European Union South Sudan Cooperation Funded by the
European Union / South Sudan Cooperation Funded by the European Union Government of South Sudan EU Pro-Resilience Action (PRO-ACT) FOOD SECURITY THEMATIC PROGRAMME CRISIS PREVENTION AND POSTCRISIS RESPONSE STRATEGY PROJECTS GREATER UPPER NILE (GUN) AND GREATER BAHR EL GHAZAL (GBEG) INTER-REGIONAL THEMATIC WORKSHOP
Eddington Chinyoka & Taban Kaps Roberts, Norwegian Refugee Council: Contract Reference: NO-2010 -BTL-1201688693 Project: SORUDEV Funded by The European Union PRESENTATION TOPIC Institutional and Community Based Organisations Support
Project Background Norwegian Refugee Council Increased agricultural production and income for smallholder farmers affected by displacement in Warrap State of South Sudan Objectives Overall objective: To contribute to increased food security, reduced vulnerability and enhanced livelihoods of rural households in South Sudan Specific objective: “Smallholder farmers in Warrap State have increased sustainable and diversified agricultural production and income” Target group(s) 30, 000 returnees, internally displaced persons (IDPs) and host community members, of which 70% are female and 60% are returnees and IDPs (5, 000 households). Final beneficiaries 638, 701 people (329, 572 female and 309, 129 male) in Twic, Gogrial West, Gogrial East and Tonj South Counties of Warrap State Estimated results R 1 - County and Payam level agricultural extension systems strengthened and providing support to small holder farmers throughout the farming season R 2 – Smallholder farmers have improved access to inputs, knowledge and skills in diversified crop production, post-harvest management and environmental protection R 3 – Smallholder farmers have access to and adopt animal traction technology and other improved farming implements R 4 – Smallholder farmers have increased access to markets and other value chain actors
Institutional and CBO Support Introduction: The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is implementing the Smallholder component of the South Sudan Rural Development Programme (SORUDEV) in Warrap State in close collaboration with the State Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (SMAF) and 2 Local implementing partners (Lukluk Community Association for Development -LCAD and Ox-plough Farming Agency. OFA). The implementation strategy of the project is in such a way that the capacity of CBOs is built for sustainability of the programme activities.
Institutional Support State Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Cooperatives and Rural Development (SMAF/C&RD) • A key partner in the achievement of the project results – faced major institutional constraints, including, lack of capacity both technical and material/ resources • 41 Extension workers supported through technical trainings (FFS, VSLA SMA/C&RD v Training 4 extension staff sent for a 9 months Agricultural extension course in Yei v Support to conduct extension visits. v Office equipment e. g computers and printers, v Solar power of offices v Transport equipment v Incentives v Maintenance cost of equipment (motorbikes).
Community Based Organisations As part of ensuring the longer sustainability of the project, NRC envisages that the local NGO partners will continue to work directly and indirectly with beneficiary farmers in agricultural production after the end of the action. NRC identified areas for development in the capacity of the two partner NGOs, • • Ox-Plough Farmers Association (OFA), Luk Community Association for Development (L-CAD) Identification of the CBOs • Invitation of CBOs with physical presence in the 4 Counties of Warrap where Project is being implemented. • CBOs capacity assessment; looking at the CBO registration certificates, experience in implementing projects, operational capacity and CBO policies Areas of Support • Grants management and execution, • Technical elements of the project cycle management. • Provision of office equipment that are very crucial for running of the office (Computers, Desks, Chairs, Printers, Motorcycles, Installation of Solar System as source of power) • Staff training
Successes • Extension capacity of State Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Cooperatives and Rural Development • Knowledgeable extension staff in innovative approach such as ox ploughing, FFS, VSLA, • Improved chances of sustainability after the action ends • Overall improvement of the efficiency of the State Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Cooperatives and Rural Development due to enabling equipment and resources • Computers, printers, copiers and scanners enabled improved office work, management of data and communication • Improved Community Based execution of projects • Improved accountability by CBOs
Challenges • No clear guidelines on working with partners in South Sudan for NRC and that led to delayed signing of implementation agreements and funds transfer to CBOs. • Non compliance to the agreed project implementation strategy • Limited operational capacity of the CBO to cover a wide area • Poor communication by CBO partners • Mismanagement of the CBO by management. • Staff turnover Government and CBOs due to skills improvement • Abuse of materials, (Motorbikes used as public transport to carry people • Irresponsible Govt Staff getting access to means of transport fueled their ability to embark on personal activities at the cost of the project resources
Lessons learnt and Recommendation • There is need to have a robust system to monitor resources handed over to Partner institutions. • There is need to do have a meticulous assessment and background check for potential CBOs to minimize risk of funds mismanagement. • Capacitation of Govt ministry ensures sustainability of the project but this can be improved by a clear monitoring system. • Support or training on Human resources is also necessary not only focusing on finance and technical aspects, in order for CBO and Govt institution to improve on organisational culture, and ethics • Proper assessment of CBO structure (Board of Directors, Organogram, policies and operational capacity) • Development of clear CBOs capacity development strategy. • CBO capacity development expert whose role will be to coordinate the capacity building activities for the CBO.
Funded by the European Union Government of South Sudan THANK YOU
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