(TCP PROJECT EXAMPLE)

I. PROJECT SUMMARY

(Brief description of the project expectations and outcome)

II. BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION

Malnutrition, Food Insecurity and Poverty
In spite of the devastating floods that hit country X during ......., the general economic outlook is positive. Overall economic growth continues to be impressive and there are visible signs of structural transformation. However, some ....% of country X's population remain below the poverty line, and high levels of child mortality and chronic malnutrition are the norm. A proportion of the population in country X continues to be food insecure, mostly in the rural areas (78%). It is estimated that ..% of the rural population and ...% of the urban population live in absolute poverty.

Widespread poverty, food insecurity and inadequate healthcare are the key factors contributing to the high levels of malnutrition among children in country X. Overall about ...% of children under the age of three years are stunted. Stunting is a measurable long-term baseline indicator of the nutritional status of a population as it reflects the past nutritional status as opposed to recent changes in food intake. A total of ..% of children are underweight. The high prevalence of low birth weight is a major public health problem and reflects the poor nutritional status of women of reproductive age.

Micronutrient malnutrition is reported to be a serious public health problem. The most prevalent deficiencies are anaemia, goitre and vitamin A deficiency. Pellagra and vitamin C deficiencies also exist in some pockets. Anaemia in particular is a public health problem among women and children in country X. and appears to be related to malaria and intestinal parasites in addition to low consumption of iron-rich foods. It is widely accepted that a significant sub-clinical vitamin A problem exists. Current projections indicate that infant and child mortality in country X will increase up to ..% or higher as a direct result of HIV/AIDS and its related infections.

National Policies and Strategies to Address Malnutrition and Micronutrient Deficiencies
Following the World Food Summit in 1996, the Government of country X set the target of reducing the number of malnourished persons by ...% by the year 2015. A National Strategy for Food Security and Nutrition was launched by the Government in ...... Its main objective is to guarantee that all citizens have continuous access to adequate food needed for a healthy and active life. In ......, the Ministry of Health's Nutrition Programme developed a National Strategy to Combat Micronutrient Deficiencies, which is an integral component of the National Strategy for Food Security and Nutrition. The former advocates a mix of strategies, including food-based interventions with a focus on dietary diversification, improved year-round access to micronutrient rich foods, food processing and preservation and nutrition education.

The Absolute Poverty Reduction Action Plan includes a Food Security Strategy. Objectives include the reduction of protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) and micronutrient deficiencies, specifically iodine, vitamin A and iron in children and women of reproductive age. The agricultural sector investment programme places emphasis on the recovery of agricultural production to contribute to improved food security and increased marketing of export products. The strategy focuses on commercialization and income generation through improvement of market infrastructure and liberal marketing policies, and favours high potential areas.

Gaps and Weaknesses in Current Programmes
Recent gains in crop production and income generation have been impressive, but have been distributed unevenly and have often failed to go hand in hand with nutritional improvement. Unstable year-round food availability due to seasonal gaps and difficult physical and economic access in remote areas are important factors contributing to food insecurity. In urban areas, poverty resulting from a combination of low household incomes with high costs of market purchases leads to insufficient access to food and harmful nutritional practices.

Even where there is no lack of food, high levels of malnutrition continue to exist. A combination of factors undermine nutritional status, including poor household resource management and farmers' excessive market orientation; harmful feeding habits (for example early cessation of breastfeeding, early introducing of complementary foods, food taboos); and exposure to infectious diseases such as diarrhoea and malaria.

Farmers sell a large proportion of food crops to repay agricultural input loans and buy other daily essentials. This situation, combined with the lack of knowledge about the importance of adequate nutritional intake is exacerbated by the neglect of agricultural extension agents regarding women's crops that ensure household food security. Having recognized that increased food production and income alone are not sufficient to guarantee nutritional well being, several NGOs are involved in nutrition programmes. However, most programmes are limited in scale, under-funded and reach a small number of women only. They generally focus on mother and child health activities (breastfeeding, weaning) and are rarely linked to or integrated with ongoing agriculture programmes. There is moreover an acute lack of community support staff in the agriculture and health sectors, very few of whom have ever received training in nutrition, and an almost complete absence of co-ordination/integration between health and agriculture programmes.

The recent establishment of a Technical Secretariat for Food Security and Nutrition based at the Ministry of Agriculture spells hope for improved collaboration and co-ordination among the sectors. However, both the national and provincial secretariats require strengthening in terms of additional technically qualified staff to provide much needed policy guidance and programme support.

The Follow-up Project
The .... donor agency xx has allocated US$..... for a five-year project aimed at assisting the Government of country X in developing and promoting innovative approaches, methodologies, and tools for solving household food security and nutrition problems, giving particular attention to participatory approaches and inter-sectoral collaboration, and to working in a context of sustainable livelihoods.

To achieve the Government's food security and nutrition objectives, there is a need to develop an innovative strategy and programme to support food-based actions in combination with nutrition education/communication in selected rural and peri-urban/urban areas of country X.

This will require a reorientation of current government and donor-supported programmes, including those implemented by NGOs, towards the family farming sector, with more emphasis being given to women farmers' needs and nutritional considerations in crop promotion combined with health and nutrition education. To combat malnutrition effectively, close collaboration will be required among the various sectors and NGOs. There is also a need to strengthen provincial and district capacities in identifying and planning community-based household food security and nutrition programmes and activities.

Foreseen activities include developing and implementing a training programme in participatory appraisal of household food security and nutrition issues, as well as participatory planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of community-based projects. It will further develop a training of trainers' programme in food-based approaches, including aspects of rural and urban home gardening, food diversification and nutrition.

The Project will be based at the Ministry of Agriculture and will actively collaborate with the national and provincial authorities in day-to-day project operations to strengthen their capacities in providing guidance in the implementation of household food security and nutrition programmes. It is anticipated that the lessons learned from this and other practical field projects may influence overall policy and national strategies on reducing malnutrition through the incorporation of successful project elements or strategies into broad-based national programmes.

It is against this background that the Government of country X has requested FAO TCP assistance.

This Project is highly complementary with FAO's Special Programme on Food Security (SPFS) with which close collaboration in project implementation will be sought. The project is part of the FAO's corporate strategy and objectives A.1 Contributing to the eradication of food insecurity and rural poverty and A.2 Access of vulnerable and disadvantaged groups to sufficient, safe and nutritionally adequate food and directly relates to the programme entities 221A4 and 221A5 in the Medium Term Plan 2002-2007, Community Action for Improved Household Food Security and Nutrition and Food and Nutrition Education, Communication and Training, respectively.

III. OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSISTANCE

The overall objective of the Project is to contribute towards the Government goal of improving food security and raising levels of nutrition.

This project will operate in two (2) districts, i.e. one rural and one urban/peri-urban area/district of a province in Northern country X. The final selection will be undertaken in consultation with Government and other partner agencies at the outset of this project based on the criteria indicated below.

The immediate objectives are:

Objective 1
Strengthen institutional (government and NGO) capacities in participatory household food security and nutrition assessment, analysis and planning of community-based household food security actions and micro-projects to prepare the ground for project implementation in one rural and one urban/peri-urban area/district. This will include advocacy and awareness creation on the importance of urban/peri-urban agriculture and food security as part of a comprehensive development process.

Objective 2
Set up a programme for the sustainable improvement of household food security and nutrition of vulnerable populations in one rural and one urban area/district in country X through dietary diversification and nutrition promotion/education. This will include the identification and demonstration of crop species and varieties as well as the adaptation of simple low-cost technologies for sustainable small-scale production units in rural, urban/peri-urban environments. The main output will be a five-year project document for submission to and appraisal by donor agency xx by ......... (date).

IV. PROJECT OUTPUTS (RESULTS)

To be completed by (indicate date...)

1. A review carried out based on available secondary data on household food security, nutrition, agronomic potentials and constraints, access to agricultural, health and other services, as well as mass media communication potential in the selected target districts. This will specifically include (1) a review of available agro-ecological, socio-economic and gender-based information to characterize the vulnerable population groups and gender-based disparities with regard to access to resources, information and skills; (2) a SWOT and causal analysis carried out of priority nutrition and household food security problems and issues; (3) an assessment of the current cultivation practices, crop species and varieties and identification of potential project sites for demonstration and training, including a description of technological packages and sustainable cropping practices for rural, urban and peri-urban environments and (4) the identification and outlining of main objectives and strategies for project interventions and actions.

2. An institutional analysis completed and detailed project implementation arrangements delineated, project co-ordination at national, provincial and district levels, as well as partner agencies (government and NGOs) and community-based organizations identified for the implementation of community-based projects in one rural and one urban/peri-urban area/district.

3. Technical assistance and training requirements by government, NGOs and local communities assessed and identified to facilitate the development and implementation of project strategies and actions.

4. A draft project document prepared for appraisal by the donor agency, FAO HQ technical divisions and the Government of country X. This will contain a strategy, institutional framework, work plan and budget to facilitate, guide and support the development, implementation and monitoring/evaluation of sustainable food-based actions and nutrition promotion/education in partnership with government, NGOs and community-based organizations. The project document will be designed in accordance with the FAO/donor agency Strategy on Household Food Security and Nutrition and in line with the policies of the Government of country X.

To be completed by (indicate date)

5. Building on existing materials and experience from country X and elsewhere, training materials developed and/or adapted for provincial and district level government and partner agencies staff in the participatory appraisal and analysis of household food security and nutrition situations, as well as participatory development and planning of community-based household food security and nutrition actions.

6. Three training/planning workshops for 30 provincial and district level government and partner agency staff (approx. 10 per area/district) on: (1) participatory appraisal and analysis of household food security and nutrition situations, (2) facilitation of community-based action; and (3) participatory development and planning of community-based household food security and nutrition strategies and interventions in selected rural and urban/peri-urban areas.

7. Training materials on crop agronomy and production for peri-urban/urban and rural areas adapted/developed.

8. Two technical training workshops for field technicians and extension agents on the crop production packages for rural, and urban/peri-urban areas separately undertaken. Pilot cum demonstration units will be established in the selected project areas.

To be completed by (indicate date)

9. Based on the information gaps identified during the secondary data analysis and the district training cum planning workshops, a complementary thematic participatory appraisal designed, 8 PRA sites selected, 4 PRA field teams of 5 persons each (2 teams per district) trained, and the PRA methodology field-tested and adapted in preparation for the start of the Trust Fund project.

10. Towards the end of the project, a technical and economic analysis undertaken of the crop production technologies and practices demonstrated in the project pilot sites.

11. A final National Advisory Committee and a Tripartite Review Meeting among Government and FAO held to review project results, (i.e. methodologies and materials developed; outcomes of the PRA training and field-testing) to pave the way for the Trust Fund Project.

V. WORK PLAN

Month 1. The Ministry of Agriculture designates a National Project Director. A team of international, national and TCDC consultants identified and recruited. A National Advisory Committee consisting of representatives of the Ministries of Agriculture, National Institute for Agricultural Research; Ministry of Health; Ministry of Finance and Planning; Centre for Agricultural Training and agencies (UN, NGOs and the private sector) will be established to act as a technical advisory body.

Month 2. A project team, comprising international, national and TCDC consultants and HQ technical backstopping officers to convene in Country X. The team will comprise technical expertise in: nutrition/nutrition education, agronomy/horticulture, gender, communication and participation with representation from the following HQ technical divisions: ESNP and SDAR. A team leader and deputy team leader will be appointed. The Team Leader will facilitate the finalization of a detailed work programme and methodology to be followed during the situation analysis and guide/facilitate the project preparation and implementation. The work programme should contain a detailed list with technical specifications of the equipment and supplies to be provided by the project.

In collaboration with the Project Advisory Committee a selection of project provinces and districts will be undertaken and discussed/confirmed with the relevant provincial/district authorities. The selection will be undertaken based on available information (i.e. provincial and district profiles and vulnerability maps prepared by the Household Food Security and Nutrition Information Network and priority provinces/districts indicated in the Absolute Poverty Reduction Action Plan).

Selection criteria will include: (1) existence of both chronic and temporary food deficit problems; (2) lack of access at household level to adequate food and a balanced diet as evidenced by high levels of malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies; (3) high levels of poverty as indicated in the Poverty Assessment Report; (4) potential for agriculture and food-based approaches, income generation activities to alleviate chronic undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies; (5) government and/or NGO extension networks available, and (6) HIV/AIDS infection rates.

Months 2-3. The team conducts a situation analysis, based on which the objectives and strategies for a logical framework will be developed. Working groups comprising the project team as well as representatives from the provincial/district authorities/ministries and NGOs will be formed to conduct a situation analysis, identify priority problems/issues, define objectives and a strategy as an outline for project activities.

The situation analysis will include:

• a review of household food security and nutrition problems and the identification of vulnerable groups within these districts (rural and urban/peri-urban areas) based on available secondary information (i.e. district profiles) and field visits;
  
• a review of socio-economic and gender-based information to identify the socio-economic characteristics of vulnerable population groups and gender-based disparities with regard to access to resources, information and skills; such information will be useful in the development of strategies and actions to facilitate the enhanced participation of food insecure households in project activities;
  
• a review of agronomic/horticultural potentials and constraints in selected districts and agro-ecological zones including selected urban and peri-urban areas. Current state of production, crop management practices, rapid production system appraisal with an indication of the dominant production systems, crops, inputs availability and use, food storage/packaging/transport, constraint analyses, current research and extension. Present role of urban and peri-urban agriculture as a contribution to assuring food supply and better balanced nutrition; recommendations for improvement including production system alternatives. Identification of essential agricultural/horticultural activities and priorities of production (small livestock; fresh milk, fruits and vegetables, root crops, aquaculture). Recommendations for priority options and for the promotion of an essential package of agricultural/horticultural activities (e.g. vitamin A containing foods, staples and oil crops) aimed at improving and diversifying the diet. Activities will be selected in accordance with available resources, including land and water and in consideration of environmental and nutritional criteria, as well as households' needs and capacities, and with special attention to labour-saving crops;
  
• a review of farmer (male and female) extension coverage, access to agricultural and health services and current approaches with regard to farmer extension and nutrition promotion/education (government and NGOs) with a view to developing a joint strategy with provincial government and NGOs for integrated agriculture/ nutrition/health actions;
  
• a review of options for information dissemination, education (formal and informal) and communication to rural and urban target audiences, in terms of existing approaches, activities and coverage in support of agriculture, nutrition and health, and other sectors important to nutrition and household food security.
  
• an institutional analysis of those sectors involved in household food security and nutrition, including available inter-sectoral co-ordination mechanisms. As part of this, identify and appraise potential partner NGOs and community-based organizations for the implementation of community-based projects, as well as the modalities for collaboration and co-ordination at district and provincial levels;

Month 4. The team will carry out an analysis of constraints and opportunities to nutrition and household food security among vulnerable population groups, identify objectives and intervention strategies to address these constraints building on local strengths and opportunities. Based on the outcomes of the exercise, and with support from the HQ technical backstopping officers, the team prepares a draft project document for review and appraisal by relevant government departments, NGOs, and other stakeholders. The draft project will be submitted to the relevant HQ technical backstopping divisions and other stakeholders for review and comments, following which it will be submitted to the Belgian Survival Fund.

Month 5. The team will carry out a training needs assessment of provincial, district and sub-district level agriculture, health, education and community development staff from government departments and NGOs (from rural and urban/peri-urban areas), with the view to developing an integrated training strategy for government and NGO staff to support the community analysis and action planning process and to strengthen capacities for project implementation. Training materials will be adapted/prepared.

Based on consultations with farmers and consumers, identify appropriate crop production packages for demonstration and dissemination purposes. Establish linkages and co-ordinate with other partners in agriculture/food security. Select/develop a strategy for food production (including for urban and peri-urban areas). Hold two training workshops for field technicians and extension agents on the crop production packages for rural, and urban/peri-urban areas (including how to grow and use local and exotic food crops).

Months 6-7. Prepare and carry out one inter-disciplinary training workshop for selected provincial and district support staff from rural and urban/peri-urban areas on participatory appraisal and analysis of the food security and nutrition situation at community and household levels using tools such as social mapping, nutrition mapping, causal analysis, etc.).

Select sites for pilot crop demonstration units in the selected project areas and plan activities with agricultural technicians and farmers. Prepare leaflets on recommended crops including a brief description on how to process and prepare them for family meals.

Establish pilot crop demonstration units in farmers' fields with particular emphasis on urban and peri-urban horticulture. Test on-farm new selected local and imported species and varieties in order to raise the productivity and reduce the reliance on the use of pesticides. Test new technologies to extend the growing period, to accelerate plant growth, to increase production, and to improve the quality of the products (e.g. mulching, small scale and cost effective shelter structures). Collect data concerning agronomic practices, planting and harvesting time. Establish a small orchard for budwood production of quality fruits from local and other fruits species and varieties for multiplication purposes (using local rootstocks). If appropriate and available, establish a small-scale irrigation system to increase the water-use efficiency.

Prepare a six-monthly progress report for presentation/discussion at the Project National Advisory Committee Meeting.

Months 7-9. Undertake practical field training with trainees in selected project sites to test and adapt the PRA methodology and evaluate its methods and tools. Structure and analyze the PRA and other information from the practical field training into village and district profiles, using SWOT analysis as a tool in order to ensure that constraints as well as opportunities are taken into consideration during planning.

Conduct one analysis and planning/training workshop to analyze constraints and opportunities to nutrition and household food security among vulnerable population groups, identify objectives and intervention strategies to address these constraints building on local strengths and opportunities. As part of the analysis and planning workshop, train provincial and district support staff on the planning of community-based household food security and nutrition micro-projects.

Months 9-11. Organize field visits to the pilot crop demonstration plots.

Based on the identified information gaps, the PRA evaluation, design a thematic participatory rural appraisal, and select and train field teams. Prepare the thematic participatory appraisal in the rural and urban/peri-urban districts for the start of the follow-up Trust Fund Project.

Undertake a technical and economic analysis of the crop production technologies and practices demonstrated in the project pilot sites for presentation at the National Advisory Committee Meeting.

Month 12. Hold a National Advisory Committee Meeting to present the methodologies and materials developed and discuss the findings of the appraisal and analysis work. Present the food-production and growers' initiatives taken in peri-urban/urban and rural areas to develop and secure the production of nutritious foods.

The Project Director in collaboration with the ESNP technical backstopping officer, prepares a project terminal report as per established FAO procedures for submission to the Lead Technical Service, ESNP.

A Project Director will be designated by the Ministry of Agriculture, who will be responsible for the overall management and co-ordination. He/she will convene the National Advisory Committee meetings and ensure that crucial aspects of the work are effectively implemented and coordinated among the participating ministries and institutions at national, provincial and district levels. The National Project Director will be assisted in day-to-day administrative tasks by an administrative assistant based at the FAO Representative's office.

Collaborating institutions, apart from the Ministry of Agriculture will be: the Ministry of Health; the Ministry of Finance and Planning; the Ministry of Education; the National Institute for Agricultural Research; the Centre for Agricultural Training; selected NGOs and private sector organizations.

Collaborative linkages will be established with ongoing FAO programmes, especially FAO's Special Programme on Food Security, as well as other donor-supported programmes in country X.

VI. CAPACITY BUILDING

The capacity of experts, government and NGO staff from different sectors and disciplines (agriculture, health, community development) in participatory household food security and nutrition appraisal and analysis, project planning and formulation will be enhanced through this project. Technical and management expertise from different sources will be combined to create an innovative household food security and nutrition programme aimed at ensuring access to an adequate diet at household level and improved nutrition of vulnerable people in selected rural and urban/peri-urban areas, for eventual nation-wide extension.

VII. INPUTS TO BE PROVIDED BY FAO

Personnel (see Annexes 1 and 2 for Terms of Reference)

International Consultant (1.5 p/m)
- Nutritionist/Household Food Security Specialist (1 p/m)
- Specialist in Rural, Urban and Peri-urban Horticulture, and Sanitized Environment (0.5 p/m)

National Consultants ( 19 p/m)
(up to US$66,000, includes local DSA, based on the assumption that the consultants will spend 40 % of their time in the field).
- Team Leader/Nutritionist (for project formulation only) (3 p/m on WAE basis)
- Nutritionist/Trainer (4 p/m on WAE basis)
- Agronomist/Horticulturist (6 p/m on WAE basis)
- Participatory Methods and Institutional Analysis (6 p/m on WAE basis)

Administrative support (up to US$10,000)
- Driver (10 p/m) and administrative/secretarial support (10 p/m)

TCDC Consultant (2.5 p/m)
- Communication (2.5 p/m on WAE basis)

FAO technical backstopping missions (5 p/m)
- Nutrition (ESNP) - Lead Technical Unit (1 p/m)
- Agronomy/Horticulture, AGPC (1 p/m)
- APO Participation and Institutional Analysis, SDAR (3 p/m - only DSA and travel cost)

Official Travel (up to US$20,000)
- fuel expenses, car maintenance, etc.
- car hire and driver for a second vehicle for 1.5 months at US$120/day (US$5,400), if not available within the FAO Representation
- approx. 15 return air fares to project province at US$500

General Operating Expenses (up to US$15,213)

Materials and Supplies (up to US$20,000) (see Annex 3 for details)
- Stationery and miscellaneous
- Tools, materials and supplies for low-cost, simple, and sustainable production technologies in the rural, urban and peri-urban areas, including seeds, fertilizers, agro-chemicals, timber, plastic sheets, pipes, watering cans, buckets, weighing-scales, measuring tapes, irrigation systems, etc.

Equipment (up to US$35,000)
- Four wheel-drive vehicle (US$25,000)
- One desk top and one lap top computers + software (US$4,000)
- Two generators and UPS to be based at district level for field work (US$5,000)
- One overhead projector, screen and transparencies (US$700)
- Ten flip charts with stand and paper (US$300)

Direct Operating Expenses (up to US$20,000)

Workshops/Field Training/Meetings (see Annex 4 for details) (up to US$30,000)
- Three National Advisory Committee Meetings
- One training workshop for provincial and district staff on PRA
- Field training/field work in villages
- Two area/district analysis and planning workshops
- Two technical training workshops in crop production technologies and practices
- Provincial and national project review meetings
- Final tri-partite review meeting

VIII. REPORTING

The National Project Director from Government will provide a mid-term progress report and a terminal report to FAO.

On completing his/her assignment, each consultant/staff member will prepare a report to FAO showing the results achieved and recommendations for follow-up.

The responsible technical backstopping officer will prepare a Terminal Statement following established FAO procedures, to be submitted to the Government of country X.

IX. GOVERNMENT CONTRIBUTION AND SUPPORTING ARRANGEMENTS

The Project will be under the overall supervision of the Ministry of Agriculture that will actively collaborate with the national and provincial authorities in day-to-day project operations to strengthen their capacities in providing guidance in the implementation of household food security and nutrition programmes. The Ministries of Agriculture and Health, and the provincial/district authorities of the selected provinces/districts will provide all support and working means needed for successful project implementation and in particular, the following:

• A National Project Director for the entire duration of the project.
  
• Technical personnel from the Ministries of Agriculture and Health, as well as from selected NGOs at national and provincial/district levels to join working groups and meetings on project planning and development.
  
• Facilities and office space for consultants, working group meetings, and technical backstopping missions.
  
• Access to activities, material and information that are relevant to the development of the project document.
  
• Operating costs for national advisory committee meetings.

The Government will facilitate the establishment of a National Advisory Committee, whose Secretariat will be furnished by the Nutrition Unit, Ministry of Health. Members of the Committee will be comprised of representatives of the Ministries of Agriculture, Health, Finance and Planning, Education, National Institute for Agricultural Research, the Centre for Agricultural Training, relevant NGOs and private sector organizations.

PROJECT BUDGET COVERING FAO INPUTS
(in U.S. Dollars)

Annex 1

Terms of Reference

International Consultant - Nutrition/Household Food Security Programmes

Duty Station: .......
Duration: One month in two missions

Under the overall supervision of the Director, Field Operations Division (TCOD), and of the FAO Representative in Country X, under the technical supervision of the Chief, Nutrition Programmes Service and in collaboration with the National Project Director, the national team of consultants and the HQ technical officers, the consultant will carry out the following duties:

First mission

1. In collaboration with the HQ Nutrition Programme Service's (ESNP) responsible technical backstopping officer, brief national consultants on FAO/ESNP's aims and expectation regarding food-based approaches and household food security/nutrition approaches and programmes, methods for project preparation and formulation, as well as the FAO/DONOR joint strategy.
2. In collaboration with the National Project Director and the Team Leader/Nutritionist prepare an effective work programme and budget for the first phase of the project (project formulation phase).
3. In collaboration with the national team and the Participatory Methods backstopping officer/APO and the Team Leader/Nutritionist, facilitate the preparation of a methodology for project implementation (i.e. methods and tools to be used for data collection, situation review and analysis, and project preparation, etc.) and ensure that the focus is on household food security and nutrition.
4. Prepare a covering mission report giving main findings, conclusions and recommendations for follow-up.

Second mission

1. Participate in provincial meeting to review the food security and nutrition situation analysis carried out by the project team and selected stakeholders.
2. Guide/facilitate the provincial/district analysis and planning workshop to define project objectives and strategies with a focus on household security and nutrition.
3. Based on the analysis, contribute towards determining areas of technical assistance and training requirements which would be particularly addressed by the TCP project and the envisaged DONOR-funded Trust Fund Project.
4. In particular, collaborate with the Team Leader/Nutritionist and the HQ technical backstopping officers, and take a lead role in the preparation of the project document.
5. In collaboration with the national project team, present the project document and its rationale for review and discussion at the national project review meeting. Based on the recommendations from the meeting, prepare a final draft for submission to the FAO HQ Project Review Committee.
6. Prepare a covering mission report giving main findings, conclusions and recommendations for follow-up.

Qualifications
The consultant should have a strong background in applied nutrition and household food security programmes and substantial field experience. He/she should be familiar with FAO approaches in nutrition and household food security and be aware of the FAO/DONOR partnership programme. He/she should have at least ten years of professional experience with a background in participatory methodologies and community development. He/she should also have excellent project preparation and communication skills and familiarity with working in a multi-disciplinary team. He/she should be computer literate and familiar with Word and Excel worksheets. A further requirement will be strong organizational skills and training skills. Knowledge of English and Portuguese is a prerequisite.

Terms of Reference

International Consultant
Specialist in Rural, Urban and Peri-urban Horticulture, and Sanitized Environment

Duty Station: ........

Duration: 0.5 p/m in one mission at the beginning of the project

Under the overall supervision of the Director, Field Operations Division (TCOD), and of the FAO Representative in Country X , the technical supervision of the Chief, Crop and Grassland Service and in collaboration with the National Project Director, the Team Leader and national consultants, the APO and the HQ technical officers, the Horticulture Specialist will carry out the following duties:

- Brief national consultant (Agronomy/Horticulture) on rural household horticulture, urban and peri-urban horticulture, and Horticultural Cultivar Database (hortivar) as well as on Sanitized Environment, expectation regarding food-based approaches, methods for project preparation and formulation, and the FAO/DONOR joint strategy.
- Prepare a tentative but detailed work plan and budget for the first phase of the proposed DONOR project (project formulation phase).
- Develop methodologies for implementation of the horticulture component of the project including data collection, situation review and analysis, and project preparation.
- Prepare a programme for training to be addressed by the TCP and the proposed DONOR project.
- Prepare a programme for seed and planting material propagation, on-farm testing and demonstration activities in the selected rural, urban and peri-urban areas focusing on household food security and nutrition and income generation.
- Prepare a covering mission report giving main findings, conclusions and recommendations for follow-up.

Qualifications
The consultant should have a strong background in applied horticulture and substantial field experience in the rural, urban and peri-urban agriculture, and Sanitized Environment. He/she should be familiar with FAO approaches in horticulture, urban and peri-urban horticulture, and household food security and be aware of the FAO/DONOR partnership programme. He/she should have at least ten years of professional experience with a background in participatory methodologies and community development. He/she should also have excellent project preparation and communication skills and familiarity with working in a multi-disciplinary team. He/she should be computer literate and familiar with Word and Excel worksheets. A further requirement will be strong organizational skills and training skills. Knowledge of English and Portuguese is a prerequisite.

Terms of Reference

TCDC Consultant
Communication for Development

Duty Station: ........
Duration: 2.5 months (incl. briefing and debriefing at FAO HQs in Rome)

Under the overall supervision of the Director, Field Operations Division (TCOD), and of the FAO Representative in Country X, under the technical supervision of the responsible officer, SDRE (Communication for Development Group) the expert will participate in a multi-disciplinary team which will be responsible for undertaking a situation analysis to identify and develop project elements and activities for a follow-up household food security and nutrition project. The Communication for Development Expert will undertake the following activities:

1. Collaborate with the national team, in particular the nutrition consultant, in an institutional analysis of the extension and communication systems in place (government, NGOs, other) in order to assess the extent to which these provide adequate support to men, women and youths to respond to their needs for information on agriculture, nutrition, health, HIV/AIDS, etc.
2. Identify the current patterns through which the various rural and urban audience groups of the project area obtain their information and communicate on issues of concern. Assess the most appropriate channels through which a future project could process its communication activities.
3. Collect available information on the accessibility to radio listening and the availability of batteries in the selected rural and urban districts or other mass media potential for reaching rural and urban audiences in the identified project areas.
4. Investigate local media production facilities and skills among the participating provincial institutions, donor-funded projects and NGOs with a view to recommending collaboration and networking in a cost-effective manner. Identify and establish costing for strengthening simple media production facilities (desktop publishing and printing requirements).
5. Identify locally available creative graphic illustrators, drama and traditional media groups to be contracted when required to support nutrition education/promotion campaigns.
6. Identify locally available printing facilities that could be contracted to produce education/communication materials for use as discussion tools by field workers during community group work.
7. In addition to formulating the appropriate sections of project document, implementation strategy and work plan, the expert will submit a covering mission report giving main findings, conclusions and recommendations for follow-up.

Qualifications
A university degree in social communication sciences or demonstrated equivalent professional experience. Five to seven years of practical experience in the research, design and implementation of development communication projects or programmes, preferably in Africa. Knowledge and experience in rural radio programming and in audience research is essential. He/should should also have familiarity with participatory approaches, gender issues and working in a multi-disciplinary team. He/she should be computer literate and familiar with Word and Excel worksheets. Knowledge of Portuguese and English is essential.

Terms of Reference

National Consultant
Team Leader/Nutritionist (Project Formulation)

Duty station: .......
Duration: 3 months on WAE basis

Under the overall supervision of the Director, Field Operations Division (TCOD), and of the FAO Representative in Country X, under the technical supervision of the Chief, Nutrition Programmes Service (ESNP) and in collaboration with the National Project Director, the team of national/international consultants and the FAO HQ technical officers (project team), the Nutritionist/Team Leader will have the following responsibilities:

1. Facilitate the organization of project activities, including field visits, in consultation with the National Project Director, during the initial project formulation stage of the project.
2. Finalize the work plan and budget for the first phase of the Trust Fund Project (up to the end of project formulation), facilitate the preparation of a situation analysis and project formulation methodology and define the information needs for review and approval by the National Advisory Committee.
3. Take a lead role in preparing and facilitating working groups comprising the project team as well as representatives from the provincial/district authorities/ministries and NGOs to prepare a situation analysis (including an institutional analysis), identify priority problems/issues, define objectives and a strategy as an outline for project activities.
4. Facilitate the conduct of a comprehensive situation analysis (with a focus on constraints and opportunities) as indicted in IV. Work Plan; specifically review all available information and data on household food security (HFS), nutrition and health, including issues related to HIV/AIDS, relevant to the selected project areas, identify critical information gaps especially regarding the characterization of vulnerable groups and the causes of household food security and malnutrition.
5. Prepare a sectoral nutrition, health, and food security report pointing to any important issues that need further analysis; as part of this identify rural women's on farm and household responsibilities and activities, with particular reference to rural women's reproductive, productive and community management roles; as well as rural women's farming and food processing/production activities.
6. Undertake an institutional analysis, specifically with regard to nutrition, health and related household food security programmes and activities carried out by different government sectors and NGOs and identify gaps, strengths and weaknesses.
7. Based on the situation analysis identify and outline nutrition education, health and household food security elements and strategies and contribute to the elaboration of an institutional framework for the overall project structure and for inter-sectoral and inter-agency co-ordination and collaboration.
8. In collaboration with the project team and the HQ technical officers, prepare a Trust Fund Project for funding by the DONOR. Take the lead role in the elaboration of the nutrition education component and related activities, as well as the essential linkages to other sectors, and institutional framework and human resources aspects related to nutrition and household food security.
9. Determine areas of technical assistance and training requirements, which would be particularly addressed by the TCP project and the envisaged DONOR-funded Trust Fund Project.
10. Prepare a covering mission report giving main findings, conclusions and recommendations for follow-up.

Qualifications
The expert should have a strong background in applied nutrition and household food security programmes and substantial field experience. He/she should have at least ten years of professional experience with a background in participatory methodologies and community development. He/she should also have good project preparation and communication skills and familiarity with working in a multi-disciplinary team. A further requirement will be strong administrative and organizational skills, computer literacy and familiarity with Word and Excel worksheets. Knowledge of English is a prerequisite.

Terms of Reference

National Consultant
Nutritionist/Trainer

Duty station: ....... and field
Duration: 4 months on WAE basis

Under the overall supervision of the Director, Field Operations Division (TCOD), and of the FAO Representative in Country X, under the technical supervision of the Chief, Nutrition Programmes Service (ESNP) and the National Project Director, and in collaboration with the national consultants and the HQ technical officers, the expert will undertake the following activities:

1. Undertake a training needs assessment of provincial, district and sub-district level agriculture, health, education and community development staff from government and NGOs with regard to food security and nutrition issues.
2. Take a lead role in the preparation of training materials and tools for the thematic PRA training workshops.
3. Participate in the preparation and conduct of all training workshops for field teams ensuring the thematic focus on food security and nutrition issues, as well as gender aspects. Take a lead role with regard to the training aspects on the linkages among household food security, health and care.
4. Train the district PRA teams in household food security, nutrition and health issues that will be covered during the appraisal, including issues of access to foods, variety of foods produced, consumed, purchased and sold, intra-household food allocation, infant feeding patterns and issues of food storage, processing and preservation that have a bearing on food security and nutrition at household level.
5. Ensure the household food security and nutrition orientation, and focus attention on gender issues in the participatory appraisal, in the analysis and planning training workshops.
6. Participate in the preparation of a thematic follow-up PRA on household food security, nutrition and health.
7. Participate in presenting the project results, experiences and training materials during the final National Advisory Committee Meeting.
8. Prepare a covering mission report giving main findings, conclusions and recommendations for follow-up.

Qualifications
The Consultant should be an experienced nutritionist with emphasis on nutrition programmes and training/nutrition education. The expert should have a minimum of ten years of professional experience as well as practical field experience. He/she should be computer literate and familiar with Word and Excel worksheets. Knowledge of community development and gender issues is a must. and familiarity with participatory rural appraisal and working in a multi-disciplinary team would be an advantage. He/she should be computer literate and familiar with Word and Excel worksheets. Knowledge of English would be desirable.

Terms of Reference

National Consultant
Agronomist/Horticulturist

Duty Station: ..... and field
Duration: 6 months on WAE basis

Under the overall supervision of the Director, Field Operations Division (TCOD), and of the FAO Representative in Country X, under the technical supervision of the Chief, Nutrition Programmes Service and the technical supervision of the Senior Officer, Horticultural Crops Group (AGPC) and in collaboration with the national project team and the HQ technical officers, the expert will undertake the following activities:

First mission (project formulation) 3 p/m:

1. Undertake an assessment of the existing agricultural situation and potential in the target districts (rural and peri-urban/urban districts), and in analyzing characteristic farming systems with a view to identifying feasible strategies for improving household food security, particularly in terms of cultivating fruits, vegetables, horticultural staples and oil crops to complement the staples presently being cultivated. In this regard, the expert will be required to identify requirements for technology generation and transfer, taking into special account gender issues (i.e. men and women's access to inputs, extension advice, etc.) as well as the scope of related ongoing programmes in which other agencies are collaborating.
2. In reviewing agronomic potentials and constraints related to increased production of horticultural food crops special attention will be given to the question of water availability (esp. peri-urban/urban areas) as well as for dry season cultivation and to approaches to improving/maintaining soil fertility and condition, and to the needs in terms of adapted plant material.
3. Assess current cultivation practices, crop species and varieties and identify potential project sites for demonstration and training, including a description of technological packages and sustainable cropping practices for rural, urban and peri-urban environments.
4. Examine issues of marketing (inputs and outputs) and transportation, current constraints and support services required at community and district levels to facilitate agricultural production and income generation activities to be supported by the project, specifically in relation to the peri-urban/urban districts.
5. In collaboration with the project team, provide concrete inputs for elaborating a project document and implementation strategy with regard to agricultural/horticultural activities in the rural and peri-urban/urban areas.
6. Prepare a covering mission report giving main findings, conclusions and recommendations for follow-up.

Second mission: 3 p/m on WAE basis:

7. Identify sites for setting up demonstration plots and select in consultation with the local population appropriate technological packages and sustainable cropping practices for rural and peri-urban/urban environments.

8. Prepare and facilitate two training courses for field technicians and extension agents on the crop production packages for rural, and urban/peri-urban areas.
9. Establish pilot cum demonstration sites for crop demonstrations in selected project areas.
10. Collate the necessary technical and agronomic information to prepare extension materials for the growers.
11. Participate in presenting the project results, experiences and training materials during the final National Advisory Committee Meeting.
12. Prepare a covering mission report giving main findings, conclusions and recommendations for follow-up.

Qualifications
The expert should have a strong background in agriculture/horticulture and rural development and substantial field experience. He/she should have at least ten years of professional experience with a background in participatory methodologies and community development. He/she should be computer literate and familiar with Word and Excel worksheets. Knowledge of English would be desirable.

Terms of Reference

National Consultant
Participatory Methods and Institutional Analysis

Duty Station: ..... and field
Duration: 6 months on WAE basis

Under the supervision of the Chief Nutrition Programmes (ESNP) and the Chief, SDAR the expert will participate in a multi-disciplinary team which will be responsible for preparing a project document and to facilitate the preparation, conduct and analysis of a thematic participatory appraisals in 2 local communities.

He/she will undertake the following activities:

1. In collaboration with the national team and the international consultant and FAO technical backstopping officers, support the orientation and training workshop for the multi-disciplinary team of national and international consultants, in particular with regard to providing methodological inputs concerning institutional analysis and participatory approaches and methods to be used to assess household food security nutrition related issues.
2. In close collaboration with the other team members analyze the institutional setting (Government, NGOs, donors, community-based organizations) and the factors at national, provincial, project, district and community levels that affect the household food security and nutrition situation of vulnerable groups in the two project districts. Agricultural, health and educational and community development services need to be included in the analysis with regard to extension, access to credit, training, healthcare and prevention, group and community development. Based on the above analysis identify major project stakeholders and relevant institutional collaboration opportunities for 1) the implementation of this TCP project and 2) the envisaged follow up project.
3. As a complementary part of the secondary data review and, in close collaboration with the other team members, design and conduct a rapid organizational assessment of selected key partner organizations with regard to their strength and limitations in providing effective, participatory, demand-driven and gender-sensitive services to improve the household food security and nutrition situation of vulnerable groups in the two project districts. The rapid thematic organizational assessment should make reference to relevant parts of the mission, products/services, inputs, external relations and factors, strategy, structure, processes, staff, management style and culture of the organization. Based on the assessment, determine areas of technical assistance and training requirements, which would be particularly addressed by the TCP project and the envisaged DONOR-funded Trust Fund Project.
4. Based on the above three activities, provide concrete inputs for the draft project document of the DONOR-funded Trust Fund Project.
5. Based on the above activities and with reference to the activities delineated in the project's work plan, provide the National Project Director and ESNP with concrete planning and implementation recommendations to ensure a participatory and gender-sensitive execution of further TCP project activities.
6. Adapt, in close collaboration with SDAR and ESNP, existing PRA training materials, integrating lessons learned from Country X and other FAO executed projects to be used in a workshop to train provincial and district level government and partner agencies staff in participatory appraisal and analysis of household food security and nutrition situations, as well as in participatory development and planning of community-based household food security and nutrition actions.
7. In close collaboration with the FAO HQs backstopping officers and other team members, prepare, guide and facilitate one set of training workshops for province and district level government and partner agency staff on: (1) participatory appraisal and analysis of household food security and nutrition situations, (2) facilitation of community-based action; and (3) participatory development and planning of community-based household food security and nutrition strategies and interventions in selected rural and urban/peri-urban areas.
8. Facilitate and guide the conduct of a practical field training PRA sessions in selected project sites, and follow-up analysis and planning sessions using the information collected during the field training.
9. Based on the information gaps identified during the secondary data analysis and the district training cum planning workshops, take the lead role in designing a thematic participatory appraisal to be conducted in 8 PRA sites and facilitated by 4 PRA field teams who are the trainees of this training workshop at the start of the DONOR Trust Fund Project.
10. Ensure that gender and adequate community participation in particular with regard to marginalized groups are considered in PRA design.
11. Participate in presenting the project results, experiences and training materials during the final National Advisory Committee Meeting.
12. Prepare a final report giving main findings, conclusions and recommendations for follow-up.

Qualifications
The consultant should have an educational background in social sciences/socio-economics preferably with an MA and a minimum of seven years of work experience in the gender/rural development field in Africa. Good experience in training and conducting participatory rural appraisal and proven ability to effectively work in a multi-disciplinary team are essential requirements. The expert should have preferably led, or participated in, at least 10 participatory rural field appraisals. Experience with programming/project preparation work, with computer and reporting skills would be necessary. Knowledge of English would be desirable.

Annex 2

Terms of Reference

FAO Advisory Technical Services
Technical Backstopping Missions

Nutrition, ESNP (1 p/m in 2 missions)

First mission (1 week; month 1)

1. Brief project team and members of National Advisory Committee on aims and expectation regarding food-based approaches and household food security/nutrition issues and programmes as well as the FAO/donor joint strategy on household food security and nutrition. Brief in particular the Team Leader/Nutritionist on the terms of reference.
2. In collaboration with the National Project Director and the project team, develop an effective work programme and budget, as well as a strategy for the first phase of the project (project formulation phase) for submission and approval by the National Advisory Committee.
3. Collaborate in the selection of project districts/areas.
4. Contribute to the preparation and finalizing of the Trust Fund Project document.

Second mission (3 weeks; month 4)

1. In collaboration with the Team Leader/Nutritionist and the International Consultant, guide and facilitate the preparation of a draft project document that meets the identified needs in Country X, and which relates to FAO's corporate strategy on food security as well as the FAO/DONOR partnership programme.
2. In particular, work with the Team Leader/Nutritionist in elaborating the nutrition-related components and strategies of the project, as well as the institutional aspects relating to the establishment of collaborative partnerships with government and NGOs.
3. In collaboration with the National Project Director, prepare the workshop proceedings and the terminal project report.

Agronomy/Horticulture, AGPC (1 p/m in 2 missions)

First mission (2 weeks; month 1: 12 days in field; 3 at HQs)

1. Brief project team and members of National Advisory Committee on the rural and peri-urban/urban agriculture component of the project, and conduct advocacy/awareness creation on the importance of urban/peri-urban agriculture and food security as part of a comprehensive development process.
2. Brief the national agronomy consultant and prepare a work plan for the agricultural activities, including the procurement of inputs.
3. Collaborate in the selection of project sites and preparation of a preliminary list of priority crops and cultivars.
4. Provide technical specifications on inputs to be provided by the project.
5. Contribute to the formulation of the follow-up Trust Fund Project.
Second mission (2 weeks; 12 days in field and 3 days at HQs)

1. Review progress made with regard to the horticulture/agriculture activities.
2. Contribute to the preparation of extension and training materials.
3. Contribute to the formulation of the project's conclusions and recommendations and the preparation of the project's terminal report.

Participatory Methods and Institutional Analysis, SDAR/APO (3 p/m)

First mission (3 weeks; month 1)

1. In collaboration with the other FAO technical backstopping officers, facilitate an introduction of national consultants to the basic underlying concepts of indigenous knowledge, sustainable livelihoods, gender and in particular with regard to FAO/SDAR's expectations concerning stakeholder and beneficiary participation during the situation analysis, project formulation and implementation.
2. Provide technical backstopping and support the preparation of a work plan and the development of a detailed methodology for the identification of major project stakeholders, needs for and methods of secondary data-collection, as well as methods for data analysis and data verification.
3. Provide methodological inputs on how to carry out an institutional analysis at national, provincial and district levels to identify and agree on detailed project implementation arrangements with partner organizations.
4. Prepare a covering mission report giving main findings, conclusions and recommendations for follow-up.

Second mission (3 weeks; month 4)

1. Participate in provincial meeting to review the food security and nutrition situation analysis carried out by the project team and selected stakeholders.
2. Provide facilitation support to the provincial/district analysis and planning workshop to define project objectives and strategies.
3. In particular, collaborate with the National Participatory Methods and Institutional Expert and the HQ technical backstopping officers, when contributing to the preparation of the project document.
4. In collaboration with the national project team, present the project document and its rationale for review and discussion at the national project review meeting.
5. Prepare a covering mission report giving main findings, conclusions and recommendations for follow-up.

Third mission (6 weeks; months 8/9)

1. In collaboration with the National Participatory Methods and Institutional Analysis consultant and the FAO HQs backstopping officers, provide technical backstopping and facilitation support in preparing and conducting one training workshop for selected provincial and district staff on participatory appraisal methodology, focusing on the analysis of the food security and nutrition situation in the two project districts.
2. Provide methodological inputs and technical backstopping to the orientation and training workshop with regard to PRA methods, tools, attitudes, roles and with regard to how to design the thematic participatory appraisal, taking into account a sustainable livelihood perspective.
3. Participate in and guide the practical field training and its evaluation.
4. Following the field training, prepare and guide one planning and analysis workshop.
5. Provide methodological inputs and technical backstopping in the planning and analysis workshops with regard to using a SWOT analysis to structure and analyze data, group-specific causality and objective analysis and strategies development.
6. Prepare a covering mission report giving main findings, conclusions and recommendations for follow-up.

Annex 3

ESTIMATED COST FOR MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES

The miscellaneous materials and supplies are mostly for seed and planting material propagation, on-farm testing and demonstration activities in the selected rural, urban and peri-urban areas of the project, as follows:

Annex 4

Training Programme