MEDRAP II strategy in supporting aquaculture development aims at the creation of a permanent Regional Network which should be largely self-sufficient at the end of the Project. This structure, for the coordination of the sector development will help in the establishment of permanent cooperative activities between the countries in the Region (Project long-term objective). On this subject, it has been noticed that the pilot phase supported by MEDRAP II should give birth, from the beginning, to a network structure which will be the same adopted by the future autonomous Regional organization. The Project should soon start discussions with the member countries to define the functional and organizational implications and the needs for the establishment of the network.
The participants agreed that information exchange is a priority in promoting cooperative activities. The Project work plan has been designed to strongly support it, through training, research and extension, editing and diffusion of technical material, exchange of scientists and collaborative research programmes and, particularly, through the implementation of a Regional Information System. The needs of a budget revision, in accordance with the new workplan, was stressed.
Project action should be followed by a continuously increased fall of national supported activities (training courses, seminars, research programmes, etc) to obtain a rapid diffusion and a profitable use of the information received.
On the other hand, the Project will assure more and more its own competence in channelling external resources towards the participating countries, in accordance with their selected priorities and within a Regional homogeneous development of aquaculture production.
National representatives defined, during the meetings, their availability in hosting sub-regional and regional Project activities (see attached sub-regional meetings reports). These recommendations have been used as a basis for the elaboration of the 1991–92 work plan, even if, in some cases, organizational constraints imposed a different choice. Countries have been asked to confirm, after consulting their governments, their hosting the activities foreseen in the work-plan, which, in any case, may be subject to modification.
Participating countries were asked to submit, at the meetings, project proposals (attached to the meetings reports), following a specific format previously delivered by the Project. This exercise represents a first operative test at the sub-regional level for needs analysis and formulation of operative proposals of regional importance for aquaculture development. The proposals will be selected by MEDRAP and their funding will be negotiated with potential donnors. This mechanism will allow the Project to enlarge its action toward the promotion of coordinated search for and used of external technical and financial resources.
The terms of reference presented in the Project Document for UN Volunteers were examine and approved during the meetings. Nevertherless, knowledge of computer use was considered a s necessary, as well as knowledge of two regional languages. Preferences were expressed for candidates from the Region. Candidates will be selected by MEDRAP Regional Coordinator in collaboration with the Sub-regional Coordinators.
The Project Document specific point, refering to the payment of allowances to national professionals based at the national and sub-regional centres, was discussed and it was agreed that no allowances had to be paid to national professionals. The alternative proposals were :
allowances should be accorded to national and sub-regional coordinators (this proposal was judged unacceptable some Coordinators);
no allowances will be provided to national coordinators, since they are fully supported by their respective governments. Payment of allowances should, however, be recognized to sub-regional Coordinators for their special efforts in supporting Project activities at the sub-regional level.
Funds saved from this budget line (line 17) would be used for activities not yet budgeted, such as simultaneous translation, technical publications, etc…);
no allowances should be paid at all, either at national or sub-regional level, and the corresponding funds should be utilized for project activities in the Region.
The different proposals will be submitted to the Steering Committee Meeting for a final decision.
The urgency of strengthening the technical capabilities of the Project Regional centre was underlined. The presence of an aquaculture expert and , possibly, of a specialists in computerized information systems ( to support the Regional Information Systems activity), was considered necessary. It was suggested to explore eventual possibilities of having these needs satisfied by the Tunsian Government ( ref to, par 6, 1 of the Project Document).
