(TCP PROJECT EXAMPLE)

Country:	X
Project title:	Management and Conservation of Agricultural Germplasm (AFRICA)
Project symbol:	TCP/XXX/....
Starting date:	January 200-
Completion date:	July 200-
Government Ministry Responsible for Project	Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources
Execution:
FAO contribution:	US$195,400

Signed................	Signed:.......................
(on behalf of the Government)	Jacques Diouf Director-General (on behalf of FAO)
Date of signature................	Date of signature..................

I BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION

Plant genetic resources (PGR) are of vital importance to modern agriculture in safeguarding and increasing crop production. The Global Plan of Action for the Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources (GPA) adopted at the FAO Conference in Leipzig, stated that "the food and agricultural productions systems of all countries are heavily -- even predominantly - dependent on genetic resources of plants domesticated elsewhere and subsequently developed in other countries and regions over hundred or thousands of years". The conservation and sustainable use of PGR is the first step towards the increase of the agriculture production.

Country X is an archipelago consisting of over 100 granite and coral islands with a total land surface area of approximately 445 sq. km. Of these islands only 2 provide the necessary conditions and suitable land area for agriculture. This itself limits agricultural activities in Country X. The islands used to have an agro-economy based on the export of copra, cinnamon and vanilla. At present all agricultural activities are geared towards the production of fruits and vegetables and approximately 60% of the national consumption of fruits and vegetables are produced locally. The rest is imported especially to meet the needs of the tourist industry.

Island ecosystems are known to be vulnerable to detrimental external factors and when one considers the size of ..., the largest granite island of the group being 8km wide by 36 km long, one can understand why the islands of Country X are no exception to this concept. The size of natural ecosystems and the amount of biodiversity have very much declined over the years, although many efforts have been made to preserve the most important centres of ecological diversity. A few introduced plant species have become invasive. They have colonized almost all the existing natural ecosystems from the sea level to the mist forest over 600m above the sea level. Another threat to genetic diversity is the unscrupulous collection and harvesting of plant parts for medicinal, aromatic or for commercial purposes. Many of the endemic and indigenous plants with commercial potentials have been over exploited and it is principally due to this that these plants have become rare and confined only to inaccessible areas. Furthermore, with the imports and specialized production of limited varieties of fruits and vegetables there has been an alarming increase in pest and diseases which not only attack cultivated plants but also those growing in the wild. Thus, the valuable local germplasms need to be collected and conserved before they disappear forever. These materials are critical germplasms to which the local population is attached and are important for food and cash crop improvement to meet the need of farmers.

The PGR programme is a composite of interrelated highly specialized activities, completely different from crop production. Opportunities for exposure to and acquisition of information and technology in PGR conservation and utilization are fairly inadequate in Country X. Aware of the highly technical nature of a PGR programme and in order to address problems faced by the technical staff, there is a need on technical assistance in training, including short training course on germplasm conservation, study tour on genebank management and modern utilization technology.

The Government of Country X has recognized that there is a pressing need to focus on a comprehensive national programme for the management of genetic diversity and resources. The Government of Country X is thereby requesting the support and assistance of the FAO through its Technical Cooperation Programme to provide support for:

1. urgent collection and conservation of local crop germplasms
2. training on genebank management and germplasm conservation and
3. development of national policy on conservation and resources.utilization of plant genetic

II OBJECTIVE OF THE ASSISTANCE

The main objective is to strengthen PGR conservation and utilization programmes and to safeguard PGR in the country, which are essential for increasing agricultural production.

III EXPECTED OUTPUTS

The assistance strengthens institutional capacity in the conservation and utilization of crop germplasms. Specific outputs are described under each activity in the workplan.

IV WORKPLAN

Activity 1:

Collection of crop germplasm resources in Country X through 3 collecting missions led by a national consultation. During these missions, a survey on agricultural germplasm could also be made.

Output:

Crop germplasms including those are in danger of erosion collected.

Activity 2:

Set-up a filed genebank for fruit and vegetatively propagated crops with technical advice from national specialists.

Output:

A field genebank to conserve vegetatively propagated crops germplasm established.

Activity 3

Strengthening the genebank through accessing to some essential equipment - For long-term conservation of germplasm in the seed form, seeds will be dried by silica gel and stored in hermetically sealed aluminum bags in deep freezers.

Output:

Local crops germplasm stored under conditions meeting international standards (FAO-IPGRI genebank standards).

Activity 4:

Establishment of a centralized documentation system to handle data collected and to improve availability of information on PGR among farmers, policy makers, scientific community, NGOs and consumers.

Output:

A documentation system on PGR information established.

Activity 5:

Development of a national action plan and Programmes for PGR conservation and sustainable utilization through the assistance of the TCDC and national consultants.

Output:

A national action plan and programme for PGR conservation and sustainable utilization prepared.

Activity 6:Strengthening institutional capacity on genebank management and on germplasm conservation and utilization through training:

1. one two-week training course for 12 trainees on plant genetic resources conservation (the national consultant on germplasm collection in consultation with the national project co-ordinator (NPC) should identify and select candidates);
2. one 14-days study tour on documentation systems in one country of the region for one staff member responsible for the establishment of the centralized documentation system;
3. one 14-days study tour for 2 officers on genebank management, germplasm conservation and use in one country of the region;
4. in service training on PGR conservation for 4 technicians.

Output:

Well trained staff for routine work on germplasm conservation and documentation system.

Activity 7:

Preparation of a draft of regulations and legislation that will govern the conservation, utilization and exchange of PGR with the assistance of the international consultant on PGR legal aspects.

Output:

A draft of regulation and legislation for the Government's consideration prepared.

Activity 8:

Preparation of a project proposal for further strengthening capacity in germplasm conservation, evaluation, utilization and exchange including:

1. establishment of a strong national plant genetic resources system,
2. development of a national policy and strategy and co-ordination on germplasm utilization;
3. expansion of storage capacities to meet future needs and growth in genebank accessions;
4. establishment of in vitro conservation of crop genetic resources;
5. training on PGR utilization to reinforce manpower needs.

Output:

A project proposal for strengthening the institution capacity on germplasm management, evaluation, utilization and exchange for submission to the National Government and/or other potential donors for funding consideration (the target donor will be decided by the NPC and the TCDC-PGR consultant).

V FAO INPUTS

Personnel (Terms of Reference attached)

International Consultants

• Expert on PGR legal aspects (1month)
• TCDC expert on plant genetic resources conservation and utilization (2 months)

National Consultant

• Germplasm collection (6 months)

Technical Backstopping Mission

• Two 10-days visits by FAO technical officer (the technical officers staff time is to be reimbursed)

Official Travel (US$12,000)

• 3 collecting trips (3 x $3,000 = $9,000)
• Other official travel ($3,000)

General Operation Expense (US$10,000)

Material and Supplies (US$11,000)

• Consumable supplies for collecting (cloth bags, silica gel, etc) ($4,000)
• Buying seeds from farmers ($1,500)
• Laboratory chemicals and materials (Tetrazolium chloride, etc.) ($3,500)
• Other materials ($2,000)

Equipment ($46,000)

• 1 Vehicle for collecting missions ($25,000)
• 4 Deep freezers (for long-term storage) ($5,000)
• 1 PC, printer and software ($3,000)
• Mist irrigation system for field genebank ($5,000)
• 1 Air conditioner (for seed storage room) ($1,000)
• Aluminum bags for seed storage ($6,000)
• 1 Aluminum bag sealer ($1,000)

Direct Operational expenses

Training ($24,000)

• National training course on plant genetic resources (2 weeks, 12 trainees) ($10,000)
• In service training on germplasm conservation for 4 technicians ($2,000)
• Study tour on documentation system (1 person, 14 days) ($4,000)
• Study tour on genebank management and conservation (2 persons, 14 days) ($8 000)

VI CAPACITY BUILDING

National high level staff and technicians involved in plant genetic resources will benefit from the international and national consultants of the project to build up their know-how, technical skill and professional capacity in conservation and utilization of plant genetic resources.

VII REPORTING

Six-month and final reports will be submitted on the progress of the project by the NPC. These will provide details on activities undertaken, expenditure, results, setbacks, recommendations and project achievements. Consultants will submit reports after each mission according to the terms of reference. At the end of the project, a terminal statement in accordance with FAO/TCP procedures will be submitted to the Government of Country X.

VIII GOVERNMENT CONTRIBUTION AND SUPPORTING ARRANGEMENT

The Government of Country X will designate a national project coordinator (NPC) to supervise the local implementation of the project and the implementation of training workshop. Government staff officers will be released to participate in training programme. The Government will be responsible for germplasm regeneration, if needed, and the establishment of the field genebank.

Furthermore, the Government of Country X will provide the necessary counterpart financial resources to ensure the project's success. Specifically:

• Provide sufficient budgetary support to partially finance the operational costs of implementing the proposed project, including a driver, secretariat assistance and transportation for consultants.
• Provide office space and facilities for staff (includes basic costs of telephone, electricity and water).
• Provide adequate land and buildings for the field and seed genebanks.
• Organize and provide the necessary training equipment and facilities (for local training).
• Identify and provide the necessary 15 counterpart staff members to implement the project, including 2 team-members for collecting missions and PGR survey at no cost for FAO.

Government will undertake to ensure that the genebank is funded after the conclusion of the project.

IX PROJECT BUDGET COVERING FAO INPUTS (in US Dollars)

Annex I

TERMS OF REFERENCE

International Consultant on Plant Genetic Resources

(PGR) Legal Aspects

Under the general supervision of RAFR and the technical guidance of the technical support officer (SO) and in collaboration with the national counterpart staff, the consultant will:

• perform a one-month consultancy as per the project work plant during which he/she will:
• analyze the national institutional structure in conservation and use of PGR;
• identify legal gaps in PGR in the country;
• draft a set of regulation and legislation on PGR in consultation with national authorities.
• submit a consultancy report describing his/her activities, findings and recommendations. This report will cover the activities described above and any other aspects that may be consistent with the overall objectives and intentions of the project as described in the project document.
• perform any other related activity if requested.
• duty station in .... with internal travel as required.

Qualifications:

University degree in law, specialized in the legal aspects of PGR with good experience in development of regulations on PGR. The consultant should be familiar with the international regulations on PGR and biological diversity and be fluent in English.

Annex II

TERMS OF REFERENCE

TCDC International Consultant

Under the general supervision of RAFR and the technical supervision of the technical support officer (SO) and in collaboration with the national counterpart and the national consultant staff, the consultant will :

• make two 1-month missions, one at the early and another at late stages of the project. During the first mission the consultant will:
• study and assess the actual situation of PGR conservation and utilization in Country X;
• advise on national policy on PGR conservation and utilization;
• plan jointly with the National Consultant a 2-week training course on PGR conservation;
• draft a plan of the national programme on PGR conservation;
• provide in-service training on PGR conservation for 4 technicians.
• During the second mission, the consultant will:
• lecture in the PGR training course in his speciality;
• prepare a project proposal for further strengthening capacity in PGR conservation and utilization;
• draft the terminal statement of the project.
• Submit a consultancy report describing his/her activities, finding, conclusion and recommendation. This report will cover the activities described above;
• Perform any other related activity as requested.

Qualifications:

The International Consultant should have an advance degree in PGR or related area with experience in PGR conservation and utilization. He/she should be fluent in English.

Duration: 2 months

Duty station: ...... with internal travel as required.

Annex III

TERMS OF REFERENCE

National Consultant (Germplasm Collection)

Under the operational supervision of RAFR and the technical supervision of the national project co-ordinator and the FAO technical support officer (SO) and in collaboration with the national counterpart staff and the international consultants, the consultant will:

• perform three 2-month consultancy as per the project work plan during which he/she will:
• study, plan and participate in 3 one-month collecting missions in Country X;
• conduct survey on national plant genetic resources;
• ensure the proper conservation of germplasm materials and the information collected;
• assist the TCDC-PGR consultant in developing a plan for the two-week training -course;
• organize and take part in the two-week PGR training course
• submit a consultancy report describing his/her activities, findings and recommendations. This report will cover the activities described above and any other aspects that may be consistent with the overall objectives and intentions of the project as described in the project document.
• perform any other related activity if requested.
• duty station in ..., with internal travel as required.

Qualifications:

The consultant should have a university degree in Agriculture/Botany with a good experience in germplasm collection and field exploration. The consultant should be fluent in English.

Annex IV

TERMS OF REFERENCE

FAO Technical Support Officer

Under the supervision of the Chief, Seed and Plant Genetic Resources Service (AGPS), and in collaboration with the national project counterpart, the HQ Officer will:

• review and clear technically progress reports on various activities;
• assist in selection of suitable national consultant and provide technical inputs to the training programme;
• provide guidance and direction on relevant technical matters including orientation to FAO policies and procedures, in order to ensure the national counterpart staff's maximum effectiveness.
• undertake two 10-days backstopping visits during the operations phase of the project;

During the first mission, the officer will:

1. review the progress of the project and prepare a detailed workplan;
2. select site and dates for the training courses;
3. develop tentative course curricula;
4. consult with national authorities and project staff on possible follow-up activities;
5. review the needed equipment items and finalize the list of equipment to be ordered.

During the second mission, the officer will:

1. give lectures in the training courses on PGR conservation;
2. review the progress of the project and prepare a report with relevant recommendations;
3. discuss the final report of the project with NPC.
4. finalize the Terminal Statement for the project in accordance with TCP procedures;

• undertake any other related duties.