CHAPTER 4: TECHNICAL COOPERATION PROGRAMME

(All amounts in US$ 000)

714. The Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) responds to urgent or unforeseen requests for technical assistance from Member Nations, in close association with other components of the Regular Programme. It will keep to its main characteristics: ability to respond to urgent requests; speed in approval; limited project duration; low costs; practical orientation; catalytic role; and complementarity to national efforts and other sources of assistance.

Updated Statistical Information

715. Since the creation of TCP in 1976 until the end of 1998, 6,459 projects were approved, for a total amount of US$ 718 million, i.e. an average allocation of US$ 111 000 per project. During each biennium, approximately 900 requests are received and about 500 projects approved. It is worth stressing that the lower approval in all regions during 1998, as evidenced in the following table, is only a temporary phenomenon.

716. It may also be noted that while the distribution among the five FAO regions tends to remain within the same order of magnitude, temporary shifts may be possible from biennium to biennium, as well as variations in yearly TCP allocations by country.

717. The distribution of TCP allocations among categories also varies from biennium to biennium depending on the nature of requests received. Advisory services account for the largest share of TCP assistance. During 1998, the requirements for emergency assistance increased. The increased share of the support to development category reflects the use of TCP resources to cover the water control component of the Special Programme for Food Security, in response to specific requests from governments.

718. The distribution of TCP approvals by major sectors of activity, in the last seven-year period up to 1998, has evolved as shown below:

Type of Assistance and Criteria

719. TCP provides technical inputs, in the form of national or international consultants (for a maximum of 12 months), technical services by FAO staff to support short-term and practically-oriented activities, equipment and supplies as well as training deemed essential for project activities. TCP projects may also include sub-contracts to institutions for technical services, and cover general and direct operating expenses, and reporting and evaluation costs. In the choice of expertise, preference is given to the use of TCDC/TCCT experts as well as nationals keeping to established quality standards.

720. TCP criteria remain those laid down by the FAO Governing Bodies, which require that requests for this type of assistance:

• give emphasis to increasing production in food and agriculture, fisheries or forestry, with a view to increasing incomes of small-scale producers and rural workers;
• be accorded high priority by the government, which must also give assurances that the required local support facilities and services will be available and that follow-up action will be taken;
• be directed to an urgent and specific problem or need, limited to a particular sector or area, and involve practical action with well-defined objectives and expected results;
• complement, without duplicating, other development activities, fill a critical gap and, where possible, serve as a catalyst for a larger-scale activity;
• be limited in duration, preferably from one to three months; in no case should the overall duration of project activities exceed 24 months;
• be limited in cost, not exceeding the upward limit of US$ 400 000 per project and preferably much lower, and involve the most effective and least costly method of execution; and
• provide assurance of the fullest possible participation of governments in project execution, through such means as the use of national institutions, personnel and resources.

Management of the Programme

721. The Technical Cooperation Programme is managed and coordinated by the TCP Unit, which reports to the Assistant Director-General of the Technical Cooperation Department. The TCP Unit ensures adherence of approved projects to the TCP criteria, and coordinates the appraisal of requests as well as the Organization's response to incoming requests for TCP assistance. The decentralized structure, as well as the technical units at Headquarters, fully participate in the appraisal process. TCP projects are operated by the decentralized operating units in the Regional Offices and by Headquarters for emergencies (TCOR) and projects in the European region. The Technical Department Groups and the multidisciplinary teams in the Regional and Sub-regional Offices provide technical support, in consultation with the respective Headquarters divisions. During implementation, the TCP Unit reviews and monitors, in close cooperation with the field offices and Headquarters, the performance of the programme as a whole and of specific projects.

722. Depending on the flow of requests, TCP assistance is approved throughout the biennium during which the related appropriation has been approved by the FAO Conference. According to the budgetary requirements for individual projects, corresponding resources are set aside or "earmarked" against the appropriation for the biennium, until the funds available are exhausted. Requests for assistance consistently exceed the capacity of the biennial appropriation to meet them. While individual projects can have a maximum life span of 24 months, they must be implemented and completed before the end of the subsequent biennium.

723. Commitments against the biennial appropriation can be made until the end of the second year of the biennium following that in which a project is approved; commitments made at such a late stage must be settled within the subsequent year, as laid down in the FAO Financial Regulations. Financial information on the implementation of TCP projects, by country, is regularly provided in the Organization's biennial accounts submitted to the Finance Committee, Council and Conference.

724. With the assistance of the decentralized structures, and in particular the FAO Representatives, the Technical Cooperation Department maintains close contacts with governments, so that the requests submitted are prioritized and do not exceed the programme's financial possibilities. The TCP Unit also coordinates the implementation of Conference Resolution 2/93 (Edouard Saouma Award).

725. The performance and impact of TCP projects is monitored and evaluated through: a) comments requested from both the recipient government and the FAO Representative, during project implementation and after submission of the final report; b) the FAO Representative's six-monthly report, which assesses the results and indicates ongoing or expected follow-up to TCP projects; c) ad hoc surveys in order to consolidate information on follow-up action; and d) evaluation missions. Follow-up action and catalytic effects of TCP projects are monitored, and the performance of TCP projects is assessed through theme-oriented evaluation of clusters of projects. So far two evaluations have been conducted, one on TCP support to food control activities and another one on apiculture and sericulture projects.

Use of the Appropriation

726. The 1996-97 appropriation was almost fully earmarked for projects approved during that biennium. Of the 897 official requests received in 1996-97, 423 had been approved as TCP projects, 384 were still pending for necessary clarification and appraisal at the end of 1997, and 90 could not be accommodated, as they were not eligible for support under the TCP. Since expenditures continue into the subsequent biennium for projects which are still operational, it may be noted that at the end of 1997, only US$ 4.5 million were available for obligations against approved projects. This entire amount will be expended by the end of 1999.

727. Out of the total amount of US$ 87.3 million for the TCP appropriation in 1998-99, 186 projects for an amount of US$ 35.3 million had been approved by the end of 1998, so that US$ 52 million remained available for project approvals during 1999.

Proposals for 2000-01

728. As in the case of the SPFS, attention is drawn to the fact that under the arrangement for handling income and internal transfers, part of the resources under Major Programme 4.1 is subject to transfer, as reimbursement of administrative and operational services (AOS) and technical support services (TSS) provided by TCO and technical units respectively.

729. Under Major Programme 4.2, it is necessary to strengthen the TCP unit to enable it to handle requests in an expeditious manner and ensure close monitoring of activities under the programme.