The meeting was convened at Hotel Sun Cabanas, Maseru, Lesotho on 5 September, 1989. A list of participants and observers is attached as Appendix I.
Mr. Tau Mokhohlane, Chief Fish Production Officer, Fisheries Section, Ministry of Agriculture, called the meeting to order, welcomed the participants and introduced the Honourable Mrs. A.M. Hlalele, the Minister of Women and Youth Affairs, Government of Lesotho.
Dr. Magnus Torell, Programme Officer, SIDA, thanked the Kingdom of Lesotho for their hospitality, and wished the participants fruitful deliberations.
Dr. Andre Coche, Senior Fisheries Resources Officer, FAO, expressed his appreciation to the Government of Lesotho for the excellent facilities provided. He also thanked Zimbabwe for its able chairmanship during the intersessional period. He reminded the meeting that Aquaculture for Local Community Development Programme (ALCOM) was conceived following the findings and recommendations of the Thematic Evaluation of Aquaculture carried out worldwide (1984–1986). The study had inter-alia pointed out the limited impact of assistance for the development of aquaculture, based on technical methods only. ALCOM had been designed specifically to address those elements which were found to be essential for reaching lasting effects of aquaculture projects. The Programme is thus engaged in the definition of improved methodologies for the introduction and upgrading of fish-farming, taking into consideration important and often underestimated socio-economic factors, with the ultimate objective that these methods be of benefit to rural populations. Dr. Coche welcomed the participants on behalf of Dr. Edouard Saouma, Director General of FAO and of Dr. Armin Lindquist, Assistant Director General of the Fisheries Department. He drew the meeting's attention to the important role the Programme has played in laying a sound foundation during the last three years for the next implementation phase. It has become widely known throughout the SADCC region for its innovative approach to development and its strong dynamism. He stressed that the common task during this meeting was to review the Programme's performance during its preparatory phase and its proposed operations during the future implementation phase.
The Honourable Mrs. A.M. Hlalele, Minister of Women and Youth Affairs, welcomed the participants on behalf of the host country. She underlined the important role the Programme plays in providing, through development of aquaculture, alternative opportunities for improving living conditions and socio-economic benefits to rural populations. She praised ALCOM for the efforts made in favour of women, youth and handicapped children, towards whom Her own Government feels a strong responsibility. She expressed her country's confidence in ALCOM. She emphasized that people's participation and the introduction of aquaculture as an integrated farming activity should produce tangible results. The Honourable Minister conveyed her thanks to SIDA and FAO for their support and declared the meeting open. (The full text of the Honourable Minister's speech is given in Appendix 2).
Mr. S. Chimbuya, Chief Ecologist (Fisheries), Zimbabwe, the outgoing Chairman of the ALCOM Advisory Committee, called the meeting to order, welcoming the participants and wishing fruitful deliberations on the Programme's ongoing and future work.
The delegate from Tanzania proposed the election of Lesotho to chair the Committee Meeting and the delegate of Malawi seconded the proposal.
Mr. T. Mokhohlane, Chief Fish Production Officer, took the chair thanking the delegates for the honour given to Lesotho. Mr. Mokhohlane apologized for not being able to chair the initial sessions and requested the outgoing chairman to act on his behalf.
Following a proposal by the delegate of Zambia seconded by the delegate of Tanzania the Agenda (Appendix 3) was adopted. Thereafter the Committee agreed to include an additional session on Thursday 7 September, at 1730 hours, to review the draft report of the Advisory Committee Meeting, thus facilitating its adoption the following day and ensuring that a final version would be available for delegates to take with them.
Following the recommendation of the 2nd Advisory Committee Meeting that “the role of the Committee should be steering in nature rather than advisory”, FAO presented draft terms of reference for the Steering Committee. These terms of reference reflect the steering role within the framework of the Plan of Operation for the Programme.
The Committee, while discussing the draft terms of reference, sought clarification and agreed on amendments with regard to:
quorum which should be represented by half of the members amongst which not less than five member countries should be represented.
the role of the Chairman, who during the intersessional period should chair any ad hoc meeting of the Committee and ensure a close liaison with the Programme Manager
the Committee's dual role to be steering within the framework of the Plan of Operation and to submit to the SADCC Sub-Committee on Fisheries and Wildlife, FAO and donor agencies recommendations on additional objectives not covered by the Plan of Operation.
The terms of reference of the Steering Committee (Appendix 4) were adopted.
The Programme Manager with intervention also by Mr. Boyd Haight, Aquaculturist, presented the Progress Report and summarized the achievements made during the preparatory phase which included among others:
the test of a participatory extension method to promote rural aquaculture and guidelines for wider application.
a methodology for surveys as tools for planning and project design
pilot projects, some of which have been initiated, dealing with the main target areas for ALCOM activities.
He noted that no specific activities had been generated with regard to two target areas (women and youth and environmental aspects) during the preparatory phase. However, such aspects had been addressed under other target areas.
No major problems had been encountered in the implementation of the preparatory phase. However communication could be improved with a few countries and formalities could be accelerated to permit timely implementation of missions and related activities.
After further discussion the Committee recognized difficulties encountered with regard to formalities. It was proposed that a list of professional staff and their curricula vitae should be submitted through the appropriate channels to each country to obtain clearance for the next phase of the Programme. The FAO delegate referred to procedures adopted in other inter-regional and regional projects executed by FAO, whereby professional staff were cleared by the country of their assignment and that clearance was not required for work in other participating countries. For consultants, information about their missions together with curricula vitae and terms of reference were submitted for information only to relevant Government authorities. It was proposed that such procedures as far as national procedures permitted should apply also to ALCOM. The formalities could be accelerated by utilization of national focal points and experts. While noting that such visits by international experts were necessary for the successful and timely implementation of the Programme in some countries lacking specific expertise, it was agreed that the Programme should increasingly use national institutions and experts whenever appropriate. The Programme should also facilitate the exchange of expertise between the participating countries. On this occasion the role of the Committee in assisting the Programme in the identification of national institutions and experts was stressed.
The Programme Manager presented the draft report of the national Workshop on Methods to Promote Aquaculture in Rural Development, held in Zambia in July 1989. During the workshop the methods developed and tested in a pilot project in Eastern Province of Zambia were reviewed and discussed by fisheries officers from all provinces. The delegate from Zambia expressed his satisfaction with the outcome of the workshop. It provided useful inputs to refine and adopt the improved methods in extension work nationwide. He recommended that similar workshops should be held also in other countries of the region.
The Committee raised questions on target groups that ALCOM should address for aquaculture development in general, and more particularly problems encountered in reaching the poorest with assistance for sustained development. Focus on other target groups could result in a more significant increase in fish production. The FAO delegate recalled two different approaches to aquaculture development, one concentrating on the production of fish in large scale and one concentrating on the well-being of small scale farming households. While assistance from other donors had mainly been addressed to the former approach it was the mandate of ALCOM to develop and test methods for the latter.
The Committee stressed that the production of the small holders, which were the majority in some countries, was higher than in the large estates. Thus assistance to small holders would also have impact on fish production.
The observer from ICLARM mentioned that methods to evaluate and investigate profitability in commercial enterprises were well known. However, there was a lack of reliable methods to measure the social and nutritional benefits of aquaculture of small-scale farming households. The delegate from Swaziland stated that in his country the target group for aquaculture development was all the farmers without distinction among socio-economic groups.
The observer from SADCC expressed his concern that all SADCC countries had not equally been involved in the Programme's preparatory phase. He urged the Programme to extend its efforts to all SADCC countries.
The Committee commended the progress made. It also stressed the need to increase during the second phase contacts with other potential donors to broaden the Programme. It recommended the inclusion of necessary inputs to strengthen national infrastructure for aquaculture development.
The FAO delegate expressed the organization's satisfaction with the rate and quality of the implementation of the first phase in spite of limitation of resources and of practical problems encountered. These constraints were largely overcome, thanks to efficient support provided by the host Government and the dedication of the Programme and counterpart staff.
The delegate from SIDA expressed satisfaction with the progress made during the preparatory phase. He commended the programme for its clear and precise presentation of the Progress Report.
The Work Plan for 1989 as endorsed by the 2nd Advisory Committee Meeting, had been successfully completed. The Committee commended the Programme for being able to implement the activities with the limited staff available.
The Committee adopted the Progress Report and concluded that the Work Plan for 1989 had laid a sound foundation for the implementation of the planned second phase.
The Programme Manager presented the draft report of the consultation attended by 25 aquaculturists, administrators, and nutritionists in Maseru 5 – 8 June, 1989. This consultation was sponsored by the Norway/FAO Project Strengthening the Role of Fish and Fisheries in Alleviating Undernutrition. The objectives were to increase awareness of and to identify and propose activities to promote aquaculture in human nutrition.
The consultation concluded that nutrition aspects in aquaculture development projects should be understood in terms of household food security. The consultation made recommendations concerning national and regional cooperation, studies on fish consumption, inclusion of fish in weaning food, studies on land suitability, pilot project implementation, and a model to analyze the potential and limitations of aquaculture in human nutrition.
The FAO delegate drew the attention of the meeting to the DANIDA sponsored FAO/SADCC project on food security, which includes an important nutrition component. It was proposed that Malawi, the SADCC Fisheries Coordinator should liaise with the SADCC Food Security Coordinator to avoid overlapping activities. The representative of SADCC concurred with this proposal and recommended that FAO, as executing agency, should also actively coordinate the activities of the two projects.
The Committee reviewed the recommendations of the consultation on aquaculture and human nutrition and sought clarification on the role that ALCOM could play in their implementation. It was concluded that most of these recommendations were more directed for action by Governments rather than by ALCOM. It was stressed that existing institutions and information should be fully utilized in the implementation of these recommendations. It was clarified that ALCOM could play a role in implementing nutrition activities, subject to additional funding.
The Committee decided that involvement of nutrition expertise in the work of the Steering Committee was outside its terms of reference.
The Programme Manager presented a summary of the report of the FAO Population Programme Identification/Formulation Mission, which visited the region in May/June 1989. The mission concluded that ALCOM could be a useful channel for the implementation of projects on income generation and household food security, with an added population information component. Four pilot projects were proposed by the mission. The final report will be finalized in September/October 1989 and submitted to the Governments for further action.
Questions were raised by members of the Committee on the connection between aquaculture projects and population issues, which was not clear from the summary report. It was expected that the final full report will clarify these issues.
The delegates from Zambia and Malawi expressed their satisfaction with this mission and the relevance of the projects proposed for their respective countries.
The Programme Manager presented the Plan of Operation as discussed and amended by the ad hoc meeting of the SADCC Sub-Committee on Fisheries and Wildlife in June 1989.
The representative of SADCC informed the Committee that the SADCC Council of Ministers' meeting held in August 1989, endorsed the Plan of Operation and that ALCOM therefore was considered a SADCC project.
While noting earlier dissatisfaction regarding the programme budget the Committee expressed its agreement with the Plan of Operation as endorsed by the SADCC organization.
The Committee urged the Programme to make full use of qualified national institutions and experts for its activities.
The Committee sought clarification on the status of ALCOM in the SADCC Action Plan. The SADCC representative reiterated that ALCOM was listed as a SADCC project, which together with other endorsed aquaculture projects constitute the SADCC programme for aquaculture.
The FAO delegate announced to the meeting that FAO recently had been informed by SIDA that the Government of Sweden will commit a budget of about US$900 000 only for one year operation. He stressed that although efforts were made to identify other potential donors, as earlier recommended by the Committee, there was little hope that additional funds would be made available to permit FAO/ALCOM to continue the operatons beyond 1990.
The SIDA delegate confirmed that Sweden had endorsed the Plan of Operation but could not, due to their present limitations, commit more funds to the Programme as proposed for the time being.
While discussing the implication of the Swedish decision the Committee urged FAO to seek additional resources for funding the Programme as endorsed by SADCC. The SIDA delegate confirmed earlier statements that SIDA would welcome participation of other donors in the Programme.
On the basis of requests made by each participating country the Committee unanimously decided that the Programme should proceed despite these new time and financial limitations which jeopardize the implementation of the approved Programme, and recommended SIDA, SADCC and FAO to make the utmost during the coming year to identify funding to implement the Programme as originally designed.
With the agreement of the delegate of SIDA it was decided that within the limits of funds committed by Sweden the Programme could be extended up to 31 December, 1990, if necessary.
The Committee recommended that the present Plan of Operation be also submitted by SADCC to its pledging conference to identify additional funding.
The Programme Manager presented the Work Plan for 1990, stressing that it was designed within the perspective of the five-year programme. Most of the activities and pilot projects prepared and initiated had a duration of 2 – 4 years. In view of the unexpected restrictions on the budget, the Committee was invited to revise the Work Plan and decide on priorities for its implementation.
The Work Plan was generally well accepted. However, some countries pointed out that no specific activities had been so far prepared for them. It was recommended that the limited funds should be allocated for activities including all SADCC countries.
Following the discussion the Programme Manager outlined a revised Work Plan. In view of the likely termination of the FAO/ALCOM Programme at the end of 1990 its was stressed that the Programme should concentrate in the coming year on the two main objectives:
to generate national projects.
Methodologies would be prepared and presented on extension/training and on surveys as tools for aquaculture development. The work on small water bodies would continue with basic bio-technical and socio-economic investigations to facilitate a timely implementation of these as national projects or within the frame of a reorganized ALCOM The pilot projects in Zambia would continue, expected to become national projects after 1990.
The Committee endorsed the above outline of the revised Work Plan and urged the Programme Manager to finalize it in consultation with the Chairman at the earliest. The revised Work Plan will be submitted to the participating countries.
To permit the continuation of ongoing and already planned and approved activities, FAO will declare the Programme operational soonest.
The Committee decided to hold the next meeting in late 1990 and suggested that Swaziland be the venue, pending Government approval. Botswana was proposed as alternative venue, also subject to Government approval. In light of the likely termination of the FAO execution of ALCOM it was decided that the Steering Committee Meeting should be preceded by a technical consultation on methodologies developed and tested.
The observer from ICLARM gave, upon request, an overview of the Centre's set up and the orientation of its activities in Malawi. He stressed that ICLARM was mainly carrying out research and higher level training in aquaculture, and has initiated an aquaculture information service in collaboration with the Malawi Department of Fisheries and the University of Malawi. He pointed out that there were several areas of common interest for ICLARM and ALCOM and that ICLARM would welcome proposals for collaborative efforts with ALCOM.
Following the proposal by the delegate from Swaziland, seconded by the delegate from Zimbabwe, the Committee adopted the report.
Closing
The delegate from SIDA thanked on behalf of the donor agency, the Government of Lesotho for hosting the meeting. He also thanked the Chairman for smooth and fruitful deliberations.
The FAO delegate thanked the Government of Lesotho for the excellent facilities made available for the meeting. He thanked the Chairman for his able leadership, which made it possible to conduct the meeting as scheduled in spite of the complex issues discussed. The other delegates and observers were commended for the frank and active deliberations and the Secretariat for the long hours spent in preparing the documents and the report in a timely manner. The stay in Lesotho had been memorable and he wished to meet the Steering Committee again in a continued ALCOM to discuss inevitable problems and progress.
The delegate of Zambia, on behalf of the participants, thanked the Government of Lesotho for hosting the meeting and the Chairman for his able leadership. He expressed appreciation to the Secretariat for practical arrangements and the documentation and report. He had enjoyed the stay in Lesotho because of the kind and generous atmosphere which had made all participants feel at home.
The Chairman declared the 3rd Advisory Committee Meeting closed.
