NORMATIVE FRAMEWORK

TCP PROJECT FORMAT

"(Identified) Animal Disease Emergency"

I. PROJECT SUMMARY

This is a concise statement of the results stemming from the problem statement (below) that are expected by the end of the project.

Data Needs:

Main features of the project with emphasis on expected outcomes.

Data Sources:

Individual sections of project report

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:

- state the precise disease in question;
- speculate on its origin and direction of movement in the near term, noting any specific and unusual risk factors (weather, animal movement, winds, etc.) which are associated with the disease epidemic. Describe the local assessment of the implications for cross-border/international spread;
- state the problem resulting from the disease being present in the country (just to state that animals are sick or dying is not sufficient);
- describe the primary target farming system or affected groups, with special reference to low-income groups or gender impact;
- clearly document that the disease is an epidemic and is associated with unusual risk factors beyond the control of the Government. Describe actions that the Government has initiated to contain the outbreak or limit the spread. State why the assistance is particularly urgent and cannot be met from other sources;
- specify when farmers/community suspected the disease and reported to the local veterinary office and to the national headquarters of the veterinary service, as well as to neighbouring countries, the International Office of Epizootics (OIE), regional organization and FAO; and
- state why the TCP (emergency) assistance is needed and how it fits into Government development plans and strategy.

There should be a clear element of capacity building in order for the Government to react to or prevent future animal disease emergencies. One paragraph should state how the Government and the Ministry of Agriculture/Department of Animal Health 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:

How and when and where was the diagnosis made.
Date of major clinical signs of the disease as reported from the field.
Geographical extent of the disease.
Number of animals (or humans) at risk of infection.
Estimated affect on milk and meat production.
Estimated affect on traction animals.
Estimated affect on trade in livestock with loss of foreign exchange earnings.
Estimated numbers of animals stricken by the specific disease.
Estimates of financial losses at national and farming system level.

Data Sources:

Ministry of Agriculture/Department of Animal Health/National Veterinary Authorities (central and provincial levels)
Ministry of Planning/Finance
Ministry of Commerce/Foreign Trade
Farmers' groups

III. OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSISTANCE

"This section will state briefly but in specific terms, the particular objectives(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)

A concise statement of animal disease status (with reference to the particular disease in question) is to be reached by the end of the project. This status would normally include halted disease spread or its elimination, or control to normal levels of the specific disease. Training and equipment inputs should result in: (i) improved capacity to diagnose the disease, both in the field and the laboratory; (ii) more effective surveillance of the disease by field staff; and (iii) quicker response to future epidemics (e.g. vaccine production, quarantine measures).

Quantitative indicators should allow verification of: (i) reaching the planned improved animal disease status, and (ii) achieving stated outputs by the end of the project.

Data Needs:

Quantitative indicators to monitor the disease status.

Data Sources:

Ministry of Agriculture/Department of Animal Health/National Veterinary Authorities

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)

This section is a simple, concise listing, using quantitative terms, of the specific outputs expected from the project. These tangible outputs can be elaborated in bullet points.

Data Needs:

Number of staff/farmers trained.
Number of workshops held.
Number of field teams equipped for a specific task related to the epidemic.
Details of improvement to network of laboratories and clinics.
Number of animals vaccinated.
Number of abattoirs inspected.
Specific, quantified interventions related to livestock trade.
Specific quarantine measures applied.
Names and types of manuals or reports prepared.

Data Sources:

Ministry of Agriculture/Department of Animal Health/National Veterinary Authorities
Team Leader

V. WORK PLAN

A timetable, sufficiently specific to serve as a practical guide for the national experts and consultants on what activity should be carried out at what time, what place and be implemented by whom.

The timetable and any accompanying narrative should also serve as an instrument for monitoring project implementation and achievement for both the Government and FAO.

Data Needs:

Estimate and logical sequence of the major project activities and input needs.

Data Sources:

Ministry of Agriculture/Department of Animal Health/National Veterinary Authorities
Ministry of Planning

VI. CAPACITY BUILDING

A paragraph describing how TCP assistance is expected to enhance the capacity of national animal health experts and/or consultants in terms of future disease control-related tasks. It should include details of how the use of such experts will contribute to building capacity in the national institution/country.

Data Needs:

Numerical data on animal health-related training under the project.

Data Sources:

Ministry of Agriculture/Department of Animal Health/National Veterinary Authorities

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.

a) 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.

b) Official travel
c) Contracts, Letters of Agreements or Contractual Service Agreements
d) General operating expenses (GOE)
e) Materials, supplies and equipment:
- Materials and supplies
- Equipment
f) Direct operating cost (DOC)
g) 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 Animal Health/National Veterinary Authorities
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 about specific diseases.

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 diseases, livestock numbers, veterinary services' capacity etc. related to the country concerned.
Findings and facts relevant to the disease in question.
Consultant's itinerary, persons met, terms of reference, lists of additional equipment, etc.

Data Sources:

Project records
Project staff
Records from Veterinary Authorities at regional, national, provincial and local level
Participatory rural appraisal exercises
Ministry of Agriculture/Department of Animal Health

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 Animal Health/National Veterinary Authorities
Ministry of Public Health

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 the training programme.
2. Description of Advisory Technical Services and Supervisory Technical Services.
3. Description of services to be provided under contracts.
4. Itemized list of equipment.
5. Itemized list of materials and supplies.
6. 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 Animal Health/National Veterinary Authorities