Technical and operational backstopping ALCOM Programme considers both the donors and the executing agency. The backstopping provided by ALCOM itself has been discussed previously in Section 5.4.8b.
Most of these contacts take place at the Steering Committee meetings held once a year (Section 3.9.8).
Local SIDA office in Harare appears not to be concerned at all with ALCOM Programme which relies entirely, as far as Sweden is concerned, on SIDA in Stockholm because of its regional nature.
Operational backstopping has been very effective until the reorganisation of FAO HQ took place in early 1996. This has coincided with the replacement of ALCOM Programme Coordinator by a new incumbent, unfamiliar with FAO procedures. There have been a few months of indecision. But backstopping is now gradually improving and the coordinator demonstrates daily that he has rapidly mastered FAO administrative procedures.
FAO Representatives are also involved in backstopping administratively ALCOM pilot projects in the various countries involved. Their assistance has been most useful to the outposted field staff, directly dependent on FAO administration (expert, APO and NPPP staff).
Technical backstopping from FAO HQ, from the technical service (FIRI) and the DoF Library, has been quite adequate to the needs. Technical FAO documentation has been regularly received. Request for documentation have been answered efficiently.
