(RAB/83/016 and RER/83/001)
REPORT OF THE UNDP/FAO EVALUATION MISSION
July 1986
We recommend that MEDRAP be extended for five more years (1987–1991).
We recommend that MEDRAP activities be expanded, particularly into the fields of communication, management development, with emphasis on regional mutual assistance and short-term collaboration.
A system approach to aquaculture is imperative, hence far more attention should be given to multiple-use, polyculture and freshwater developments.
The Mediterranean Region concept should not be so restrictive in future phases so as to exclude activities not contingent with the Mediterranean Sea, but should respond to all aquaculture needs of the Mediterranean countries.
We strongly recommend that MEDRAP be moved to another location. The necessary criteria for selection of a new sight should include the following:
very stable, modern telecommunication capabilities;
low national dependence of MEDRAP for pilot project or aquaculture development support;
ongoing, sophisticated, full-range aquaculture activities in the commercial sector;
free travel access by majority of participants.
MEDRAP Phase II needs very strong public relations, communications and library archive components. This will require sophisticated computerized faciliøties and staff capabilities. The general basis of all activity changes will emanate from this set of activities.
Because of the need for improved communication, and the parallel need for a larger interactive staff, the most useful bridge among the regional participants will be the inclusion in the staff of multi-lingual experts that can communicate in any two or more of the following languages: Arabic, French, Italian, Spanish and English, with strong emphasis on Arabic.
We have pointed out many shortcomings of the Design and Implementation of the present MEDRAP programmes, most of which result from under-funding, under-staffing and therefore inadequate and somewhat biased regional coverage. In order for MEDRAP to fulfill the objectives that have evolved since the early 1978 GFCM report, there will need to the more support, a larger and more diversified staff to manage the various tasks and a much greater orientation towards information management and communication.
Minimum staffing requirements will include:
A Project Manager to act as liaison and general overseer of the projects.
A technical assistant to oversea the technical aspects and supervise technical collaborations.
An experienced Computer Information Manager and Training Officer for use of such systems.
A publications and public relations expert.
A librarian, trained in computerized information retrieval.
At least two bilingual (Arabic and one other language) secretaries.
Technical staff drawn from a regional pool and from sources such as the Peace Corp and UN Volunteers.
The first major product of general use, but at present lacking, should be a complete survey of Mediterranean coastal and freshwater systems, using remote sensing and site visits. This programme should be realized as rapidly as possible and the appropriate areas available for potential development should be charted and provided to all participating or interested parties in order for the basic economic calculations and production estimations to be made. Until these are available, there is little point in submitting market-production figures or in discussing marketing limitations with regard to MEDRAP activities.
The efficiency of MEDRAP suffered throughout the preparatory phase and to some degree throughout the last several years because of institutional problems outlined in the Mission's findings. If the project is to achieve the stated objectives, including those proposed above, far more autonomy will be required. The areas where there has to be more independence from interference are: (a) in the identification of participants for training from commercial and government sectors; (b) travel arrangements for participants in MEDRAP activities; (c) programming of non-governmental activities such as site identification and preparation of plans for development of facilities; (d) minimization of time and fund losses due to bureaucratic interventions and (e) information exchange and mail movement among MEDRAP, and any participants, agencies or institutions, preferably involving modem/computer methods connecting pilot sites, coordination offices and various information archives, e.g. FAO library and INFOFISH. This will require that the project headquarters will be located in a city with a satellite linked communication capabilities in order to optimize the telecommunications capabilities which will be the basis of MEDRAP information system.
