel, Chief, TCAP.

GCP/RAF/354/EC - Sustainable Forest Management Programme in African ACP Countries

Project Rationale and Justification

Forestry and forest-based activities have been given relatively low priority in the development plans of many countries in the African ACP region. The sector has also failed to meet its potential and some major forestry problems have evolved. Deforestation and forest degradation continue across much of the region at an alarming rate, fuelled, in part, by high rates of population growth and poverty, poor forest management practices, inadequate investment, and poor planning both in forestry and other sectors.

The Programme aims at helping countries in the region manage their forests sustainably by addressing some of these problems. The project concentrates on policy reform and strengthening, and capacity building at the national level. It is articulated in 7 components: 2 focus on the implementation of National Forestry Programmes and fiscal policy reforms; 4 cover priority subject areas (such as forest harvesting practices, resource assessment, wood energy policy development and forestry research capacity); 1 focuses on programme co-ordination and dissemination of results.

Four countries have been selected for detailed study in each of the components, and the results of such studies will be synthesised and disseminated widely. In this way, it is intended that the experiences gained in the studies will be used to help other countries in the region. Policy reforms will be developed through the extensive use of workshops, training seminars and publication of results and guidelines. Women and indigenous people will be encouraged to participate in all programme activities and some components specifically benefit these groups.

In addition to the EC contribution mentioned above, a contribution by FAO of US$ 1,227,105 is also foreseen. This project runs parallel to other normative projects focusing on sustainable forest management: GCP/INT/679/EC, GCP/RAS/173/EC, GCP/RLA/133/EC.

Description

The overall objective of this programme is to assist national forestry administrations in African ACP countries to reform and focus policies and institutions to support achievement of sustainable forest management. The programme will mostly work with countries at national level in the areas of policy reform and institutional strengthening. Thus, the overall objective will be pursued by assisting countries to achieve three selected immediate objectives.

Firstly, the programme intends to assist in the identification of areas in current policies and institutions which do not support the overall goal of sustainable forest management.

Secondly, it intends to reform national forestry and other policies and legislations such that they are more supportive to the achievement of sustainable forest management.

Finally, the programme aims at improving the capacity of national forestry administrations to more effectively plan and influence the development of the forestry sector, within the context of sustainable development.

Activities and main Results

This project, declared operational in November 1999, has been addressing some of the critical issues related to forestry in Africa and all the seven components of the project have played a key role in enhancing the capacity of the participating countries in implementing sustainable forest management. Globally, within the seven different components the main results are:

- report on country missions to launch the National Forestry Programme (NFP) process, country submissions requesting support to the NFP facility, specific activities, ad hoc studies;

- 32 country reports on fiscal policies and government expenditure on forestry in Africa, thematic studies on fiscal forest policies, case studies on fiscal forest policies, launching of the “African Forest Economics Discussion Group”;

- final draft reports of the four case studies on forest harvesting practices in Central Africa, regional model code of Forest Harvesting Practice, training workshop to introduce it, networking;

- 3 pilot studies on Non-wood Forest Products (NWFP) on going, guidelines for inventory of NWFP;

- wood energy information in Africa, review of national wood energy country reports, guidelines for woodfuel surveys available in 3 languages, reports on pilot cases on wood-energy systems, upgraded databases with information on woodfuel consumption and trade, training activities under preparation;

- databases on forestry research institutions, scientists and programmes/projects installed on 3 sites, review and synthesis on Past Research and Impact on Plantation Development in east Africa, specific thematic meetings held in different countries.

Most of the planned activities are reaching the outcomes envisaged, nevertheless additional time and resources are required to complete all the activities, consolidate the results and strengthen policy formulation. The six months extension accepted (without further budget increase) will allow the fully implementation of the planned activities.

Administrative and Financial Matters

- Commission Reference: B7-6201/98-08/VIII/FOR.

- Administrative Overhead: 6 per cent (normative project).

- Year Instalment: 50 per cent advance payment on signature of the Implementing Agreement; second payment of 30 per cent upon receipt and acceptance of first year report, programme of activities and budget estimates for years two and three; third payment of 20 per cent upon acceptance of final report.

- Amendment 1: a project extension of six months (1 November 2002 - 30 April 2003), without budget increase, has been accepted.

- EC Contact point: Mr. J. Ten Bloemendal, Head of Unit, F4

- FAO Contact point: Janos T. Lehel, Chief, TCAP.

GCP/IVC/025/EC - Recensement National de l’Agriculture en Côte d’Ivoire

Project Rationale and Justification

In Côte d’Ivoire agriculture employs two thirds of local active population and it contributes for a third to the national total production. It is mainly centered on the culture of coffee and cocoa, but the present policy trend is to better diversify agricultural production. The present Agricultural Development Plan aims at improving the agricultural productivity and competitiveness; reach self-sufficiency and food security; increase the diversification of its production; improve the farmers income; focus on environmental degradation; develop lagoon and sea fishery; and finally enhance its forestry resources.

The realisation of these long term objectives requires the availability of timely and complete statistical data which allow for a constraint analysis of those factors which limit agricultural development, and for the formulation of policies and actions. The Government has already taken steps in this direction, mainly through the creation of a national Programme in Support to Agricultural Services (PNASA), but the need to obtain a real knowledge of the agricultural structure is still felt.

Within this framework, the present project supports the implementation of the National Agricultural Census, which represents the basic statistical operation that allows for a structural collection of agricultural data. The Census also sets up a permanent system of annual surveys, which will provide specific and updated data on agricultural production on a yearly basis.

Description

The general objective of the project is to support the Government to obtain an updated knowledge of the agricultural structure of the country, in order to guide future policies.

The first immediate objective is thus to carry out the National Agricultural Census by preparing the needed methodological tools, selecting and training personnel for the organisation of field operations, provide computer training, elaborate and disseminate the collected data.

The second immediate objective of the project is to formulate and start the creation of a permanent system of agricultural statistics, drawing from the census experience and providing additional staff training.

Activities and main Results

The last progress report stated that data collection is being finalised. Interviews started in the different regions in September 2001 and by the end of December 2001 less than 20 per cent of the agricultural families were interviewed. On the contrary for the traditional sector the data collection is almost finished. Regarding the modern sector the collection percentage is around 85 per cent.

The data elaboration process is, as well, quite advanced. A team of 10 specialists takes care of the correct identification, codification, verifying and elaboration of data, in strict relation with the central office of RNA. Several missions took place in the 19 administrative region of the country. During year 2002 the 58 departments of Ivory Cost have been visited at least 5 times. The regional officers, department directors and other personnel of the central office are deeply involved in the activities. An important meeting programme has been organised to allow information exchange among administrative authorities, technicians, regional directors and supervisors from all the different regions. These meetings were very important also to sensibilise populations to the current statistic activities.

Administrative and Financial Matters

- Commission Reference: 8.ACP.IVC.005.

- Administrative Overhead: 13 per cent (development projects).

- Year Instalment: a first disbursement of estimated first year budget upon recruitment of the CTA; yearly disbursements equivalent to each year estimated budget, two months before the end of each year; a final disbursement of 20 per cent of the last year budget upon receipt of final report.

- Amendment 1: a project extension until 31 July 2003 was requested, in order to complete project activities.

- EC Contact point: Mr. H. Zimmer, Chief, C5

- FAO Contact point: Janos T. Lehel, Chief, TCAP.

GCP/RAF/363/EC - Système d’Information et d’Analyse des Pêches (SIAP)

Project Rationale and Justification

The Fishery sector is critically important in the region. It plays a key role in the economy of the countries of the Commission sous-regionale des peches, namely: Mauritanie, Sénégal, Gambie, Cap Vert, Guineé Bissau, Guineé. Presently, it represents almost 80 per cent of the income and contributes in a relevant way to the balance of payments. Moreover, it contributes to the creation of employment and to the food security. The Système d’Information et d’Analyse des Pêches (SIAP) project for the CSRP countries is financed by the Regional Fund of the 7ème Fond Européen pour le Développement (FED). The project aims at strengthening the coordination and management of the aquatic living resources at national and sub-regional level in the CSRP countries.

Aquatic resources urgently require effective management in order to sustain local and wider benefits. Recognising this, in 1996 a Financing Agreement was signed between EC and ACP states under the Lomé Convention, that lead to the “Strengthening of fisheries and biodiversity management in ACP countries”. The project is based on interdependent components as well as on a UE-ACP partnership, involving research institutes, Fish Departments and European Institutions with large experience in order to exchange information, know-how and important lessons to ensure the effective management of fisheries and aquatic resources.

Description

The development objective of the SIAP project is to establish an interdisciplinary information and management system to strengthen the planning capability in order to focus on real problems and issues of the present fishery system.

The lack of references regarding the composition and the productivity of aquatic ecosystem in the past is a serious handicap for the interpretation of recent data, the appreciation of the level of present exploitation and the role of fisheries. The development and/or the adaptation of fisheries and environmental policies together with the reinforcement of good practices in resource management depend on the availability of quality data over a large range of environmental factors. These data can be useful only if they are easily available to all the users of the sub-region and in a format which enable their direct analysis in order to reply to various questions raised by the present management. The availability of reliable data and of an analytical framework is essential for policy makers to explore a large range of sustainable development options.

Activities and main Results

To reach the above mentioned objectives, several activities are planned related to the technical, scientific, educational and coordination level:

- data normalisation in the different countries of the region;

- harmonisation of the different national statistic systems;

- reconstruction of the productivity of the past aquatic ecosystems as reference framework to analyse the present one;

- reinforcement of the Geographic Information System (SIG);

- increase the number of the analytical tools users; organise training course, meeting, seminars;

- dissemination of the project results.

The main results of the project as per last progress report are:

- investigation report on the status of the système d’informations géographiques (SIG) for every country of the sub-region;

- creation of a SIG library specialised on maritime fishing;

- development of a SIG application for a complete data analyses and elaboration;

- development of tools for data collecting and dissemination;

- training

Administrative and Financial Matters

- Commission Reference: 087688 (contr. N.15705-2000-02 F1ED ISP IT)

- Administrative Overhead: 13 per cent (development project).

- Year Instalment: 30 per cent of the budget (EURO 120,000) upon signing of the agreement; a second payment of 30 per cent will be made on the basis of the year one progress report and activities plan; a third payment of 30 per cent will be made upon acceptance of the year two progress report; the 10 per cent balance will be paid at the operational closure of the project.

- Amendment 1: signed on 24.6.2002.

- correspondence on the Commission’s side be addressed to:

* Ms. M. De Angelis, Istitut des Applications Spatiales, Centre Commun de recherche

* Mr. H. Zimmer, Head of Unit C5

- FAO Contact point: Janos T. Lehel, Chief, TCAP

GCP/RLA/120/MUL - Contribution to the Caribbean Amblyomma Programme

Project Rationale and Justification

The Tropical Bont Tick (TBT), Amblyomma Variegatum, was first introduced into Caribbean region in 1828 when infested cattle were imported from Senegal into Guadeloupe. The rapid spread of the tick during the past 25 years appears to be coincident with the expansion of the range of cattle egrets. The thick (established on 12 country/islands) and its associated diseases cause high mortality and morbidity in ruminants, leading to considerable losses in production.

During the phase I of the programme, substantial progress has been made towards the goal of eradication. The mid Term Review concluded that the technical and operational strategy in place was working well and that there were sound reasons for expecting the eradication of Amblyomma from the Caribbean. Moreover, the specific experiences gained through the extension and communications support activities have been applied successfully in other national agricultural programmes.

The Caribbean Amblyomma Programme (CAP) started as a multi-donor programme in 1994 and EU among other funding agencies has contributed to the successful attempt to eradicate the Tropical Bont Tick from the CARICOM countries. The CAP is co-financed by several donors, mostly through FAO executed projects: GCP/RLA/120/USA, GCP/RLA/121/USA, GCP/RLA/130/IFA and the EU-CAFP, in addition to significant contribution from the participating countries including direct farmers participation.

Description

The primary objective of the GCP/RLA/120/MUL programme is a 35 per cent increased livestock production in the Caribbean by 2005, as consequence of the eradication of the Tropical Bont Tick from the Caribbean. At the end of the Programme the TBT will be eradicated, allowing farmers to keep more productive, improved exotic breeds of livestock. There will be improved animal health and livestock production practices throughout the region. Consequently, at the national level, increased livestock production will reduce demands on foreign exchange for importation.

The immediate objectives are the eradication of the Tropical Bont Tick from the infested countries and the declaration of the Caribbean region as free of the TBT by 2002.

Activities and main Results

The main result expected at the end of the project is the eradication of the TBT, allowing farmers to be more productive, improved exotic breeds of livestock. This situation will be sustainable, as farmers will be responsible for maintaining TBT-free livestock according to the legislation. Moreover, the threat of the spread of the TBT to non-infested Caribbean countries and mainland Americas will be eliminated.

The activities to meet the objectives are:

- veterinary staff to maintain the system for registration of livestock and their owners, with specific animal identification and the computerised database;

- veterinary staff to distribute acaricide to farmers with required prescribed treatment schedules;

- all livestock owners responsible for regular pharmacological treatment of their livestock;

- veterinary staff to monitor effectiveness of treatment campaigns and that livestock owners comply with treatment schedules and legislation;

- veterinary staff to implement periodic, regular inspection of livestock during the second year of mandatory treatments to verify and monitor the therapy;

- veterinary staff to maintain the database, to implement and maintain distribution data and computerised mapping of livestock;

Administrative and Financial Matters

- Commission Reference: 039594

- Administrative Overhead: 13 per cent (development project).

- Year Instalment: umbrella programme

- project OTE was extended to 31/3/2003 to allow the use of the unspent balance.

- EC Contact point: Mr. A. Hecker, Chief, F6

- FAO Contact point: Janos T. Lehel, Chief, TCAP.

GCP/INT/824/EC - Global Forum of Food Safety Regulators

Project Rationale and Justification

The purpose of the Global Forum is to promote the exchange of information and experience acquired by food safety regulators on ways to deal with food safety concerns of potencial importance to public health and international food trade. It aims to advance the process of science-based public consultations and to facilitate capacity building. It will concentrate on issues such as methods of risk management and communication, information and rapid alert systems. The forum will not be a decision making body, nor duplicate the work of other organisations, such as the Codex Alimentarius Commission.

Description

The recent FMD outbreak in UK and in Europe in February 2001 showed the urgency and the complexity of the problem to be faced. The project MTF/INT/003/EEC intends to prevent the risk of reintroduction of FMD in European countries, strengthening the measures for prevention. The immediate beneficiaries of the project will be the farmers of the EUFMD members and those of the countries around Europe: the countries more exposed to the risk will directly benefit of the project support for their control program, the other ones will see the risk of FMD reduced at their border. The project will also help the country concerned to eradicate FMD in the shortest delay possible and with minimal costs for the member countries and for the Commission.

Activities and main Results

The activities of the project will be focussed mainly on the reinforcement of epidemiological surveillance of FMD both in the EUFMD member countries and in adjacent countries in Europe as well as on the co-ordination of the measures for the control of the disease at regional level. The activities foreseen include also the supply of FMD vaccines and organisation of emergency vaccination campaigns as appropriate in co-ordination with the Commission and the Chief Veterinary Officers of the countries concerned; the reinforcement of the capabilities of EUFMD member countries for diagnosis, surveillance, prompt reporting and effective control of FMD; organisation of meetings, workshops, seminars.

Administrative and Financial Matters

- Commission Reference: TFEU970089129

- Administrative Overhead: 13 per cent (development project).

- Year Instalment: the Commission shall make available to the project the residual amount of 226,404 US$ (corresponding to the balance of TFMTF/INT/003/EEC911100) and the balance subvention of 773,596 US$. Once a year subsequent payments shall be made by the Commission on the basis of the expenditures incurred. The total payments for the four years period will not exceed 1,5 million US$.

- Amendment 1: signed on 31/8/01

- correspondence on the Commission’s side be addressed to Mr. Koelsenruijter, head of Unit E2, Directorate E

- FAO Contact point: Janos T. Lehel, Chief, TCAP

GCP/RER/015/MUL - FAO/WHO Pan-European Conference on Food Safety and Quality

Project Rationale and Justification

Food safety and quality are priority subjects for governments, food producers, industry, traders and consumers. Incomplete or deficient information and communication about these themes have caused market unbalances, significant market instabilities or, in same cases, insecurities of certain food product. The effect of these facts have signaled a strong need for member countries to strengthen the food safety and quality systems in a sustainable way to restore the confidence of consumers and to improve the conditions of food production and trade within the region and beyond. FAO and WHO jointly convened the first Pan-European Conference on Food Safety and Quality to identify and discuss ways to strengthen food safety and quality in the European region.

Conference was held in Budapest from 25 to 28 February 2002, attended by several ministers and State Secretaries and by a large numbers of policy officers and technical experts from the entire European Region of FAO and WHO.

Description

The aims of the Conference were to provide a platform for European countries to survey and discuss food safety and quality issues of specific importance to the region and to consider ways and means to improve and harmonize the transparency and reliability of european food chains, in order to strengthen consumer confidence in food products.

In particular, the Conference focused attention on opportunities for regional cooperation in the field of policy and science development, enhancement of information and communication systems on food safety and quality issues, and harmonization of food safety policies across the region and to enhance intra-regional cooperation in all these fields.

Activities and main Results

The Conference agreed on the main following recommendations:

- regional and national networks need to be improved (or established) for the collection, compilation and sharing of data to improve comparability and harmonization of policies on aspects of food quality and safety.

- collaboration is required to strengthen and harmonize system for surveillance, outbreak investigation, reporting systems and diagnostic methods.

- enhanced cooperation between the health, agriculture, fisheries and food production is necessary for food safety surveillance and monitoring.

- need to increase the comparability of food safety and quality systems by implementing equivalence, transparency and harmonization of regulations and control across Europe.

- food safety strategies should be risk-based, giving priority to problems that pose the largest threats to health.

- cooperation between national, regional, international experts and advisory bodies should be intensified.

- an integrated and multidisciplinary policy approach to food safety and quality should be applied and should include all governmental and no-governmental stakeholders in the whole food chain.

- prevention-oriented regulation and control systems for reduction of food-borne disease, reduction of food safety risks and protection of the enviroment should be developed and co-ordinated.

- due interest should be given also to ethical and religious concerns important to consumers, and in general the desire to promote more sustainable food production practices should be strengthened.

- provisional risk management measures may be adopted based on precautionary principle, in case of scientific uncertainty.

- cooperation on capacity building at the international and regional level should be improved to build on national experiences and national food safety strategies.

- an effective coordination system is needed to make clear the attribution of responsabilities on food safety, scientific advice, policy making, risk management, control, communication.

- in case the responsibility for official food monitoring and control is divided among two or more agencies, cooperation between them should be very close, as well as cooperation at the regional level.

- official control services must be provided with the necessary, financial and human, resources.

- improved education and training in food hygiene should be used to increase the competence of the workers and effectiveness of inspectors throughout the food chain. Member countries’ consumers and stakeholders in the food chain should be informed and assisted with education initiatives.

- other european countries are encouraged to participate in the Rapid Alert System for Foodstuffs, that proved to be a useful instrument to support public health, consumer protection and transparency in international food trade.

Other recommendations were presented to be considered as a basis to set priorities and establish commitments to follow-up in the near future.

Administrative and Financial Matters

- Commission Reference: B5-1000/01/000244

- Administrative Overhead: 13 per cent (development project).

- Year Instalment: THE Commission shall make an initial disbursement of 80 per cent of the total budget; the balance of 20 per cent will be released at the operational closure of the project.

- Amendment 1: signed on 27/12/01.

- correspondence on the Commission’s side be addressed to Mr. D. Janssens, Head of Unit, Health and Consumer Protection DG - Directorate General SANCO - A3

- FAO Contact point: Janos T. Lehel, Chief, TCAP.

GCP/INT/835/EC - Feasibility Study for a Project on “Strengthening Fisheries Management in ACP Countries” - ACP Fish II

Project Rationale and Justification

Fish are critically important in developing countries as well as in the ACP region. Presently, roughly 70 per cent of fish stocks are exploited or over-exploited. Aquatic living resources urgently require effective management in order to sustain local and wider benefits. Recognising this, in 1996 a Financing Agreement was signed between EC and ACP states under the Lomé Convention, that lead to the “Strengthening of fisheries and biodiversity management in ACP countries”. Requests for a follow-up phase have been received from at least 20 countries. In June 2001 the ACP Group assumed with the responsibility for the preparation of a second phase focussed on a systematic approach to achieving effective resource management in ACP countries.

The study approach will be founded on proposals contained in a Conceptual Note, prepared by SIFAR (Support Unit for International Fisheries & Aquatic Research) and FAO and submitted to the Commission in April 2001. It contains some important lessons deriving from the experience of the ACP Fish I project, among them:

- the need to value a fully participatory pre-feasibility study design process that stresses response to local demand;

- the need both to identify and analyse broad information requirements for effective management;

- the need to identify and characterise suitable management support and information tools and communication systems based on local needs and on capacity to sustain these. With project phase I, several useful impacts had been achieved: the development of the FishBase system, building capacity in ACP research Institution to use FishBase, establishing an effective network of ACP “nodes”. It’s recognised that more efforts must be made to build up from acquired lessons to tackle the management of fisheries and aquatic resources.

Description

The key objective of the feasibility study is to assess the relevance, feasibility and potential sustainability of the ACP Fish II programme. It will examine options for approach and methodology, and will present detailed recommendations on programme design consistent with the requirements and capacity of project partners. In this regard, the study will provide Commission with sufficient information to justify further programme financing and implementation.

In order to focus on real problems and issues in existing fisheries systems, the Study will implement specific analyses within individual ACP countries and “reference fisheries”. National and regional bodies will be involved in the study; a focused and action-oriented approach will be adopted leading to the definition of pilot management projects.

Activities and main Results

The study will deliver a detailed programme design based on a logframe structure: a focused, results oriented and practical programme design for improved fisheries management through a number of specific pilot projects in selected countries and reference fisheries within the ACP region. The pilot projects will identify effective fisheries management mechanisms, providing models for several other projects with similar objectives. The outcomes will be disseminated and used to highlight the importance of fisheries at different levels, as well as influencing national and ACP regional policy. The study will conduct a thorough analysis of existing policy mechanisms and management decision-making systems. The role of state and civil society institutions involved in management will be analysed as well, and the institutional and policy context of this management.

The study will also make recommendations on networks and associated processes for knowledge generation, sharing and co-ordination within and between pilot projects Such process would in addition incorporate projects with similar overall objectives within the ACP region and result in a network aimed at fostering a better understanding of determining factors in effective fisheries management. As a result of their involvement in the design process there will be a strengthening of national institutions. The study itself will build on existing capacity, especially that developed as a result of the ACP Fish I project.

Administrative and Financial Matters

- Commission Reference: AIDCO/C/5 - 8 ACP TPS 130-1

- Administrative Overhead: 13 per cent (development project).

- Year Instalment: 40 per cent of the budget (EURO 280,000) upon signing of the agreement; a second disbursement of 40 per cent will be made on the basis of the progress report; a final payment of the balance of 20 per cent of the project budget will be made at the operational closure of the project (EURO 140,000).

- Amendment 1: signed on 24.6.2002.

- correspondence on the Commission’s side be addressed to Mr. H. Zimmer, Head of Unit AIDCO/C/5

- FAO Contact point: Janos T. Lehel, Chief, TCAP

GCP/AFG/018/EC - Strengthening National Seed Production Capacity in Afghanistan

Project Rationale and Justification

The objective of the project is to improve food security in Afghanistan by raising the capacity of the national seed sector and in facilitating the expansion of quality seed sector. Agricultural progress is vital to the growth and prosperity of the economy in Afghanistan. The rehabilitation of the agricultural sector to increase production and productivity is among the priorities of the Interim Administration (AIA).

The seed industry was poorly developed in Afghanistan before 1970, due to the lack of the necessary industry infrastructure to make seed available, in quantity and with assured quality, to the farmers. The quality of the seed is essential to enhancing the productivity of the crop sector. To this end, the Administration has proposed special efforts to promote the production and multiplication of high quality seed and planting material among the farmers to increase crop productivity, mitigate the effect of destruction caused by war and drought and for improving the nutritional standards of the people. The new Interim Administration offers stability for the first time in 30 years and the project GCP/AFG/018/EC intends to take this opportunity to increase the national capacity of the Ministry of agriculture to supervise and extend the in-country production of Quality Declared Seed (QDS) to international standards.

Description

In the agricultural sector FAO took the initiative in the provision of quality seed, including the development of in-country production capacity. And now, with the AIA in place, is possible to envisage the national implementation of projects compatible with the overall strategy of the administration. The programme will be implemented on a regional basis in all the different regions: Kabul, Ghazni and Bamyan (Central Region); Heart (Western Region); Mazar-I-Sharif and Kunduz (Northern Region); Jalalabad and Faizabad (Eastern Region); Qandahar (Southern Region). Each regional office will be full involved especially in managing seed farms, seed testing laboratories and quality control including certification of the seed at field and laboratory stages.

The immediate objectives of the project are:

- to develop national capability in crop improvement through the screening of varieties and production of breeder seed of improved varieties for introduction to farmers.

- to strengthen national capability to produce good quality foundation seed of high yielding varieties for distribution to farmers throughout Afghanistan.

- to enhance the capability of the existing Improved Seed Enterprise and the private sector to produce and deliver quality declared and/or certified seed of improved varieties.

- to develop the technical knowledge of the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry (MAAH) on seed industry matters.

- to establish sound foundations to assist the government to prepare appropriate seed industry legislation and in developing minimum seed certification standards for field crops, leading to the establishment of a seed certification and quality control programme.

Activities and main Results

The activities of the project will be focussed mainly on:

- to establish a SEED Unit at the MoA as part of the capacity building process for local institutions

- to install seed production, conditioning, handling and storage equipment and facilities at strategic locations

- to assist the MoA Seed Unit to facilitate the creation of a privat enterprise-based quality seed production, storage, processing and supply industry.

- to initiate national-scale seed quality control standards, together with national-scale monitoring and supervision activities.

- to re-establish a network of competent seed-testing laboratories.

- to strengthen the capability of the Improved Seed Enterprise (ISE) in screening various crop varieties and to produce foundation seed of cereals and patatoes on its farm at Reshkhowr, Kabul.

- to equip the MoA Seed Unit with the capacity and the equipment for farmer training in the techniques and standards of improved seed production.

Administrative and Financial Matters

- Commission Reference: AFG/AIDCO/2002/0423/6/0

- Administrative Overhead: 13 per cent (development project).

- Year Instalment: the Commission shall make an initial disbursement of 80 per cent of the first year budget (EURO 2,001,310); a second disbursement of 20 per cent of year one plus 80 per cent of year two (EURO 2,014,126) will be made in time for the year two scheduled activities; a third payment of consisting of the balance of year two plus the advance of 80 per cent of year three will be made upon presentation of the third progress report; balance of 20 per cent of year three will be released at the operational closure of the project.

- Amendment 1: signed on 31/8/01.

- correspondence on the Commission’s side be addressed to Mr. A. Hecker, Head of Unit, AIDCO F6.

- FAO Contact point: Janos T. Lehel, Chief, TCAP.