NORMATIVE FRAMEWORK

TRUST FUND PROJECT FORMAT

"Land Use Planning for Sustainable Land Resources Development"

(Part II: PROJECT DESIGN)

A. GENERAL BACKGROUND

1. Major constraints and challenges for sustainable land resources development

Information on the endowment of the country with land resources. Importance of land as a resource base for agriculture. Land pressure resulting from population growth. Main features of current farming systems. Conflicts over land use in urban/peri-urban areas. Conflicts between arable farming and grazing for livestock production. Scope for sustainable use of land resources.

2. Host country strategy

Concise descriptions of what strategies and objectives have been articulated by the Government concerning natural resource management and land use in particular. Relevant strategy and policy elements of the strategies can be highlighted by bullet points.

3. Prior or on-going assistance in support of land use planning

Brief information on specific programmes/projects (donors, major activities, and impact).

4. Institutional framework for the land use planning

Areas of responsibility of government, parastatal or private institutions as they relate to land use planning and management. Indication of primary responsibility for solving the problem and thus where to locate the project.

Data Needs:

• Main features of the commonly distinguished agro-ecological zones.
• National land resources and their present use (arable land, pastures, forest and woodland).
• Population (size, distribution urban/rural, growth, urban/rural, migration, growth centres).
• Ration between total population and total arable land; major farming systems.
• Estimated loss of arable land to non-agricultural use (hectares per year.)
• Livestock numbers by type and geographic concentration and production system.
• Legal framework (list of decrees and laws concerning land use).
• Government objectives/policy statements relevant to land use planning.
• Ongoing programmes and other relevant measures for sustainable land resources development.
• List of relevant completed and/or on-going external assistance in land use planning.
• Organization of relevant ministries with budget and staffing.

Data Sources:

• Ministry of Agriculture/Department of Land Resources (central and provincial levels)
• Ministry of Planning/Finance
• Office of FAO Representative
• FAO Technical Division concerned
• Farmers Groups

B. PROJECT RATIONALE-JUSTIFICATION

1. Problem to be addressed; the present situation

Concise description of the key issues that need to be addressed. The magnitude of the problems in the national context should be indicated. Competition between agricultural sub-sectors for the same land. Scarcity of agricultural land. Unsustainable use of land. Importance of agriculture as a source of livelihood that will set the stage for project design.

2. Expected end-of-project situation and sustainability of project results

A simple one or two sentence statement of the project goal is required here. Additional bullet points may highlight major objectives of the project and the key actions the Government has to take to achieve the project goal.

3. Target beneficiaries

Brief description of the major groups of stakeholders which would benefit from the project (farmers, herdsmen, foresters, urban and rural dwellers).

4. Project strategy

Explain the rationale for choosing the approach to be followed in future to overcome existing problems with unsustainable land use practices. Describe the technical and institutional activities and outputs required to reach the specific project objectives. Previous efforts undertaken by the country in putting land use on a sustainable basis should be cited.

5. Institutional framework and counterpart support capacity

Describe the institutional arrangements and responsibilities for project implementation, provide a description of the Government implementation agency (location, functions, organizational structure, financial and staff resources) and how the project would fit into the structure. Describe the project's organizational structure and the respective managerial responsibilities for national and international staff.

6. Reasons for assistance from FAO/Government Cooperative Programme.

Text needs to document FAO's comparative advantage in being a partner with the Government in the improvement of land resources management.

7. Special considerations

This section can highlight special conditions of interest to the Government, the donor, FAO and the international community as a whole. These might include the need for national capacity building, sustainability of project achievements, impact on poverty alleviation, empowering women and their role in the development of the country.

8. Coordination arrangements

Indicate coordination with other parts of the Government and/or parastatal or private sector which would have an indirect role in project implementation. There may be need for a steering committee to inform and coordinate among any overlapping responsibilities.

Data Needs:

• Indicators of conflicts over use of land.
• Description of major groups of stakeholders.
• Share of agricultural sector in GDP, agricultural exports, employment (%).
• Composition of agricultural GDP by sub-sectors.
• Key indicators of FAO’s comparative advantage (cite examples of FAO-assisted projects in land use planning).
• Basic data concerning relevant ministries, parastatals, private sector institutions.

Data Sources:

• Ministry of Agriculture/Department of Land Resources (central and provincial levels)
• Ministry of Planning/Finance
• Office of FAO Representative
• FAO Technical Division concerned
• Farmers Groups

C. DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVE

Explain how the project would contribute to accomplishing Government long-term development objectives in general and the improvement of land resources management in particular.

Data Needs:

• Development targets set for the economy sub-sector with specific reference to the agricultural sector and the sustainable use of land resources.

Data Sources:

• Ministry of Agriculture/Department of Land Resources
• Ministry of Planning

D. IMMEDIATE OBJECTIVE(S), OUTPUTS AND ACTIVITIES

Outputs

1.1 Output 1: A set of guidelines providing an agreed, integrated and coordinated institutional approach to land use planning.

Activities

1.1.1 Activity 1: Carry out a study to examine the existing legislation and customary rules concerning land allocation, land tenure and land use, with recommendations for changes to the legal framework where considered necessary.
1.1.2 Activity 2: Conduct a study on the current farming systems in the country and identify more sustainable farming systems.
1.1.3 Activity 3: Continue implementation and coordination activities.

2. Immediate objective 2: Strengthen national capacity to apply modern concepts of land management.

Outputs

2.1. Output 1: A nucleus of trained extension staff, farmers and farmers' representatives, and village and district land authorities in order to replicate the expansion of modern concepts of land use planning.

Activities

2.1.1 Activity 1: Provide training lectures on modern approaches to land evaluation and land use training.
2.1.2 Activity 2: Organize national and local level workshops on land management.

Data Needs:

• Institutional responsibilities for land management at central, provincial and district level.
• Indicators of weaknesses in the management of sustainable land use.
• Number of workshops held.
• Number of staff/farmers/other stakeholders trained in land use matters.
• Names and types of manuals or reports prepared.

Data Sources:

• Ministry of Agriculture/Department of Land Resources (Central and district level)/Legal Department/ Extension Service
• FAO Technical Division concerned

E. INPUTS

The inputs to be provided to carry out planned activities (goods, services, personnel, vehicles, equipment) must be sufficient to produce the project outputs and to achieve the stated objectives. The description should specify: (i) international and national consultants (specialization and duration), equipment (quantity and specification), fellowships and study tours (field and duration of study) etc. and (ii) purpose for which provided. The timing and sequencing of inputs should be shown in the work plan annexed, together with a detailed description of inputs that are to be used.

Data Needs:

• Details on goods (type and quantity), services (nature and length of period), personnel (specialization and duration), vehicles (type and quantity), equipment (quantity and specification): - See also Section I. "Budget".

Data Sources:

• Ministry of Agriculture/Department of Land Resources

F. RISKS

Risks are generally interpreted in terms of the negative effects of unexpected events. Some mention needs to be made of the probability of the risks occurring, the effects if they do occur, and how the project has been designed to mitigate such risks.

Data Needs:

• Examples of events that negatively affected projects in the past and information on corrective measures taken at the time.

Data Sources:

• Ministry of Agriculture/Department of Land Resources
• Office of the FAO Representative
• FAO Technical Division concerned

G. PRIOR OBLIGATIONS AND PRE-REQUISITES

Describe Actions to be taken by Government to facilitate implementation, but also for commencing starting up the project (prior obligation), and to facilitate implementation. Discuss actions which do not affect commencement start up but which can cause serious disruption during implementation (pre-requisites). Actions necessary for starting up the project and ensure a smooth implementation are examples of significant actions that Government should commit to and effect, prior to the project being funded or signed by the donor or implementing agency. If these obligations cannot be reasonably met by Government prior to commencement of the project, they can be included in the outputs, activities and inputs of the project.

Data Needs:

• List of relevant policy documents and laws.

Data Sources:

• Ministry of Agriculture/Department of Land Resources
• Legal Department

H. PROJECT REPORTING, REVIEWS AND EVALUATION

Project monitoring and evaluation requirements are subject of discussion with the concerned donor and may vary according to budget size and donor requirements. The arrangements should conform, to the extent possible, to the general Monitoring and Evaluation Systems appropriate for FAO Trust Fund projects, as outlined in the "Guidelines for Project Formulation for Trust Fund Projects.".

Data Needs:

• Actual implementation of activities as compared to work plan.
• Identification of specific problems and constraints.
• Project expenditures.
• Recommendations for corrective measures that may be required.

Data Sources:

• Project records/Project staff
• Records from the Agricultural Extension Service and regional/provincial/local government
• On-going participatory monitoring
• Ministry of Agriculture/Department of Land Resources

I. BUDGET (PLAN OF EXPENDITURE)

Line items and formats vary with the Trust Fund Donor. Typically, a distinction is made between:

(i) Government Contribution in Kind (estimated in local currency)

Personnel
Travel
Miscellaneous/General Operating Expenses
Equipment
Premises
Training, and

(ii) Donor Contribution (estimated in US$)

Personnel
Office Travel
Contractual Services
Supplies and Materials
Furniture and Equipment
Acquisition and Improvement of Premises
Training, Fellowships, Grants and Contributions.

 

Data Needs:

• Personnel (number of person-months and unit costs for national professional and support staff, and for international and national consultants).
• Travel (number, itinerary and traveller specifications).
• Cost of domestic and international travel, including DSA.
• Miscellaneous/General operating expenses (a fixed rate).
• Contractual Services (details, duration).
• Equipment (quantity and unit cost; see also list of equipment in Annex III).
• Supplies and Materials (quantities and per unit cost of stationery and supplies).
• Premises (description of location and current state).
• Training (training needs by categories, numbers, levels, discipline, location, and cost per unit).
• FAO support cost (fixed rate which varies by type of project).

Data Sources:

• Team Leader
• Ministry of Agriculture/Department of Land Resources
• Office of FAO Representative
• UNDP
• Suppliers of equipment
• Travel agents

J. ANNEXES

I. Work Plan

II. Training Programme (if required)

III. Equipment/Supplies (if required)

IV. Job Descriptions (if required)

V. Logical Framework Matrix (if required)

Annex I. Work Plan

The detailed work plan, prepared by the project formulators for the entire project duration, is to show how, with the budgeted resources, project activities are to be implemented and outputs produced. For each significant activity the work plan should show the timeframe, the unit responsible and the major inputs required. The work plan is updated every year. A bar chart can be used for presentation.

Data Needs:

• Details listing of activities.
• Project reporting, reviews and evaluation requirements.
• Phasing/timeframe of project activities.

Data Sources:

• Main body of project document.
• Team Leader
• Ministry of Agriculture/Department of Land Resources

Annex II. Training Programme

This Annex is required when substantial or complex training programmes are involved. There is no fixed format for this Annex which may be drawn to whatever level of detail is needed for the project; nature and timing/duration of the intended training (workshops, seminars, fellowships, study tours).

Data Needs:

• Detailed quantitative estimates of training needs, numbers, level, subject location, duration, cost estimates.

Data Sources:

• Team Leader
• Ministry of Agriculture/Department of Land Resources
• FAO Technical Division concerned

Annex III. Equipment/Supplies

This Annex is required only in projects where the cost of equipment and supplies represent more than 10 percent of the total project cost.

Data Needs:

• Nature and specification, quantity and unit cost of individual items.

Data Sources:

• Assessment of availability and needs
• Donors requirements,
• Ministry of Agriculture/Department of Land Resources
• Team Leader
• Local suppliers
• On-going development projects
• Office of FAO Representative concerned

Annex IV. Job Descriptions

This Annex should provide detailed Terms of Reference/job descriptions for international and/or national experts that would be involved in the project.

Data Needs:

• Detailed listing of project personnel, indicating expertise required, location and duration of assignment.

Data Sources:

• Ministry of Agriculture/Department of Land Resources
• Team Leader,
• FAO Technical Division concerned

Annex V. Logical Framework Matrix

A useful planning, verification and document writing tool. The matrix should be prepared early in the formulation process and modified as and when need arises. Completing the matrix forces the writer to write concisely and logically when formulating objectives, critically defining indicators of achievement and the means of verification, and discussing assumptions about carrying out the activities.

Data Needs:

• See Section C. "Immediate Objective(s), Outputs and Activities"; plus , indicators of achievement, means of verification and, assumptions for each these levels of the project hierarchy.

Data Sources:

• Project request, project concept and project rationale-justification
• Ministry of Agriculture/Department of Land Resources