What instruments are available to DVS?

29. Figure 5 below lists some of the instruments available to directors of veterinary services to influence those factors on which they have a relatively "strong" leverage.

Fig. 5. Policy variables, determinant factors and available instruments

Policy Variable	Determinant Factor	Available Instruments
I. Level of funding	i. Livestock's economic importance and policy-makers' awareness	a. Information and analysis
	ii. Sector's potential for generating increased gov't revenue	b. Information and analysis
II. Staff and non-staff expenditure proportions	i. Availability of national staff	a. Training
	ii. Directly recruited expatraites	b1. On-the-job training schemes
		b2. Recruitment freeze
	iii. Decentralization	c. Reorganization
III. Cost recovery	i. Nature of service	a. Analysis
	ii. Gov't subsidy policy	b. Targetting
	iii. Fee collection feasibility	c. Setting economic fees
	iv. Financial discipline	d. Management control systems
	v. Interest groups	e. Two-way information systems
IV. Privatization	i. Nature of service	a. Analysis
	ii. Government's regulatory	b1. Initiation of legislation power
		b2. Technical specifications
		b3. Price controls
	iii. Financial profitability	c. Costing guidelines
	iv. Input subsidies	d. Targetting

30. Readers should note the frequent use of information and analysis as a possible instrument available to DVS. This matter should not be treated lightly. As mentioned at the beginning of this paper, everybody including DVS believe that the lack of data in Africa is a major constraint in policymaking. And to many, the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of data is the need to carry out surveys which are considered costly not only in terms of money but also in terms of the waiting-time involved before their results are ready for use by impatient policy-makers. And yet there may be data floating around which may need a few hours per week of junior staff time but which could help policymaking to take the appropriate direction. There are also other means of collecting and analysing data which may not require expensive surveys from the very start. The World Bank (1983) makes a case out of the use of relatively inexpensive administrative records to assist flexible policy-making.

31. It is also important that one determine the purpose for which data are to be used before starting their collection. In the case of financing livestock services, one may tend to underrate what DVS can do to influence the factors identified by way of providing administratively recorded information and making simple analysis for high-level policy makers. For example, in my extensive discussions with several directors of veterinary/livestock services in East and southern Africa, I found out that few if any DVS were aware of or made little effort to know what the contribution of the livestock sector to government revenue looks like - a point of considerable significance to the central treasury in considering a stronger case for allocations to livestock services. I am sure that this information can be compiled from existing government documents readily accessible to the service's staff.

32. Staff at field offices can be requested to provide some feedback on how beneficiaries in their mandate area view the effectivenesss of the service and on producers' attitudes to cost sharing. Staff from headquarters can make spot-checks on how service recipients assess the behaviour of field staff during the former's field visits, however infrequent such visits may be. DVS can provide some qualitative judgements on the likely effect on the disease situation of the prevailing pattern of recurrent financing. Many African veterinary departments provide information to the OIE and IBAR on the animal disease situation in their respective countries on a more or less regular basis. I am not aware if some additional effort is made to alert national policy-makers of the possible causes related to the financing pattern for the occurrence or recurrence of a particularly bad situation. The exercise should not be restricted to extracting funds to contain a crisis already created.

33. DVS can also provide occasional information on what other countries are doing in a particular area of policy and, considering the differing situation among countries, give their views on what is possible to do on their own. Meetings⁶ and other for a such as ILCA's ALPAN are definitely useful for exchanging ideas; the solidarity of the veterinary profession can be used to serve the additional purpose of developing mechanisms for exchanging such inter-country experiences.

6 Such as the one on "Primary Animal Health Care in Africa" recently held in Blantyre, Malawi for English-speaking countries and the earlier one held in Bujumbura, Burundi (October 1984) for French-speaking countries.

34. I realize that most DVS reading this bit will find me guilty of oversimplification. Data collection surveys of a more complicated nature are necessary in several instances, but we cannot continue to make lack of information an absolute excuse for helplessness while seeing services deteriorate. I would certainly like to share my worries with you in this respect.

35. One does not, of course, collect data and not use them for some purpose. That is where analysis is important as an instrument of policy-making. Some of such analysis requires some economic, statistical or financial skill. The policy formulation unit suggested by de Haan and Nissen (1985) as part of their reform proposal is extremely relevant to the issue. I would only wish to add that the unit's functions also cover analysis in defining the nature of a particular service, in setting economic fees (service pricing) and in providing insights into subsidy policies.

36. I have dwelt long on the information and analysis bit because I think it represents a grey area, at least as far as it being an instrument for DVS in influencing policy on financing livestock services. I believe that the others appear sufficiently straightforward, at least in the context of my presentation; but I urge ALPAN members to give their views on these other issues.