Profile 1 Coordination

Project title: Establishment and operation of ASBP Coordination
Relevant ASBP Components: All 6 components
Potential Implementing Partners: AU, RECs, SROs, Regional Offices of Specialized agencies, National focal points
Project Duration: 5-7years

Rationale:

The African Seed and Biotechnology Programme is aimed at providing a comprehensive and strategic approach to overcome current barriers and obstacles to seed industry development in Africa and to further enhance the development of the seed sector which is considered as a critical element in achieving food security in Africa. The smooth implementation of the continent-wide seed programme will require an efficient and effective coordination mechanism in view of the large number of countries, partners and stakeholders as well as activities to be involved. It is proposed to establish a coordination unit in the African Union Commission headquarters, located in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to ensure effective communication with AU member countries, and to ensure the Programme builds on existing continental, regional and national efforts. The establishment of the coordination setup should be one of the first steps in the implementation of the ASBP.

Objective:

The objective of the project is to assist in the establishment of a coordination mechanism which will ensure opportunities for the full and effective participation of all relevant stakeholders in the planning and implementation of activities. It will collaborate with a wide-range of organizations and interests to develop detailed project proposals and plan the implementation of projects, as well as establish a programme monitoring and evaluation process.

Activities:

The programme will run for 5 to 7years and adopt a devolved strategy of assigning high degrees of responsibility to participating partners by which relevant agencies and institutions will fully implement activities within their competence and mandate. In support of this strategy, a coordination unit made up of a secretariat and an advisory body will be established. to which RECs as leadership agencies are subsidiary. FARA and sub-regional organizations (SROs) will serve as management agencies to the RECs. SROs will also serve as implementation wings of FARA. At the base of the main organogram’ agencies such as the private sector, farmer’s organizations, networks, seed initiatives etc, will act as implementing agencies and carry out project activities.

The activities of the coordination mechanism will include the following:

• Identification, formulation and implementation of programme activities.
• Strengthening of contacts between the programme and other stakeholders involved in Africa’s formal and informal seed sectors.
• Preparation of revisions of the programme work plans and budgets as may be required.
• Development of an efficient system to document investments in specific activities and progress achieved in respect of programme objectives
• Arranging project studies,
• monitoring and evaluation processes at various stages
• Preparation and submission of progress reports.

Expected Results and Outputs:

The project should lead to an efficient and effective management and coordination structure by which at national, regional and continental levels, activities show clear mandates and ownership and are being carried out in close coordination with each other and with serious commitment of member country policy makers, the international donor community, CGIAR centres, African regional networks, farming organizations, seed companies, biotechnology providers and the civil society.

Other results will be the regular publication of reports and technical manuals in relation to studies, methodologies, progress, evaluation and monitoring. Such outputs will be regularly distributed to partners, national programmes, donors, FAO and AU etc.