GROUP 3 HOW TO STRENGTHEN MECHANISMS FOR EFFECTIVE COORDINATION, FUND MANAGEMENT AND MONITORING OF DEVELOPMENT RESULTS WITHIN THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR

QUESTION 1 What mechanisms should be there to enable effective co- ordination of development actors and improve programme delivery in agriculture? ANSWER The Planning and Policy Coordination (PP & C) department should be professionalised with key personnel from each of the key sectors and the unit should be semi-autonomous such that it can take quick decisions. The Unit must consist of Agricultural planner, crop specialist, Fishery specialist, irrigation specialist and M & E specialist e.t.c. The structure of the formerly existing PCU should be revisited as it effectively coordinated donor agencies and synergised within department The PCCU unit in operation for the climate change project can be replicated for all projects in FMARD

Question 1 contd Capacity of staffs in the planning should be built and Political will should be there to back up their activities Linking MDA’s like FMF and FMARD should be properly done for the purpose of proper monitoring Coordination desk should be established in the states and database built up for effective coordination. Fund should be made available for proper Monitoring and Evaluation Every activity or unit developed must be within the structure of FMARD and able to report to the accounting officer which is the Permanent Secretary The International collaboration and partnership division

QUESTION 2 What mechanisms are needed to overcome bottlenecks in programme effectiveness and fund flows? ANSWER FMARD should be proactive and plan projects into the future because the borrowing plan comes around only every two years Before the creation of the Policy Coordinating Unit, FMF should inform donors of borrowing plan ahead and them to submit their comprehensive projects plans. Following the creation of the unit, it will be their responsibility to engage the stakeholders. There should be a meeting on an annual basis driven by either FMARD or FMF discussing current and future projects that should be in the borrowing plan. This meeting will include various stakeholders.

Question 2 contd ……. The outcome of the annual meeting should be shared with the chairman Agriculture committee in the National Assembly. Staffs from FMARD involved in project design should be seconded to new projects in order to reduce delays to project effectiveness due to employment requirements. At the state level, advocacy through traditional rulers and politicians should be adopted for the purpose of addressing salary and counterpart fund issues

QUESTION 3 How to institutionalise a performing M & E system for the agricultural sector ANSWER Ensure appropriation of funding for M & E activities. Capacity building for M & E staffs. The full implementation of robust M & E Framework developed by ministry of Budget and National planning. This framework should be keyed into by FMARD. M & E division of P & PC department should be professionalised. A functional and ICT compliant databank should be developed and housed by the M & E department. A meeting should be called for all M & E officers biannually so as to collate all data gathered.

Question 3 contd ……. Continuous capacity building of project staff at State and National project offices. Agreement reached at state level to ensure that staffs are retained throughout the lifespan of project.