NORMATIVE FRAMEWORK

TCP PROJECT FORMAT

"Edible Mushroom Cultivation"

(Explanatory Note: Mushroom cultivation projects can share some common fundamental elements, the main characteristic being a production sector in which the environment is almost totally controlled, and access to land as a production resource is not an issue. From the agronomic viewpoint, mushroom cultivation is somewhat peripheral to horticulture; nonetheless, it has important implications for food and nutrition security, as well as family income generation.)

I. PROJECT SUMMARY

This is a concise statement of the objective of the project, FAO inputs and expected results by the end of the project.

Example introductory text: Cultivated edible saprophytic mushrooms are considered to be a good nourishing food, especially in terms of proteins, minerals, vitamins as well as the most important amino-acids. The cultivation of mushrooms is a valid and readily adopted diversification option, particularly in areas where mono-crop farming prevails, and there is scarce availability of the range of foodstuffs needed for a balanced family diet. Moreover, as mushroom farming is labour intensive, it may create employment opportunities for people outside the family, especially in a sector such as the agri-food industry which is important for the local economy.

Data Needs:
· Main features of the project with emphasis on expected outcomes.

Data Sources:
· Individual sections of project report

II. BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION

See TCP Guidelines.

Identify the problem for which assistance is requested and provide evidence that TCP criteria - which govern eligibility for TCP funding - are met. Most importantly, describe the critical gap in national/local capability and indicate how the TCP assistance should serve to bridge it.

Example text may include such statements as:
The cultivation of edible saprophytic mushrooms can:
- contribute to increasing family income in general and income for women in particular;
- help overcome nutritional problems in rural areas, especially among women and children;
- be carried out in farm buildings as it does not need farming land;
- be undertaken with no considerable investment and the growing period is short;
- easily be put into practice as farming techniques are readily understandable and suitable for small farms;
- generate re-utilizable organic waste that can improve soil structure;
- serve as a means to create or expand local food processing cooperatives.

Data Needs:
· Description of the mushroom sector and socio-economic relevance, including details on traditions of cultivation and consumption, markets, export, availability of suitable agricultural waste as substrate material.
· Information about institutional set-up and capacity to support mushroom sector development.

Data Sources:
· Ministry of Environment/Forestry/Agriculture
· NGOs
· Universities
· Other international agencies, including other UN agencies

III. OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSISTANCE

"This section will state briefly but in specific terms, the particular objectives(s) which the project is expected to achieve. The project objective is defined as a specific aim to be achieved and formulated as the expected future improved situation after the successful completion of the project. The statement should be drafted wherever possible in terms permitting subsequent verification of project accomplishments." (TCP Guidelines)

State the specific objectives of the assistance, such as the project will aim to:

1. Set up a pilot mushroom unit in X region for the production of mycelium and spawn and for developing adapted, simple cultivation techniques.
2. Train technicians in managing a mycelium and spawn laboratory, culture collection, maintenance and storage.
3. Develop a scheme for the distribution of quality spawn to supply interested farmers in rural and urban areas.
4. Introduce new lines of edible saprophytic mushroom suitable to local conditions, and disseminate information on mushroom cultivation to selected small farmers.

Data Needs:
· Quantitative indicators to monitor the number of people likely to be touched as direct and indirect beneficiaries.

Data Sources:
· Ministry of Environment/Forestry/Agriculture
· Local/Regional Institutions
· NGOs

IV. PROJECT OUTPUTS (RESULTS)

"Outputs (results) to be defined in this section, are the specific products of activities undertaken, the combined use of which by project beneficiaries will achieve the objective of the project, provided assumptions about external factors are correct. They should be defined in terms that permit their verification in quantity, quality and time, and should be consistent with the project objective and design, and provide the basis for the elaboration of a clear, detailed work plan." (TCP Guidelines)

This section is a simple, concise listing, using quantitative terms, of the specific outputs expected to be produced by the project. These tangible outputs can be elaborated in bullet points, such as:

- An operational laboratory, fully equipped and staffed, capable of producing up to XX a year of spawn (basis for potential production of XX tonnes of fresh mushrooms);
- A working mushroom culture collection for preserving and producing mycelium, both from spores and tissue culture, for supporting spawn production, with XX laboratory technicians trained;
- A system of working linkages developed with the XX mushroom laboratory which will build up a central mycelium bank and a cascading mother spawn production and distribution facility;
- Diffusion and adoption by local growers of suitable new edible mushroom lines;
- Up to XX field technicians (trainers) and up to XX farmers trained on cultivation methods of edible saprophytic mushrooms;
- Guidelines prepared for methods to semi-process and preserve edible mushrooms, applicable at farmer level and appropriate for industry requirements;
- Guidelines for the establishment and conduct of mushroom growers' cooperatives and associations.

Data Needs:
· Training needs assessment and level of training required.
· Number of personnel and farmers to be trained.
· Availability and condition of equipment for field and laboratory activities.
· Quantified, realistic targets for spawn production related to total mushroom production.

Data Sources:
· Ministry of Environment/Forestry/Agriculture
· Local/Regional Institutions
· NGOs

V. WORK PLAN

A timetable, sufficiently specific to serve as a practical guide for the National Project Coordinator, selected by the Government, the national experts and consultants on what activity should be carried out at what time, what place and be implemented by whom.

The timetable and accompanying narrative should also serve as an instrument for monitoring project implementation and achievement for both the Government and FAO.

Data Needs:
· Estimate and logical sequence of the major project activities and input needs.

Data Sources:
· Ministry of Environment/Forestry/Agriculture - national implementing agency

VI. CAPACITY BUILDING

A paragraph describing how this TCP assistance is expected to enhance the capacity of national personnel and local communities to respond to the challenge of promoting sector development. It should include details of how the use of such expertise will contribute to building capacity in the national institution/country. Interventions to support rural community mobilization, such as the setting up of associations, cooperative societies or growers' unions etc., should also be mentioned here.

Data Sources:
· Ministry of Environment/Forestry/Agriculture - national implementing agency

VII. INPUTS TO BE PROVIDED BY FAO

See TCP guidelines, Annex 1, pages iii to vi.

A concise description of each input under the respective numbered line items below. Sufficient detail on each budget line should be provided. The sum of related amounts of each sub-category under each line item should add up to the total for the line item. Supplies and Materials and Equipment line items can be detailed, item by item, in an annex. The number to be procured and estimated costs of each item need to be shown. A "miscellaneous" item is not accepted but "miscellaneous laboratory glassware" is acceptable.

a) Personnel services
Technical services of international and/or national experts/consultants
- International consultants/experts
- FAO Advisory Technical Services (ATS)
- National experts and consultants
- International expertise under Partnership Programmes (i.e. TCDC/TCCT or Retired experts and consultants)
- Administrative support
- Supervisory Technical Services (STS)

Priority and preference should be given to the employment of competent experts under the TCDC/TCCT programmes in countries that have signed these agreements. There are specific limits to the use of international expertise at UN rates. Project drafters are advised to consult with the TCP Unit before preparing the staffing inputs and budgets.

b) Official travel
c) Contracts, Letters of Agreements or Contractual Service Agreements
d) General operating expenses (GOE)
e) Materials, supplies and equipment:
- Materials and supplies
- Equipment
f) Direct operating cost (DOC)
g) Training:
- Study tours
- In-country workshops
- Fellowships and academic training
- Young Professionals for on-the-job training

Data Needs:
· Number, type and cost of each input (numbers of staff participating, items, internal trips, cost per day, DSA rate, monthly consultant rate, etc.).

Data Sources:
· Ministry of Agriculture/Trade/Health/Industry
· FAO
· UNDP
· Local suppliers

VIII. REPORTING

See TCP Guidelines.

Periodic and Mission reports are required for operational monitoring of projects so that technical and operating divisions of FAO can monitor the delivery and utilization of inputs. These reports give a TCP project the required flexibility to meet changing needs and are used to make decisions on project extensions and budget revisions. Technical reports add to the body of technical knowledge about specific diseases.

It is essential that the document specify who is to prepare these reports and at what intervals. This is particularly true for the Terminal Statement. If the writer of this document is not specified, the technical officer assumes this responsibility.

Data Sources:
· Project records
· Project staff
· Ministry of Environment/Forestry/Agriculture - national implementing agency

IX. GOVERNMENT CONTRIBUTION AND SUPPORTING ARRANGEMENTS

This paragraph needs to clearly set out: (i) the resources to be contributed by the Government; (ii) designation of Government responsibility for arranging for duty-free customs clearance, full access to laboratories and their test results, and access to the field which may be under provincial or district authority. Commitment from the Government to facilitate food producers, consumer organizations and food research institutions and universities in the project activities. All need to be included in this section as they might apply.

See in particular TCP Guidelines, Annex I, p. vii and the following excerpts:
Request must be accorded high priority by the Government, which must also ensure that the required local support facilities and services will be available and that follow-up action will be taken...

Requests must provide assurance of the fullest possible participation of the Government in project execution, through such means as the use of national institutions, personnel and resources (Annex IVa, page i).

Each project should be supervised by a National Project Coordinator nominated and paid by the Government. National Project Professional Personnel or consultants recruited by FAO are fully accountable to the Organization and cannot be on the Government payroll at the time of their assignment (p. 10, par 46). They may not be recruited from the counterpart institution/cooperating agency (Annex 1, page iv).

Data Needs:
· Government contribution in terms of cash, personnel time, facilities, vehicles, laboratories, building and office space (for workshops and other), secretarial and translation/interpretation expertise.

Data Sources:
· Ministry of Agriculture/Trade/Health/Industry

X. PROJECT BUDGET

The project budget covering the FAO contribution is prepared by FAO, based on elements received from the requesting country. See TCP Guidelines for explanatory details.

Data Needs:
· Numerical details on FAO contribution in US$ by budget line.

Data Sources:
· Team Leader, plus national and international project staff
· FAO
· UNDP
· Equipment suppliers
· Travel agents

XI. ATTACHMENTS TO PROJECT AGREEMENT

1. Description of the training programme.
2. Description of Advisory Technical Services and Supervisory Technical Services.
3. Description of services to be provided under contracts.
4. Itemized list of equipment.
5. Itemized list of materials and supplies.
6. Terms of reference including description of required qualifications for each international and national consultant/expert and where appropriate for the National Project Coordinator.

Data Needs:
· Quantitative estimates and descriptions/specifications as relevant to the above attachment.
· Terms of Reference (TOR) for each national and international project staff member including FAO technical staff members contributing to the project. TORs for short-term staff inputs (weeks to several months) need to describe precise, time-bound activities and outputs expected. Longer-term staff inputs should be more generally phrased to allow some flexibility and cover unforeseen occurrences.

Data Sources:
· Project staff
· Ministry of Environment/Forestry/Agriculture - national implementing agency