Presentation: Agriculture and Livelihoods Donor Working Group Meeting - September 2015

European CommissionPresentation: Agriculture and Livelihoods Donor Working Group Meeting Period covered: 10 September 2015 Prepared by Angus Graham and Omotayo Alabi on behalf of Cardno Emerging Markets (UK) Ltd Lead Member of Cardno Consortium: Project Nº 2015/362919 Support to implementing partners of SORUDEV, ZEAT-BEAD and FSTP

Angus Graham and Omotayo Alabi presented the EU Rural Development Programme.

After the independence of South Sudan in 2011, the challenge was building new institutions and policies.  International assistance was directed towards infrastructure development and livelihoods support. Then a new crisis in December 2013 changed the operating context.

The Programme has a continguous and integrated agenda including:

• Institutional development
• Sector transformation
• Economic growth
• Food and nutrition security
• Relief and recovery

The Programme targets the three greater regions of South Sudan (referred to  as Three Zones) with different types of assistance.  In Equatoria where it is stable, programs are investment led.  In Greater Bahr el Ghazal, where it is less stable, programs are targeted at transitional assistance.  In Upper Nile where critical emergency situations dominate due to the conflict, the programs are focused on life saving support.

The Programme structure has three major components:

• Zonal Effort for Agricultural Transformation (ZEAT)
• South Sudan Rural Development (SORUDEV)
• Food Security Thematic Programme (FSTP)

More specifically, the Programme consists of the following detailed components:

• Food Security Policy, Planning, Programming and Decision Making in Southern Sudan improved – contribution agreement with FAO (7 m EUR)
• Increased smallholders’ agricultural production in selected project areas – Service Contracts and Grant Agreements (12.6 m EUR)  
• Rural Feeder road network and state roads maintenance capacity increased in selected states – contribution agreement with WFP (20.3 m euro)
• Support provided to formulation of national policies and standards and enhanced coordination capacities of central and State Governments – service contract (7 m euro) and contribution agreement with FAO (1 m)
• Supply of agricultural and livestock inputs and services expended on a sustainable basis – Contribution Agreement with FAO (12.5 m euro) and Delegation Agreement with GIZ (4 m euro).
• Enhanced local value chain addition and strengthened value chains – contribution agreement with UNIDO (2 m euro) and grant agreement with 4 NGOs (2 m euro)
• Improved basic technical, literacy and numeracy skills among smallholder, families and community members in agro pastoralist settings – contribution agreement with FAO (5 m euro).
• Increased in trades and marketing volume – contribution agreement with UNOPS (38 m euro)

EU partners in the four states include:

• In Western Bahr el Ghazal: SORUDEV (HARD and EFP), ZEAT-BEAD (FAO, GIZ, UNIDO and UNOPS), and FSTP (PIN and Concern)
• In Northern Bahr el Ghazal: SORUDEV (Concern), ZEAT-BEAD (FAO, GIZ, UNIDO and UNOPS); FSTP (PIN and Concern)
• In Warrap State: SORUDEV (NRC), ZEAT-BEAD (FAO, GIZ, UNIDO and UNOPS), and FSTP (VSF and World Vision)
• In Lakes: SORUDEV (NPA) and ZEAT-BEAD (FAO, GIZ, UNIDO and UNOPS)

The 2014 WAU Resolution among implementing partners at the quarterly review meeting focused on BENEFICIARY DEPENDENCY and cited area based programming coherence and targeted actions and delivery options as priority issues.

The Programme pursues the following strategy:

• Focuses on rural communities
• Intends to increase agriculture production and marketing, and income to farmers Objectives override all components projects
• Targets farmers with high production or potential
• Is the same in 4 states of Greater Bahr el Ghazal
• Does not have relief or LRRD actions
• Oriented towards increasing self-sufficiency

The first objective of increasing production will be pursued through extension to farmers (focused on knowledge, skills and technology) requiring:

• Farmer/community contacts
• Providing extension kits
• Demonstration and observation
• Linkages to research and universities

Through FAO and NGOs, the output will be to strengthen NGO ongoing extension efforts through developing and implementing a system of training accrediting and licensing of categories of extension workers.

The second objective of increasing production through improving the availability and accessibility of inputs (supplier/agro-dealers and their agents) requiring:

• Suitability
• Variety
• Availability
• Terms of trade
• Quality and specialization

Through FAO, the outcome will be to support the creation of an expanded network of vetted agro-dealers linked to accredited suppliers of inputs that meet specific needs of farmers (specification and price) to increase production and marketing.

The third objective of increasing production through stimulating market demand for products (selected value chain activities) including:

• Cereals and grains
• Groundnuts
• Livestock
• Hides and skins

Through GIZ, UNIDO and FAO, the first impact will be to raise quality/value of product at source, reduce losses and wastage, and increase farm earnings.  This will be achieved by supporting the creation of a rural financing network that is farmer focused and locally adapted.

The fourth objective of increasing marketing through reducing cost of access to markets (key infrastructures), including:

• Feeder roads
• Warehouses
• Processing facilities
• Information

Through UNOPS and WFP, the impact will be to improve feeder roads that pass through production areas so as to link them to markets close to intersections with trunk roads.

In terms of Thematic Evaluation Areas, the EU is seeking input from other donors and DPs on what questions should be asked?

In conclusion, the presentation pointed out the following:

• International community must start to work on sustainability and not only limited humanitarian response
• Pending a peace agreement, a new political framework needs reactivation with building of institutional resilience
• A supporting environment conducive to collaboration and coordination among multiple agencies is needed
• Forums need to be designed and developed, and information and lessons learned shared
• Coverage and breadth of information systems needs to be expanded and records of results improved.