NORMATIVE FRAMEWORK

TCP PROJECT FORMAT

"Formulation of National Irrigation Policy and Strategy"

I. PROJECT SUMMARY

This is a concise statement summarizing the problems for which assistance is requested, the project's objectives, its main activities and results that are expected by the end of the project.

Data Needs:

• Main features of the project, including its justification, objectives, outputs as well as FAO inputs and Government contribution to the project budget.

Data Sources:

• Individual sections of project document

II. BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION

Identify the problem for which assistance is requested and provide evidence that TCP criteria - which govern eligibility for TCP funding - are met. Text should cover the following issues:

- role of agriculture in the economy
- rainfall regime, frequency of droughts
- main features of the irrigation subsector
- potential for expanding irrigated agriculture
- major constraints to be overcome
- policy issues that need to be addressed e.g. pricing of water, cost recovery on capital investment, criteria for water allocation among competing users, management options for smallholder irrigation, environmental impact and land tenure.
- state why the assistance is particularly urgent and cannot be met from other sources;
- state why the TCP assistance is needed and how it fits into Government development plans and strategy.

There should be a clear element of capacity building. One paragraph should state how the Government and the Ministry of Agriculture/Department of Irrigation intend to build upon the technical assistance provided. That should include the long-term and sustainable advantage that is expected to result from the TCP assistance. The Government contribution to realizing this advantage should be described.

Data Needs:

• Contribution of agriculture to GDP
  
• Share of agricultural labour force in total labour force
  
• Annual precipitation and its distribution
  
• Frequency of droughts
  
• Contribution of irrigation agriculture to total agricultural production
  
• Surface and groundwater resources that offer scope for irrigation development.

Data Sources:

• Ministry of Agriculture/Department of Irrigation (central and provincial levels)
  
• Ministry of Planning/Finance
  
• Farmers groups

III. OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSISTANCE

"This section will state briefly but in specific terms, the particular objective(s) which the project is expected to achieve. The project objective is defined as a specific aim to be achieved and formulated as the expected future improved situation after the successful completion of the project. The statement should be drafted wherever possible in terms permitting subsequent verification of project accomplishments." (TCP Guidelines)

State in what way the project will assist Government in addressing the major policy issues that face the irrigation subsector.

Data Needs:

• Major challenges to improve irrigated agriculture on a sustainable basis.

Data Sources:

• Ministry of Agriculture/Department of Irrigation

IV. PROJECT OUTPUTS (RESULTS)

"Outputs (results) to be defined in this section, are the specific products of activities undertaken, the combined use of which by project beneficiaries will achieve the objective of the project, provided assumptions about external factors are correct. They should be defined in terms that permit their verification in quantity, quality and time, and should be consistent with the project objective and design, and provide the basis for the elaboration of a clear, detailed work plan." (TCP Guidelines)

List the specific output expected from the project, i.e. a document of national irrigation policy and strategy establishing the objectives for the development of the subsector, identifying policy action to remove constraints and setting the measures to operationalize the policy through a strategy.

Data Needs:

• Government objectives for the agricultural sector.
  
• National inventory of water resources.
  
• Performance indicators of existing irrigation schemes.
  
• Eventual gaps in the legal framework for water use.
  
• Weaknesses in supporting institutions.
  
• Gaps in irrigation research.
  
• Current state of irrigation infrastructure.
  
• Role of public sector in irrigation schemes.
  
• Geographical distribution of existing irrigation schemes.

Data Sources:

• Ministry of Agriculture/Department of Irrigation
  
• Team Leader

V. WORK PLAN

A timetable, sufficiently specific to serve: (i) as a practical guide for the project staff on what activity should be carried out at what time; and (ii) as an instrument for monitoring project implementation and achievement for both the Government and FAO.

Data Needs:

• Establish a logical sequence of the major project activities and input needs.
  
• Indication of responsibilities for individual project activities.
  
• Indication of institutional responsibilities for project implementation

Data Sources:

• Ministry of Agriculture/Department of Irrigation
  
• Ministry of Planning

VI. CAPACITY BUILDING

A paragraph describing how the TCP assistance is expected to contribute to strengthen the national capacity in formulating national irrigation policy and in designing a strategy for implementation. It should include details of how the project experts will contribute to building capacity in the national institution/country.

Data Needs:

• Number of national staff that would benefit from capacity building under the project.
  
• Number of stakeholders that would be involved in the policy formulation process

Data Sources:

• Ministry of Agriculture/Department of Irrigation

VII. INPUTS TO BE PROVIDED BY FAO

See TCP Guidelines, Annex 1, pages iii to vi.

A concise description of each input under the respective numbered line items below. Sufficient detail on each budget line should be provided. The sum of related amounts of each sub-category under each line item should add up to the total for the line item. Supplies and Materials and Equipment line items can be detailed, item by item, in an annex. The number to be procured and estimated costs of each item need to be shown. A "miscellaneous" item is not accepted but "miscellaneous laboratory glassware" is acceptable.

1. Personnel services
Technical services of international and/or national experts/consultants
- International consultants/experts
- FAO Advisory Technical Services (ATS)
- National experts and consultants
- International expertise under Partnership Programmes (i.e. TCDC/TCCT or Retired experts and consultants)
- Administrative support
- Supervisory Technical Services (STS)

Priority and preference should be given to the employment of competent experts under the TCDC/TCCT programmes in countries that have signed these agreements. There are specific limits to the use of international expertise at UN rates. Project drafters are advised to consult with the TCP Unit before preparing the staffing inputs and budgets.

2. Official travel
3. Contracts, Letters of Agreements or Contractual Service Agreements
4. General operating expenses (GOE)
5. Materials, supplies and equipment:
Materials and supplies
Equipment
6. Direct operating cost (DOC)
7. Training:
- Study tours
- In-country workshops
- Fellowships and academic training
- Young Professionals for on-the-job training

Data Needs:

Number, type and cost of each input (numbers of staff participating, of items, internal trips, cost per day, DSA rate, monthly consultant rate etc).

Data Sources:

• Ministry of Agriculture/Department of Irrigation
  
• FAO
  
• UNDP
  
• Local suppliers

VIII. REPORTING

See TCP Guidelines.

Periodic and Mission reports are required for operational monitoring of projects so that technical and operating divisions of FAO can monitor the delivery and utilization of inputs. These reports give a TCP project the required flexibility to meet changing needs and are used to make decisions about project extensions and budget revisions. Technical reports add to the body of technical knowledge in support of an irrigation policy.

It is essential that the document specify who is to prepare these reports and at what intervals. This is particularly true for the Terminal Statement. If the writer of this document is not specified, the technical officer assumes this responsibility.

Data Needs:

• Operation-related data/information on specific technical issues of irrigation.
  
• Findings and facts relevant to specific policy issues of the irrigation subsector.
  
• Progress in establishing implementation procedures for subsector strategy.

Data Sources:

• Project records
  
• Project staff
  
• Records from Water User Associations at provincial and local level
  
• Participatory rural appraisal exercises
  
• Ministry of Agriculture/Department of Irrigation

IX. GOVERNMENT CONTRIBUTION AND SUPPORTING ARRANGEMENTS

This paragraph needs to clearly set out: (i) the resources to be contributed by Government; (ii) designation of Government responsibility for arranging for duty-free customs clearance, full access to laboratories and their test results, and access to the field - which may be under provincial or district authority. All need to be included in this section as they might apply.

See in particular TCP Guidelines, Annex I, page vii and the following excerpts:
Request must be accorded high priority by the Government, which must also ensure that the required local support facilities and services will be available and that follow-up action will be taken...

Requests must provide assurance of the fullest possible participation of the Government in project execution, through such means as the use of national institutions, personnel and resources. (Annex IVa, page i).

Each project should be supervised by a National Project Coordinator nominated and paid by the Government. National Project Professional Personnel or consultants recruited by FAO are fully accountable to the Organization and cannot be on the Government payroll at the time of their assignment. (page 10, par 46) They may not be recruited from the counterpart institution/cooperating agency. (Annex 1, page iv).

Data Needs

• Government contribution in terms of cash, personnel time, facilities, vehicles, laboratories, building and office space (for workshops and other), secretarial and translation/interpretation expertise.

Data Sources:

• Ministry of Agriculture/Department of Irrigation
  
• Ministry of Finance

X. PROJECT BUDGET

The project budget covering the FAO contribution is prepared by FAO, based on elements received from the requesting country. See TCP Guidelines for explanatory details.

Data Needs:

• Numerical details on FAO contribution in US$ by budget line.

Data Sources:

• Team Leader, plus national and international project staff
  
• FAO
  
• UNDP
  
• Equipment suppliers
  
• Travel agents

XI. ATTACHMENTS TO PROJECT AGREEMENT

1. Description of Advisory Technical Services and Supervisory Technical Services
2. Description of services to be provided under contracts
3. Terms of reference including description of required qualifications for each international and national consultant/expert and where appropriate for the National Project Coordinator.

Data Needs:

• Quantitative estimates and descriptions/specifications as relevant to the above attachment.
  
• Terms of Reference (TOR) for each national and international project staff member including FAO technical staff members contributing to the project. TORs for short-term staff inputs (weeks to several months) need to describe precise, time bound activities and outputs expected. Longer-term staff inputs should be more generally phrased to allow some flexibility and cover unforeseen occurrences.

Data Sources:

• Team Leader, plus national and international project staff
  
• Ministry of Agriculture/Department of Irrigation