Considering the results achieved in 1990, the Advisory Committee estimated that the project activities undertaken and the outputs obtained during the period under review were overall very satisfactory. However, it was deplored that some work was postponed by political instability in some countries.
More specifically and concerning regional collaboration, the delivery of output was considered satisfactory but the Committee stressed that work on institutional arrangements for regional collaboration should be pursued only where there is a specific need.
Concerning development planning, the Committee expressed its satisfaction with the delivery of all outputs with the exception of output 3.1 concerning the establishment of effective statistical and information systems and output 3.4 concerning the preparation of 3 management plans for the common stocks of shared water bodies. For both products, the Committee felt that additional expertise was required in the area of biology and statistics.
With respect to training, achievements were considered satisfactory except for product 4.1: training at the national level. A major effort would have to be undertaken in 1991–92 to achieve the planned outputs.
The Advisory Committee stressed the importance of establishing an effective national data base as a condition for achieving a valid regional data base. Whenever possible, assistance should be given to countries to improve their own databases.
The work plan for 1991 and the beginning of 1992 was reviewed by the Committee. A number of requests for additions and amendments was considered.
Among others, the Committee recommended that Lakes Cohoha and Rweru be selected as the third case study in connection with the elaboration of model fisheries management plan (output 3.4). The Committee also recommended that two workshops on the management of Lakes Kariba and Victoria be added to the programme of work for 1991. Finally, proposals were made for the conduct of studies on Lake Chilwa and Lake Mweru-wa-Ntipa, as well as on input supplies and marketing.
The Committee welcomed the proposal for the output 4.3.3, Symposium on Limnothrissa and related pelagic species (such as Stolothrissa) in Lakes Kariba, Cahora Bassa, Tanganyika and Kivu.
The Committee recommended that the Chairperson of the Second Advisory Committee Meeting, as a representative of all countries, should accompany the evaluation mission throughout its field work.
Recognizing that the budget for 1992 will not allow the project to operate at full capacity, the following budget modifications were recommended: (1) extension of UNV and the economist through December, 1992 (2) increase of the duty travel component to the 1991 level (3) increase of the training component in 1991 and 1992 by 20,000 and 30,000 dollars, respectively (4) increase of the operation and maintenance component to the 1991 level.
In proposing the above increase in the project budget, the Committee gave due consideration to the financial constraints of the UNDP Regional Programme. Therefore, the recommended increase only reflects immediate minimum requirements.
The Committee, during its first meeting, recommended that an additional 18 m/m be allocated to the project for the establishment of a post of bio-statistician. Taking into account that the donor was unable to satisfy this request the Advisory Committee considered co-financing as a solution to this urgent need.
Towards this end, the Committee has discussed, amended and endorsed a project proposal, and instructed the Secretariat to further elaborate it and to submit the project document to potential donors through appropriate channels.
Considering that planning, and particularly training needs, can not be fully realized in the present phase of the project, the Committee strongly recommended that a second phase of the project would be necessary to come closer to the development objective of the project.
The Committee believes that for the second phase of the project, more emphasis should be put on:
Considering these requirements the Advisory Committee recommended an extension of 4 years and a higher level of financing, especially for training activities.
The Advisory Committee recommended that the next meeting be held in Kenya around March-April 1992.
The Advisory Committee adopted the report on 26 April 1991 and recommended that the report be transmitted at the forthcoming tripartite review meeting of the project planned for 29 April 1991.
