Policy Assistance

RAFP is the Policy Assistance Unit of the FAO Regional Office for Africa.

FAO/17123/M. Marzot

Regional Role
Work Programme of the Plocy Assitance Branch

Role and Responsibilities of the Policy Assistance Branch

Under the overall administrative and managerial supervision of the Regional Representative and under the direct technical supervision and guidance of the Office of the Director, Policy Assistance Division (TCA), the Branch is responsible, at regional level, for providing policy assistance to FAO Members, enhancing country focus in the organization with officers of the Technical Department Groups in the Regional Office and with FAO Representatives.

To provide policy assistance to FAO Members, RAAFP:

• Assists Member countries, regional and sub-regional economic groupings in the Region in reviewwing sector policy options, formulating policies and strengthening national capacities to perform policy analysis, design and implementation. Provides technical guidance and backstopping to agricultural policy analysis and planning projects
• Conducts sector work and assist in developing country or region-specific agricultural and rural development strategies as required.
• Works closely with the Agricultural Policy Support Service (TCAS) in carrying out policy interface activities with Technical Departments and in implementing capacity building in agricultural policy development.

To enhance country focus in the Organization, RAFP:

• Manages the Country Information System and provides inputs for the country briefs prepared for the Director-General.
• Supports FAO Representatives in providing FAO's contribution to national strategies on food security and sustainbale agricultural and rural development, and to UN and International Finacial Institutions (IFIs) country processes, such as Common Country Assessment, United Nations Development Assistance Framework, Comprehensive Development Framework and in the preparation of Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers.
• Prepares FAO participation in roundtables and other consultative group meetings and ensures follow-up on their outcome.

To lead field programme development at regional level, RAFP:

• Works closely with the Policy Coordination Service (TCAR) and other TCA services in reviewing FAO Members' requests for policy and technical assistance in collaboration with the Technical Department Groups to verify their coherence with country programme priorities.
• Contributes to and co-ordinates the identification of project ideas, advises on their relevance and prepares project profiles in close cooperation with Tehcnical Department Groups in the regional office.
• Organises and leads multidisciplinary missions at the request of Member countries to formulate field programme and projects in the areas of mandate of the Organization.
• Ensures countries's developments plans and priorities as properly reflected in FAO's field programme development Committee at the Regional Office.
• Closely interacts with the Field programme Development Service (TCAP) regarding the mobilisation of ectra-budgetary support for projects and programmes at country and regional/sub-regional level.

Work Programme of teh Policy Assitance Branch

Sector Policy Assitance and Advise

To assist Member States in making strategic choices to develop susstainable market-oriented agriculture and formulating policies and programmes in areas of FAO mandate, aiming at eradicating poverty and inequality, generating employment and improving access to food.

Outputs: Strengthened national capacities in policy analysis, coherence in direct services delivered by the Organization at member country level.

• Policy advice to member countries
• Organization of policy workshops/seminars

Field Programme Development

Desinged to guide and co-ordinate the preparation of programming framework documents for member countries and the development of field programmes on behalf of donors, while ensuring that proposed activities have a maximum impact on core issues of agricultural development and food security within a coherent country focus through a programme approach.

Outputs: Projects and programme ideas and documents

• Fielding of and participation in programming missions
• Formulation of programmes/projects
• Review and assess requests for technical assistance

Enhancement of country focus

To provide improved FAO support at the national level through strengthned databases on country situations.

Outputs: Country briefs and databases, information to countries on FAO capacities and programmes, issue papers (including projects ideas/briefs)

• Preparation of country briefs, issue papers and analytical database
• Enhancing country knowledge of FAO technical assistance

Support and training in agricultural policies

In collaboration with TCAR, to assist in identifying priorities and formulation improved policies and programmes in member countries as a result of efficient and effective advice.

Outputs: Sector/Sub-sector review and strategy papers, analyses of national policy issues, workshops and training.

• Preparation of sector/sub-sector strategies
• Direct support and training in Specific policy issues

Technical support and backstopping to field activities

Through provision of adequate FAO technical support, to ensure an effective FAO Field Programmes, including SPFS and emergencies and rehabilitation programmes.

Outputs: Analytical reports on constraints for achieving sustainable food security.

• Backstopping to field projects
• Technical support and partcipation to FAO field programmes (SPFS, follow-up to the WFS...)

Contacts

Mamadou Bamba
Chief (Policy Assistance Branch)
FAO Regional Office for Africa
Gamel Abdul Nasser Road
PO Box GP 1628
Accra, Ghana
Phone: +233 21 7010930/675000 Ext. 313142
Fax: +233 21 701 09 43
email: Madhy.Bamba@fao.org

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