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Challenges ahead for FAO post tsunami recovery work and funding needed
The FAO's coordinating role as the lead UN agency in the rehabilitation of the agriculture, fisheries and forestry sectors, must be advocated in the tsunami affected countries, in the UN system and among donors to make sure that livelihoods and sustainable management of coastal natural resources remain a top priority and is allocated significant funding. FAO's mandate in post tsunami work is built on field presence and on practical experience, and its comparative technical advantage must continue to be communicated in a holistic and integrated manner, thus ensuring the food security and livelihoods of the vulnerable farmers and fishers whose interests the Organization serves.
Funding for FAO's current projects has come through the UN Flash Appeal, which ended in June 2006. After 18 months of operations, FAO has accumulated a wealth of experience and has developed strong country teams depending on both international and national experts. There is an urgent need to retain the FAO expertise on the ground to ensure continuity and to secure a smooth transition from emergency to recovery and longer term development work for FAO as a whole. In Indonesia, Sri Lanka and the Maldives, the Emergency and Rehabilitation Coordination Units set up specifically for the tsunami, will continue to support the emergency and recovery programmes and assist, in cooperation with the FAO Regional Office for Asia and The Pacific (RAP) and technical departments, the linking-up of emergency and recovery with longer-term development work.
With the help of FAO experts currently working in the field and in the region, the challenge is to secure a significant portfolio of recovery and longer term development programmes and projects in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand and the Maldives. This should ensure a sound transition from the emergency phase and should contribute to the sustainable management of fisheries and other natural resources. Communities must be helped to ensure their self recovery, better resilience and productivity for generations to come.
The outstanding funding needs in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Thailand and Somalia are summarized below:
Indonesia
The overall recovery process has been much slower than expected and will continue over the next 3 years. Incomes of farmers and fishers are still well below the pre-tsunami levels and additional support is needed. The strategy for the Multi Donor Fund (MDF) set up by the World Bank together with other International Financial Institutions and bilateral donors for the reconstruction work in Aceh Province and Nias and administered by the Bureau for Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (BRR) focuses primarily on infrastructures and gives little priority to agriculture and fisheries based livelihood rehabilitation. FAO will continue to put emphasis on the rehabilitation needs of agriculture, fisheries and forestry based livelihood over the longer term. FAO estimates that an additional US$20 million would be needed over the next 3 years.
Sri Lanka
Although there has been good progress in recovery, the recurrence of violence in the north and east is hampering tsunami recovery work. Decurity is becoimg an increasing concern for all actors. Taking into account these difficulties, FAO estimates that another US$10-US$15 million would be needed to support a sound transition from emergency to development work over the next 3 years, especially to adress the sustainable management of fisheries and other natural resources. Efforts should ensure adequate coverage of vulnerable pockets of the population in both tsunami affected areas and conflict affected areas.
The Maldives
There is a need to reinforce linkages between emergency activities and the long term recovery and development of fisheries, agriculture, and forestry programmes. For FAO to be able to continue its coordination support and technical role in a conmprehansive livelihood approach, an additional US$ 2 million would be required over the course of the next 2 -3 years.
Thailand
Livelihood recovery remains a critical issue and longer term management of coastal natural resources is a priority together with the promotion of local capacity. Additional long term funding is needed, and would be around US$2 million over the next 3 years.
Somalia
In the specific political context and unstable security situation, additional support is needed for fisheries, to promote livelihood recovery through assistance to community-based fishing activities, improved management of marine resources, capacity building, development of marketing strategies, improved handling and processing techniques and decreased post-harvest losses. At least US$3 million would be needed over the next 3 years.
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