V. The FAO Technical Cooperation Programme to Support ECO for Preparing Regional Programme for Food Security -TCP/INT/2902

5.1 Introduction

As a follow up to the World Food Summit, and particularly the Declaration on World Food Security and the Plan of Action, FAO provided assistance to several countries, including member countries of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), in the preparation of the national Special Program for Food Security (SPFS). The SPFS is already operational or is under formulation in some ECO countries. The national food security strategies, elaborated as a follow up to the World Food Summit, emphasised the need to improve land fertility, increase irrigation efficiency, raise crop and livestock productivity, streamline market and price policies for agricultural inputs and outputs, strengthen research and extension and rationalise the credit system in support of market-oriented agriculture. In order to make agriculture more efficient and to provide a better environment for regional food security, policy and institutional reforms are essential.

ECO is convinced of the relevance, appropriateness and long term value of the Regional Program for Food Security (RPFS) initiated by FAO. The Secretariat has made efforts to initiate its formulation through ensuring the member states' interest (which was clearly obtained during the First Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture), and securing the interests of donor and funding agencies. The Secretariat approached Donor Agencies such as the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) for their support to implement the RPFS for ECO Region. They expressed initial interest and requested the preparation of special proposals that would provide the basis for establishing agreements in providing their support.

Accordingly, ECO requested FAO for its technical support. FAO promptly and appropriately responded through the formulation of the ECO TCP/INT/2902: Support to ECO for the Preparation of a Regional Program for Food Security

5.2 Project objectives

The overall objective of the project is to assist the ECO Secretariat and member countries in the formulation of a regional program for food security (RPFS), including regional, sub-regional and national components, as well as in strengthening the capacities at the ECO Secretariat and in member states to ensure a successful and sustainable implementation and monitoring of the RPFS.

Immediate project objectives are:

1. To strengthen the capacities of the ECO Secretariat and ECO Member States' focal points in situation analysis, formulation, appraisal, monitoring and evaluation of programs and projects, particularly activities related to the formulation of the RFPS and its sub-programs and projects;
2. To assist the ECO Secretariat, with the full involvement of national focal points, in updating and finalizing the Regional Strategy for Agricultural Development and Food Security in the ECO member countries and the Sub-Regional Strategy for Central Asian Countries (including Azerbaijan), based on the draft documents prepared and presented at the special Side Event during the WFS-fyl in June 2002.
3. To assist the ECO Secretariat and member countries in the formulation of the RPFS, including preparation of bankable development projects at country, sub-regional and regional levels ready for submission for donor funding.

5.3 Main activities of project

1. On-the-job training of the staff of ECO Secretariat and focal points in Member States, to be responsible for the RPFS, with a view to upgrade their skills and capacities in the basic requirements in the formulation of the RPFS. More particularly, this training will be provided in situation analysis, program/project identification, formulation, appraisal, monitoring and evaluation. This will enable the ECO and national partners to participate fully in the process of preparing the envisaged RPFS and bankable projects to be presented to donors for funding. In this respect the following training workshops would be held:
• A one-week regional capacity building workshop on policy analysis issues and tools pertaining to food security, with case studies from Central Asian countries and country reports from all member countries. Trainees comprise the 10 country focal points and 3 technicians from ECO Secretariat.
• A one-week regional capacity building workshop on project analysis (project identification, formulation, appraisal, monitoring, and evaluation) for the same persons attending the policy analysis workshop.
• Two one-week sub-regional mini workshops, one for each sub-region. Trainees comprise the national consultants. The training will focus on upgrading their skills for the preparation of the RPFS.
2. Carry out working sessions with the ECO Secretariat, in close consultation with the national focal points, to formulate the various activities and projects of the RPFS.
3. Fielding joint missions to identify and prepare selected priority bankable projects and undertakings for donor funding and support.
4. Carry out assessment of ECO Secretariat and of focal points in member countries for capacity building in situation analysis and program/project formulation, appraisal, monitoring and evaluation. Based on the results of this assessment, a program for capacity building to address the identified needs would be prepared.
5. Organize technical workshops, in consultation with donors, to promote discussion on the RPFS, challenges facing ECO member states to implement these programs and to discuss the result of the TCP project, particularly the document on the RPFS components/project profiles.
6. Review, up-date and finalize the draft Regional Strategy for Agricultural Development and Food Security in the ECO Region (prepared earlier jointly by the ECO Secretariat and FAO and discussed during the Side-Event "Regional Food Security at Work" during the WFS:fyl).
7. Review, up-date and finalize the Regional Strategy for Agricultural Development and Food Security in the Central Asian Sub-Region including Azerbaijan (prepared earlier jointly by the ECO Secretariat and FAO and discussed during the Side-Event "Regional Food Security at Work" during the WFS: fyl).
8. Prepare a Regional Program for Food Security (RPFS) with special reference to the activities that are to be carried out at regional level and prioritize the areas of action, (sections/categories and actions under each), taking into consideration those that are time specific. The program would include bankable projects directed at promotion of agricultural trade and production within the Region/Sub-region, and between the Region and the rest of the world.

5.4. Project outputs

Major Outputs expected under the project are:

1. Strengthened capacity in the ECO Secretariat and focal points in member countries, in situation analysis, formulation, appraisal, monitoring and evaluation of program and projects.
2. A finalized and updated Regional Strategy for Agricultural Development and Food Security for the ECO Member Countries, and A Sub-Regional Strategy for Central Asian Countries (including Azerbaijan).
3. A Regional Program for Food Security (RPFS) for the ECO region, including a set of priority bankable projects (at country, sub-regional and regional levels) ready for submission for donor funding.

5.5 Progress of the work

The Project was inaugurated in May 2002. However, three countries have not yet identified the focal points for the project implementation. Since those focal points constitute the personnel within member countries whose capacity would be upgraded through the Project's workshops, carrying out the first workshop was delayed to the second half of October. Moreover, national consultants recommended by their countries and approved by FAO from 7 countries out of the 10 member countries. Therefore, the start of the two mini-workshops to help them carry out their functions in updating the Regional and Sub-regional Strategies for Agricultural Development and Food Security were rescheduled to start during the second half of October. The Project Plan of work has been recently adjusted in cooperation with the FAO and the Project's team leader. The plan is presented below. Activities in black prints have been completed and/or started.

Revised Plan of Work

Revised Plan of Work (continued)