TCP projects have played a valuable catalytic role by providing limited but sharply focused assistance in the strengthening of national institutions' capacity to carry out and sustain agricultural policies and programmes. Training has been an essential component of all such capacity-building activities, with projects providing urgently needed short-term training for staff of national institutions as well as for trainers involved in the further dissemination of necessary skills and techniques. In addition, workshops and seminars are organized at the country and, often, regional level. In many cases, however, short-term TCP interventions, such as expert consultants' diagnoses and advice on planning and management, have been sufficient to refocus the objectives of the institution involved and to attract government and external funding for implementing and sustaining the recommendations of a project.
TCP funding has been widely used by low-income food-deficit countries (LIFDCs), both for strengthening their capacity to monitor and analyse their food security and nutritional status on a continuing basis (e.g. in Zambia and Malawi) and for establishing early warning and food information systems (e.g. in Eritrea).
Efficient national agricultural research activities are essential for the generation and transfer of technology, and TCP projects have been successful in strengthening national research institutions in many countries, for example in the Central African Republic, Côte d'Ivoire and Papua New Guinea. Such initiatives have received government budgetary support and attracted additional funding from bilateral donors and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to ensure their continuation and expansion.
TCP projects have contributed to the restructuring of public institutions, particularly Ministries of Agriculture, by helping them to focus their objectives on the public service sector and to operate in line with a market economy, with greater efficiency and reduced administrative costs. At the same time, projects have defined and established a system of representation that enables farmers to participate in the formulation and implementation of agricultural policies. Proposals put forward as a result of these activities have mobilized major funding from the World Bank and other partners. The effects of the system will be a determining factor in the achievement of sustainable development and food security, as it allows farmers to participate actively in development. Related activities have been carried out in at least six central and West African countries as well as in Cambodia and Haiti.
TCP PROJECTS AND THEIR CATALYTIC EFFECTS... |
A TCP project in China played a major catalytic role in the formulation and pilot implementation of the country's first two County Agrotechnological Extension Centres (CATECs). Based on these two pilot centres, CATECs were established in 1 500 of China's 2 300 counties in the space of ten years. The two pilot CATECs were not only used as models, but became the training centres for provincial and county officials before they set up their own CATEC. A World Bank loan of US$80 million was used to expand the CATEC system, and a National Agrotechnological Extension Centre was established with about US$650 000 from UNDP.
In Tonga, a TCP project completed an environment-friendly, integrated agricultural and rural development plan for the Vava'u island groups. This assistance led to a three-year UNDP follow-up activity and to cofunding of capacity-building activities by the EC, which took responsibility for the plan's infrastructure component. The Government of Tonga is at present seeking FAO assistance to update certain components of the development plan that have attracted donor interest as investment or technical assistance activities.
In Uganda, a TCP project helped set up a National Agricultural Documentation and Information Centre (NADIC) at the Kawanda Agricultural Research Station. Establishment of the centre attracted support from other sources for the rehabilitation and development of the national agricultural documentation and information system. On completion of the project, NADIC was incorporated in the National Agricultural Research Organization, an umbrella research body for the entire agricultural sector in Uganda that was established with support from the World Bank.
TCP has responded to urgent requests from several countries for training of national staff in the development and implementation of agricultural statistics programmes, which are needed to obtain reliable and timely data for planning and evaluating the agricultural sector.
In Cambodia, in recognition of the important work initiated by the TCP project as well as the obvious need for further support, the government included a major agricultural statistics component (about US$2 million over five years) in an Agricultural Productivity Improvement Project funded by the World Bank and IFAD.
In Lebanon, a TCP project helped the government to restructure the agricultural statistics service and to develop and implement a training programme for national staff. The project activities complement a World Bank unilateral trust fund (UTF) project in support of an agricultural census. FAO will implement the preparatory phase as well as the follow-up UTF project, thus also contributing to its own normative work.
In Togo, a TCP project provided timely assistance in preparatory activities for an agricultural census by constructing a sampling frame and developing the methodology. A project document was prepared for the main census activities, which were funded over four years with approximately US$2.6 million from the EC.
Again in Togo, another TCP project contributed to the restructuring of the Ministry of Agriculture, focusing on its function as a public service. The project created a mixed institution in which the government and farmers are cosponsors of extension, support and training activities. It also elaborated a system of Chambers of Agriculture that represent farmers and allow them to participate with the government in defining and implementing policies and development programmes. These proposals are now being applied with funding from the World Bank and other partners. |
