Agriculture Sector and SWAps

Harmonisation and Alignment

What’s different about Agricultural SWAps? Agriculture is a productive sector – farmers are

‘experts’ also: Outputs-> incomes, employment and GDP

…So…Markets and Private sector are more important Public vs Private roles in the sector: impact on

livelihoods Not always a consensus, MINAGRI not always in

charge and roles can change over time: Govt: > focus on Policy reform, enabling action for

private sector and correcting market failures and < focus on actual service delivery….

Whats the role of subsidies? How to attract credit? Effects of Exchange rate

Agriculture is heterogenous, one size does not fit all: Agro-ecological differences mean different things delivered in diff areas: NOT LIKE UPE

…So how can SWAp be flexible?

OWNERSHIP, ALIGNMENT AND HARMONISATION: Agriculture sector in Rwanda

2004/2005 GoR (+) have set the agenda: NAP, PSTA, MTEF Progress in the framework…but sector most

projects designed before this… 11 donors engaged in Projects in the sector

5 of these are also Budget Support: how well does Ag sector engage in BS?

Approximately 20 projects in the sector each with its own project steering committee which

meet 2x p.a. minimum = 40 meetings Cluster meetings are on top and all other meetings and

core work Risk of not having enough time for planning, M/E

Only one operating project has been developed after the PSTA, 3 others in pipeline

Role of public and private sector not totally clear cut: because of transition in sector – low capacity of private sector and lack of organisation of farmers

A pretty Picture?

NAP, PSTA, MTEF

IFADDFID

JICA

Belgians

FAO

RNE

LUX

EU

ADB

WB

USAID

RURAL DEVELOPMENT CLUSTER = forum for coordination

NAP, PSTA, MTEF

IFADDFID*

JICA

Belgians *

FAO

RNELUX

EU*

ADB *

WB*

USAID

* = BS also

2. Challenges Multiple Donor Procedures: M&E,

procurement, financial management Few DPs until recently have had a ‘sector

view’: most focused on projects National vs DP procedures: When the

procedures differ the DPs win! Planning and Budget cycle: PTBA comes after

the budget cycle so annual budget does not capture actual expenditure

So… it makes it hard for MINECOFIN and DPs to assess real sector performance (e.g. absorption capacity) and therefore harder for MINAGRI to lobby for extra funds

Sector Wide View is not always easy to see

3. Opportunities

Good technical and political basis for a SWAp Improved Alignment of Plan and MTEF

Alignment of PRSP and MTEF with PSTA including reclassifying the MTEF

Including BD and BO in MTEF Identification of sector and programme wide outcome

indicators (also in MTEF) Improved M&E and reporting against these, including Joint

Budget Sector Review Reporting Enquete Agricole: Sector Statistics clearer EDPRS process underway and Joint Sector Review

undertaken MIS in the sector will be developed PER due to be undertaken (first since 2003) PAPSTA project has activity on SWAp and jointly funded by

IFAD and DFID….evolution… Joint analytical work undertaken adding value to

implementation of Strategic plan Commitment of MINAGRI and some DPs to develop a SWAp

(e.g. IFAD, DFID, WB, RNE, EU, Belgians)

4. Which areas of Alignment and Coordination of DPs are most developed and why?

Reporting: report by project Budgeting: by project and portfolio Financial Management system: own systems Procurement: own systems but linked to NTB Preparation of Support: Participative but

rarely done jointly between donors focused on programmes

Monitoring and Reviews: often involve others in project MTRs but only just getting focused on the sector outcomes

Evaluations: rarely done jointly; project focus more than sector

Analytical Work and Knowledge: ongoing Policy Dialogue: exists but can do better – still

fragmented Cycle Alignment: can and should do this!

5. Potential Alignment instruments – do we have them in the sector?

MoU: used between GoR and some DPs but for project support only; not really there between DPs

Code of Conduct: Aid Policy Document guides all sectors; no sector specific guidance

Joint Financing Agreement: Between donors limited to joint project support

Joint Assistance Strategies: DFID and WB doing a Joint Country Assistance Strategy

Agreed Limited Agenda: No silent partners! Coordinating timetables (donor/ Govt):

Can and should be done! Go between TA: in process of getting some

6. What can national and DPs do to enhance…

National Leadership of DP coordination Cluster supported by Technical Working groups for

the 4 programmes of PSTA and a SWAp TWG Sector Coordination Secretariat Model like justice

sector? Give clear guidelines to DPs and stick to them

National Ownership and Commitment Awareness raising amongst stakeholders:

MINAGRI, Agencies, Districts, DPs, Parliamentary Committee

Informed Policy dialogue Joint Analytical Work Joint Sector Reviews Joint Fora for dialogue are used

7. Key Challenges & are they being tackled?

Agreeing role of the state in Agriculture – what, how, for how long?

Developing capacity of private sector and NGO service providers

Sustained political and technical commitment to developing a SWAp

DP procedural and political constraints and commitment to SWAp over traditional project approach

Capacity to plan, implement programmes and report on sector outcomes (central and Local level)

8. Key Next Steps

Action plan developed from this event, to include: Coordinating Timetables Code of Conduct Technical sector issues: e.g. MTEF and

decentralisation; sector performance contracts… Shared and validated by SWAp TWG (to be

created) Create TWG for 4 programmes under the RC Explore idea of Coordination Secretariat?