National Agricultural Research Organization PO Box 296 Entebbe Uganda Tel: (259-41) Fax: (259-41)

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1 Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Project Name PROJECT INFORMATION DOCUMENT (PID) APPRAISAL STAGE Report No.: Eastern Africa Agricultural Productivity Program APL1A (EAAPP-APL1A) Region Africa Sector Agricultural extension and research (100%) Project ID P Borrower Republic of Implementing Agency Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MOFPED) Finance Building, Nile Avenue, P. O. Box 8147 Kampala Tel: (256-41) / /9 Fax: (256-41) National Agricultural Research Organization PO Box 296 Entebbe Tel: (259-41) Fax: (259-41) National Agricultural Advisory Service P.O. Box Kampala Tel: (256-41) , , Fax: (256-41) Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA) Plot 15 John Babiiha Road P.O.Box 765 Kampla Tel: s.ketema@asareca.org Environment Category [ ] A [X] B [ ] C [ ] FI [ ] TBD (to be determined) Date PID Prepared September 11, 2009 Date of Appraisal February 16, 2009 Authorization Date of Board Approval November 10, 2009

2 1. Country and Sector Background Currently, it is estimated that roughly US$1.5 billion is spent annually on agricultural research in Africa. This is widely regarded as too little. Further, the effectiveness of the investment in agricultural research in Africa is considered to be well below its potential due to poor facilities, low salaries, relatively weak levels of human capital, and low levels of overall budget support. These factors are, in turn, linked to the high degree of fragmentation in deployment of resources. The effectiveness of investments in agricultural research in Africa could be increased by consolidating some specified aspects of the many existing small programs into fewer and larger programs capable of sustaining the critical mass of researchers and resources needed to capture economies of scale. While investments in regional agricultural research can be an effective means through which to improve agricultural productivity in the medium to longer term they may also provide a vehicle for addressing the short-term food security needs of East Africa that have emerged in the context of high food prices across the globe through generating greater access to improved varieties of improved seed. Seed is one of the most crucial elements in addressing the current food crisis and promoting production supply response. Africa s poorest farmers have not been able to take full advantage of the recent advances in seed sector development mainly because of weak seed production and distribution systems, inadequate supply of quality seed, lack of access to improved germplasm, and poor distribution channels and market linkage. As a result, Africa s poorest farmers have the lowest use of improved seeds in the world, with only less than 40 percent of the effective demand for seed met. The Government of is committed to address productivity issues and the project will complement national strategy and programs currently under implementation. 2. Objectives The overall goal of the project is to contribute to increased agricultural productivity and growth. The project objective is to strengthen and scale up regional cooperation in generation of technology, training and dissemination programs for cassava, a regional priority commodity. The project will support efforts to scale up and develop national research programs in cassava into a regional center of excellence (RCoE). The project will also support the RCoE in taking a leading role in technology generation, dissemination and training on a regional basis across borders. The proposed project supports the objectives of the World Bank s Africa Action Plan which identifies regional integration as an important element to achieving higher economic growth and poverty reduction. It is also part of a larger commitment by IDA to assist to enhance long-term food availability by providing a mix of support for short-term supply responses and sustainable medium- and longer-term investments in agricultural productivity. The project also provides a vehicle for implementing the agricultural productivity agenda of the Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in East and Central Africa (ASARECA), which was created to enhance regional collective action in agricultural research for development, 2

3 extension, training, and education. ASARECA has been mandated by the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) to take a lead in the coordinating implementation of the Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Program (CAADP) Pillar IV and the application of the principles of the Framework for African Agricultural Productivity (FAAP) in East Africa. 3. Rationale for Bank Involvement The International Development Association (IDA) is the most important supporter of agricultural technology which represents Pillar IV of CAADP - at the national and subregional levels. In recent years, IDA has provided leadership in donor coordination and harmonization and has contributed to strengthening African capacity in the area of agricultural innovation. African capacity and ownership are crucial in an environment in which external support is both large and, often, fragmented. IDA s leadership is evidenced by the recent decision to place the Multi Donor Trust Funds at the Bank for three regional organizations: ASARECA, Conseil Ouest et Centre Africain pour la Recherche et la Développement Agricole (CORAF/WECARD), and Southern African Development Community (SADC); and for the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), which has the responsibility of supporting CAADP Pillar IV at the continental level. IDA is actively supporting the agricultural productivity agenda in and within each of the three participating countries (Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania) through ongoing operations and planned new operations. All four countries (, Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania) have consistently sought IDA s support for long-term programs to strengthen agricultural technology at the national level. Support in the past has centered on agricultural research and extension or advisory services. Recently, three of the four participating countries (Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania) came to IDA with requests for assistance to address high food prices. The request was approved by IDA Board on June 11, 2009 under the Eastern Africa Agricultural Productivity Program (EAAPP-APL1). The proposed project (EAAPP-APL1A) for focuses on cassava and meets IDA s regional project eligibility criteria because it (i) supports activities that will be coordinated across three or more countries; (ii) generates benefits that spill over country boundaries; (iii) has the support of COMESA; (iv) provides a platform for policy harmonization; and (v) is part of a regional agricultural strategy. 4. Description Component 1. Strengthening the Regional Center of Excellence (US$6.9 million). This component aims at strengthening the institutional capacity that is needed to establish the RCoE. Capacity strengthening will focus on the physical facilities and human resources needed to sustain program objectives and outcomes at both the regional and national levels. Component 2. Support to Technology Generation, Training and Dissemination (US$13.1 million). This component will support technology generation, training and dissemination that have been agreed at national and regional levels as evidenced by inclusion in an annual regional research plan for the commodity and for training and dissemination. Regional plans will be developed and agreed upon through regional meetings convened by ASARECA. Research, 3

4 training and dissemination activities will cover the whole spectrum of the value chain - from basic production to post-harvest handling, marketing, processing and consumption. The project will support research activities developed within the CoEs in partnership with regional stakeholder countries. that hosts a RCoE for cassava will also participate in the activities of the other three RCoEs hosted by Ethiopia (wheat), Kenya (dairy/livestock) and Tanzania (rice). Training and dissemination subprojects will have a regional focus and use participatory strategies and mechanisms to train researchers, extensionists, and farmers in the latest innovations; and to scale up application of technologies. These projects will create partnerships with a range of institutions, both public and private to facilitate the dissemination and adoption of available technologies. Component 3. Improved Availability of Planting Material, Seeds and Livestock Breeding Material (US$7.5 million). This component will support multiplication of planting material, seeds and breeds, strengthen the enabling environment for regional seed and breed trade, and improve the capacity of seed and breed producers and traders. Support will be targeted at the four commodities selected in the RCoEs. To assist implementation of activities, the project coordination unit will include a Seed and Breed Business Development Specialist, and a Seed Expert Technologist. Component 4: Project Coordination and Management (US$2.5 million). This component will finance management and coordination at the national and regional levels. At the national level, the project will be managed through the establishment of a coordination unit. A new coordination unit will be established by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industries and Fisheries (MAAIF) and hosted by the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) to facilitate implementation and coordination among NARO, the National Agricultural Advisory Services Program (NAADS) and MAAIF. At the regional level, ASARECA will coordinate the planning and implementation of research and training activities, and the dissemination of information among the Program countries. will allocate resources to ASARECA commensurate with the role assigned to it. 5. Financing ($m) Source: BORROWER/RECIPIENT 0.0 International Development Association (IDA) 30.0 Total Implementation As a regional program, EAAPP-APL1A implementation will be based on partnerships and collaboration among participating countries. Countries will work together in a number of different ways, by undertaking joint technology generation, dissemination and training activities; coordinating their respective national activities with each other in order to achieve a shared regional objective; and sharing knowledge and technological outputs from their national programs throughout the region. 4

5 Implementation of EAAPP-APL1A will take place at the national level with regional activities coordinated through annual work programming exercises. To the extent possible EAAPP- APL1A implementation will rely on existing regional platforms, networks and partnerships to share information and create opportunities for collaboration. Continued financial support for regional centers of excellence will depend on delivery of documented benefits in excess of those that each participating country might expect to achieve independently. The inclusion of support for dissemination and for the seed sector addresses sustainability, as does emphasis on monitoring and evaluation. The project will need a proactive public relations effort to build awareness among key stakeholders. The long term sustainability of regional investments is also supported by the commodity focus of each regional center of excellence. The four selected commodities are of high national and regional priority. 7. Lessons Learned from Past Operations in the Country/Sector A similar project, the West Africa Agricultural Productivity Project (WAAPP) was developed for West and Central Africa (the ECOWAS) region and is now under implementation. Lessons from WAAPP preparation include: (i) the need for stakeholder consultation and priority setting for the design of regional projects with several institutions and countries involved; (ii) early development of implementation mechanisms and identification of the possible synergies or problems that could arise in the interface between national and regional arrangements; and (iii) grounding of the project in a strong M&E and results framework. 8. Safeguard Policies (including public consultation) The operation triggers safeguard policies in the areas of environmental assessment, pest management and physical cultural resources. An Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) has been prepared for, incorporating a Pest Management Plan (PMP). The ESMF/PMP has disclosed in-country and at the Infoshop in compliance with Bank regulations. Safeguard Policies Triggered by the Project Yes No Environmental Assessment (OP/BP 4.01) [X] [ ] Natural Habitats (OP/BP 4.04) [ ] [X] Pest Management (OP 4.09) [X] [ ] Physical Cultural Resources (OP/BP 4.11) [X ] [ ] Involuntary Resettlement (OP/BP 4.12) [ ] [X] Indigenous Peoples (OP/BP 4.10) [ ] [X] Forests (OP/BP 4.36) [ ] [X] Safety of Dams (OP/BP 4.37) [ ] [X] Projects in Disputed Areas (OP/BP 7.60) * [ ] [X] Projects on International Waterways (OP/BP 7.50) [ ] [X] * By supporting the proposed project, the Bank does not intend to prejudice the final determination of the parties claims on the disputed areas 5

6 9. List of Factual Technical Documents N/A 10. Contact point Contact: David J. Nielson Title: Lead Agriculture Services Specialist Tel: (202) Fax: For more information contact: The InfoShop The World Bank 1818 H Street, NW Washington, D.C Telephone: (202) Fax: (202) pic@worldbank.org Web: 6