Rural Development

Provision of TA to MEW to contribute to better management and sustainable protection of water and land use throughout the Panj-Amu Darya River Basin

The overall objective of the Project, of which this contract is part, is ‘to contribute to the improvement of rural livelihoods (food security and farm incomes) and thus to the overall economic recovery of Afghanistan, respectfully of the natural resource base.’. The purpose of this TA contract, which will contribute to the overall Project objective, is: ‘Water and land resources are more economically and equitably managed and sustainably protected.’

Results to be achieved through the contract include:

• Result 1: Integrated River Basin (RB) and project management capacity at central government, Panj-Amu River Basin and Upper & Lower Kunduz / Taloqan Sub-basin levels is further enhanced:
• Result 1.1: Basin and sub-basin organisations are in place while project management capacity is enhanced at central government level in relation to river basin;
• Result 1.2: Capacity for integrated river basin management further enhanced;
• Result 1.3: Land and water planning tools at basin level are operational;
• Result 2: Hydraulic systems are sustainably improved and Water Users' Associations / Groups (WUA/Gs) strengthen the existing Mirab system to allow a more equitable distribution of irrigation water and more efficient Operation & Maintenance (O&M) by the water users:
• Result 2.1: Irrigation, drainage and water flow control assets and structures in selected hydraulic systems in the Upper & Lower Kunduz and Taloqan sub-basins are rehabilitated and sustainably improved where appropriate;
• Result 2.2: Targeted communities represented by their WUAs have the technical, business and management skills required to improve the management of irrigation water and enhance its equitable distribution and ensure the application of their agreed O&M plans;
• Result 3: Biomass increases and physical and biological erosion control measures are adopted and replicated in selected sub-catchments;
• Result 4 (horizontal):
• Result 4.1: Any necessary administrative assistance is provided to the Contracting Authority in the management of the Programme;
• Result 4.2: Liaison, synergies and complementarities within the Programme and between the Programme and other similar initiatives are developed and lessons learned through programme implementation serve to improve the relevant sector policy development and programming (incl. institutional replication in other basins);
• Result 4.3: Local and governmental monitoring capacity is strengthened.

• Management of large-scale EC projects, preferably in a post-conflict environment and/or in Central or South-Asia, with a focus on institution building

Sanjiang Plain Wetlands Protection Project: Consulting Services for PMO Management Support and Project Implementation

The overall goal of the Sanjiang Plain Wetlands Protection Project is to protect the globally significant biodiversity and wetland ecosystem and promote sustainable livelihood development in line with poverty reduction.

The immediate objectives of the project are:

1. protection of the natural resources of the Sanjiang Plain wetlands and the watersheds (biodiversity, water, forests) from continued threats; and
2. promotion of sustainable use of natural resources through the integrated conservation planning, and the improved well being of local communities.

These components are:

• Component 1: Watershed Management;
• Component 2: Wetland Nature Reserve Management;
• Component 3: Alternative Livelihoods;
• Component 4: Education and Capacity Building;
• Component 5: Project Management

Establishing and Strengthening of Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS) System in Fisheries

The overall objective of the project is to establish a sustainable fisheries sector by strengthening the capacity of authorities to protect marine resources and enforce appropriate fishing management practices. To achieve this, a central national system of water area surveillance will be established in the framework of the European Common Fisheries Policies (CFP).

Results to be achieved:

1. Strengthen the Fishery Directorate’s capacity to manage MCS in fisheries. Build effectiveness in prevention of damage to marine resources and coastal ecosystems due to inappropriate or illegal fishing practices through restructuring and training of staff;
2. Ensure compliance of all authorities with the legal framework and EC Regulations;
3. Establish a functional Information Communication Plan and Vessel Monitoring System within the Coastal Guard and Ministry of Environment Forestry and Water Administration;
4. Establish and ensure the compliance of responsible fishing principles and norms within the fishermen community.

Technical Assistance for the institutional review of the Barbados Sugar Cane Industry

The overall objective of the Institutional Review of the Barbados Sugar Cane Industry is to facilitate the transition from the traditional sugar industry to a new sugar cane industry that functions more efficiently and that is more profitable than its predecessor. From this overall objective derives a threefold purpose, which is:

1. Institutional restructuring and strengthening of the Barbados Agricultural Management Corporation (BAMC);
2. Restructuring and strengthening of independent and small farmers;
3. Support to displaced workers.

• Improved management of the BAMC and the sugar farms;
• Improved financial performance of the BAMC and the sugar farms;
• Greater efficiency and cost effectiveness of the operations of BAMC’s agricultural equipment workshop;
• Greater efficiency and cost effectiveness in the harvesting and transport of cane from BAMC managed farms to the factory;
• Improved performance of BAMC’s Agronomy and Research Variety Testing Unit;
• Greater efficiency and cost effectiveness in the harvesting and transport of cane to the factory;
• More effective and efficient programme of incentives to stimulate sugar and non-sugar agricultural output;
• Provisions of solutions after consultation on and analysis of general concerns of growers;
• Identification of appropriate training needs for displaced workers;
• Identification of alternative opportunities for employment;
• Identification of finance and technical assistance resource needs for displaced workers who choose to become self-employed;
• Identification of the institutions that are best suited to assist displaced workers who choose to become self-employed.

Land Administration and Management Project: Component A: Security of Tenure and Registration of Immovable Property Rights / Public Awareness Campaign

The objective of the campaign is to raise public awareness on the first registration activities and mobilize support for the implementation of government reform of the immovable property registration system.

In the initial phase, the PAC will sensitize the public at large to the rationale and importance of immovable property first registration, the role, the rights and obligations of the owners of the immovable properties in the procedure and the cost to the individual.

During the second phase, the PAC will gradually shift its messages from awareness raising to educating the public regarding the government’s plans to improve the registration systems and, while new digital information archives and registries are put in place, encourage the citizens, municipal authorities as well as state and private enterprise managers and owners to register their properties in the revamped registration system.