CHAPTER 4: TECHNICAL COOPERATION PROGRAMME

(All amounts in US$ 000)

260. The Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) will continue to respond to urgent or unforeseen requests for technical assistance by Members, in close association with other components of the Regular Programme. It will keep to its main characteristics: ability to respond to urgent requests; limited project duration; low operational costs; practical orientation; and catalytic role and complementarity to other sources of assistance.

261. Updated statistical information is provided below. From the creation of the TCP in 1976 until the end of 2002, 7 443 projects were approved, for a total amount of US$ 928 million, i.e. an average allocation of about US$ 125 000 per project.

Distribution of TCP Allocations by Region (US$ million)

Distribution of TCP Allocations by Categories (Percentages)

262. TCP criteria remain those laid down by the FAO Governing Bodies, which require that requests for this type of assistance:

1. give emphasis to increasing production in food and agriculture, fisheries or forestry, with a particular view to increasing incomes of small-scale producers and rural workers;
2. be accorded high priority by the government, which must also assure that the required local support facilities and services will be available and that follow-up action will be taken;
3. be directed to an urgent and specific problem or need, fill a critical gap, limited to a particular sector or area, and involve practical action with well-defined objectives and expected results;
4. involve the most effective and least costly method of execution; and
5. 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.

263. TCP will support specific projects within the framework of the Special Programme for Food Security, provided that the TCP appraisal criteria are met.

264. TCP is managed and coordinated by the TCP Unit, which reports to the Assistant Director-General of the Technical Cooperation Department (ADG, TC). The TCP Unit ensures adherence of approved projects to the TCP criteria, and coordinates the appraisal of requests as well as the Organization's response to incoming requests for TCP assistance. FAO Representatives and technical officers in the Regional/Sub-regional Offices, as well as at the technical and operations divisions at Headquarters, participate in the formulation and appraisal process. During implementation, the TCP Unit reviews and monitors, in close cooperation with field and Headquarters offices, the performance of the programme as a whole and of individual projects. A process for systematically evaluating thematic clusters of TCP projects is now well established. Five evaluations have so far been carried out covering projects in the fields of food control, apiculture/sericulture, legislation, policy advice and emergency relief operations.

Changes in Resources

265. In line with the expectation in Conference Resolution 9/89, a net increase of resources is reflected in the Chapter Summary above, which would increase the percentage share of this Chapter to the total Appropriation. It would also enable much needed strengthening of the TCP unit to enhance its appraisal and monitoring capacity.