01/03/12 - 01/06/12
Bhutan's all-encompassing goal of development is the maximisation and realisation of Gross National Happiness (GNH), a philosophy which places the individual at the centre of development and suggests a comprehensive and multi-dimensional approach to realising and sustaining happiness. It promotes the attainment of sustainable economic development through conservation of the environment, preservation and promotion of culture, and enhancement of good governance. GNH is pursued in Bhutan through a long term vision for the period from 2000 to 2020 (Vision 2020), and successive Five Year Development Plans (FYP).
The EU support to the Renewable Natural Resources Sector in Bhutan builds on the policy and priorities of Bhutan contained in the 9th and 10th FYP, and thus constitutes an integrated approach to the development of the RNR sector. Two of the projects designed and implemented under this focus area were the Agriculture Sector Support Project (ASSP), from 2005-2011, and the Support to Livestock Sector Project (SLSP), from 2006-2011.
The ASSP was implemented by the Department of Agriculture within the Ministry of Agriculture and Forests (MoAF). Its overall objective was to enhance the quality of life of Bhutan's rural population, through increased agricultural production and rural income, and implementation of sustainable/organic crop production methods by farmers of the most important cash crops at minimal economic and environmental costs. The project focussed on the four main crops of Bhutan (rice, maize, citrus, potatoes), on niche market products, road access to farmers, and capacity development at geog level. The beneficiaries of the project were primarily geogs and farmers.
The SLSP was implemented by the Department of Livestock within the MoAF. Its objective was to reduce rural poverty and enhance household and national food security by increasing Bhutan's self sufficiency in livestock products and the contribution of livestock towards the whole farming system. The main components of the SLSP were - to improve the availability of feeds, fodder and pasture, and year round feeding strategies without increasing environmental damage; to increase the genetic quality of livestock and improve livestock farm management capacity of farmers; to improve the efficiency of marketing of livestock products; to implement strategic animal disease control programmes; and to establish a National Information Management System. The main beneficiaries and target groups of the project were subsistence livestock keepers and community animal health workers.
The final evaluations of the above projects were carried out to provide the Government of Bhutan and the EU with sufficient information on the overall performance of the projects (achievements and impact), and to identify key lessons and propose practical recommendations for follow-up actions in the field of agricultural development under the 10th and 11th FYP.
01/03/12 - 30/11/12
To contribute to settling outstanding refugee issues, to further improve the climate for the social and economic reintegration of returnees and to facilitate the acceptance of returnees by receiving communities.
23/02/12 - 30/06/12
Pakistan and the EU are committed to strengthening their relationship under a Cooperation Agreement on Partnership and Development, which entered into force in 2004. The European Union adopted a Country Strategy Paper for 2007-2013 setting a general framework for cooperation between the European Union and Pakistan. Two focal areas and a number of non-focal areas were defined. The two focal areas are "Rural Development and Natural Resources Management" and "Education and Human Resources Management". Other non-focal areas include "Trade Development and Economic Cooperation", "Democratization and Human Rights", "Support to Non-State Actors and Thematic Budget Lines" and "Governance and Security". Following this Country Strategy Paper, a Multiannual Indicative Programme 2007-2010 was approved and a new Multiannual Indicative Programme 2011-2013 is being finalized.
As a principle of aid effectiveness the EU is committed to use the budget support approach whenever possible in coordination with other development donors and international financial institutions at both policy and operational levels.
In 2004, the EU conducted a Diagnostic Study of Public Finance Management in the framework of the Financial Services Sector Reform Programme. In 2011, the EU conducted an Identification Mission on Public Financial Management to support the Delegation in the identification of possible areas of cooperation on Public Financial Management.
Based on these studies, the PEFA Assessments 2002 and 2009, the Baseline procurement performance assessments, other donor funded activities and in particular the recently carried out Identification mission the senior expert supported the GoP and the EUD in the formulation of possible
06/02/12 - 06/02/13
Landell Mills has been contracted to design a harmonised monitoring and evaluation system for the sugar sector in Swaziland. The system is to monitor the impact of the EU Sugar Accompanying Measures (AMSP) but will also measure the progress of the NAS (National Adaption Strategy). Aside from delivering the M&E system over a two-year period, capacity is also built in the institutions that will eventually host the system and institutional arrangements are being proposed. A sensitisation seminar is organised to raise awareness of the benefits of a well functioning M&E system and promote the development of an M&E culture in Swaziland.
The following services are provided under the contract:
02/02/12 - 01/09/14
The overall objective of the project is to:
To promote and support enhanced regional co-operation on environment and water both between EU and Central Asia and within Central Asia as called by the EU CA Strategy.
To support the development, effectiveness and visibility of the Environment and Water Cooperation Platform aiming at facilitating enhanced regional cooperation both between the EU and Central Asia and within Central Asia, through support to regular high-level meetings and joint expert working groups or other ad-hoc events, and through support to the strengthening of regional institutions responsible for environment and water issues.The overall expected result is an increasingly effective and active EU-CA Platform for Co-operation on Environment and Water Cooperation.
01/02/12 - 25/06/12
In recent years, the security and crime situation in the Caribbean Community has become a serious matter of concern. It is seen as a real threat to the free trade in goods and services and is impacting negatively on other aspects of regional integration. The purpose of the project was therefore to review the Regional Security Institutions of the Caribbean Community and clarify their role in implementing the Regional Security Agenda. It was also to make recommendations regarding the functioning of these institutions and rationalise the institutional framework. Special emphasis was placed on aligning the mandate of the institutions with Community legislation i.e. the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas.
The results to be delivered under this consultancy included recommendations as follows:
The main findings focused on security as a drive to maintaining and improving economic and social welfare; the underlying importance of a regional policy for the successful achievement of national priorities; the governance and accountability of the assessed institutions and development of funding options.
01/02/12 - 31/10/14
The overall objective of the project is to contribute to economic growth through strengthening the capacity of the Ministry of Finance for more effective delivery of the EU-funded development programme. Key outputs include design and delivery of formal and on-the job training to the Ministry Finance and other Line Ministries for improved programming, monitoring, financial management and coordination with other donors working in Ethiopia. IN so doing the project builds capacity of government to engage in the development process and efficiently deliver EDF-funded programmes. The purpose of the Technical Assistance contract is to:
24/01/12 - 31/05/12
LML provided an Environment Specialist for preparation of the Country Environmental Profile (CEP) for the European Union's country programming process.
The objective of the CEP was to identify and assess environmental issues to be considered during the preparation of the 2014-2020 Country Strategy Paper (CSP). It contained clear information on key environmental challenges (including climate variability and climate change) along with the policies, legislative and institutional frameworks, strategies and programmes designed to address them.
The CEP constitutes an important source of baseline information and contributes to focusing political dialogue and EU cooperation with Cambodia on key areas such as: sustainable development; green/low carbon growth; implications of climate change; environmental systems and services; biodiversity; land management; energy and greenhouse gas emissions; waste management; agriculture and forestry; water resource management; etc.
The output was a CEP which integrates all available information of the state as well as pressures on the environment in Cambodia, its international and regional obligations, legislation, policies, institutional mandates and practices as well as donor activities. The CEP thus provides recommendations on how to consider and deal with environmental sustainability and climate change processes in all aspects of country programming and identifies linkages and relationships between poverty, economic performance, governance, rights and environmental management.
23/01/12 - 31/05/12
In March 2007 the Ivoirian Government launched a strategy to improve the sugar sector in the following ways:
Unlike other agricultural sectors in the country, the sugar currently produced is only for the internal market, estimated at 180 000 tons, leaving a reliance on imported sugar for other uses.
The development of village and private sugar cane production is a key objective of European support to the Ivoirian sugar industry. This EU funded support will enable better distribution of income from sugar cane production among the sugar companies and the village and private sugar cane producers (and the populations of their plantation complexes).
The main objectives of this project are:
15/01/12 - 23/02/12
Landell Mills conducted a study on promoting a commercial beef industry in Uganda. It focused on the entire range of activities within the beef industry value chain required to bring commercial beef from the initial input supply stage through the various stages of processing, to the final market (local, regional or international). The study identified corrective measures, investment priorities and development opportunities in the context of public–private partnerships. Critical areas included:
Enhancing production and productivity
Improving the policy and regulatory environment - focused on offering an enabling environment by the public sector through implementing the following critical activities: