Ministry Of Agriculture Back to Office Report on Joint UN Agencies and Federal Implementing Partners Field Monitoring and Technical Backstopping Mission to Somali and Oromia Regions on MDG–F Environment Joint Program Reported By Joint Monitoring Mission Team: Mesfin Berhanu (PCO), Netsanet Deneke (UNEP), Dr. Ahmed Mohammed (FAO), Saba Habtu (EPA), Solomon Tadesse (MOA), Zealbowosen Asfaw (UNDP) and Atlaw Belayneh (FAO). August/ 2012 Project: Enabling Pastoral Communities to adapt to Climate Change and Restoring Rangelands Environment Places Visited: Somali and Oromia Regions – 3 Project Weredas and eight target PAs Duration : July 16 – 30/2012 Mission Members/Agencies: 1. Ato Mesfin Berhanu (PCO), Team Leader 2. Ato Netsanet Deneke (UNEP) 3. Dr. Ahmed Mohammed (FOA - Jijiga office) 4. Ms Saba Habtu (EPA) 5. Ato Solomon Tadesse (MOA) 6. Ato Zealbowosen Asfaw (UNDP) 7. Ato Ahmed Seid (Somali region Environment JP Focal Person) 8. Ato Abas (Somali region LCRDB ) 9. Ato Mohamed Jama (Harshin Wereda Environment JP Officer) 10. Ato Abdurahman Redwan (Aysha Wereda Environment JP Officer) 11. Ato Humnesa G/selasie (Oromia region Environment JP Focal Person) 12. Ato Mohamed Sheko (Teltle Wereda Environment JP Officer) 13. Ato Atlaw Belayneh (FOA - Borena office) BACKGROUND TO THE MISSION The MDG – F Environment Joint Programme has been implemented in four pastoral regions of Ethiopia - Afar, Somali, Oromia & SNNP - since July 8, 2010. Its core objective is to enhance enabling policy environment to effectively plan and execute pastoralist oriented climate change adaptation and mitigation measures at federal, regional and district levels; and pilot measures to enable the pastoral communities develop capacity for managing climate change risks and shocks in six districts. The joint programme (JP) involves the participation of pastoral communities in six targeted Weredas, federal, regional and local government institutions, and three UN agencies (UNDP, UNEP & FAO) within the framework of UNDAF and the “Delivering as one” agenda. In materializing the core objectives, the programme intervention approaches includes: development and implementation of consolidated adaptation programme including alternative income generation opportunities; improving rangeland management; raising awareness of stakeholders on adaptation options; empowering pastoral 1 communities to better participate in decision making related to their livelihoods and integrating these options in relevant sector development plans and policies. In view of addressing the management and coordination of the program, two types of committees, National Steering Committee (NSC) and Program Management Committee (PMC), were established at national level. The NSC’s role is to provide oversight and strategic guidance to the JP. While the PMC, a technical committee at the national level, is entrusted with the key role to provide operational coordination to the JP. The PMC regularly meets on a quarterly basis and address issues related directly to management and implementation of the JP. As part of programme implementation, MTE conducted by external consultant has principally recommended conducting review workshop, developing and implementing improvement plan and strengthened joint field monitoring and technical backstopping services to region and Wereda implementing partners conducted a MTE. Thus, the joint field monitoring and technical backstopping mission was emanated from the MTE. Accordingly, the PCO in consultation with PMC has developed ToR for and mobilized a joint monitoring and technical backstopping mission to Afar, SNNP, Oromia and Somali regions. The mission was executed by two groups comprising participants from each partner UN and government organizations while the participants from PCO handled the role of team leaders. During the field mission, Group one has covered Somali and Oromia regions and three targeted Weredas and eight Kebeles, while Group two covered Afar and SNNP regions and three targeted Weredas and nine Kebeles. The two groups were on mission for 15 days as of July 16, 2012. Presumably, the joint UN agencies and government field monitoring and technical backstopping mission to implementing regions was conducted with the understanding that a combined effort of all participating partners substantially result in greater outcomes and a successful programme implementation during the remaining project life which extends up to end of March, 2013. 1. Objectives of the Mission The joint monitoring and technical backstopping mission principally focused on collecting and analyzing information especially on substantive indicators at the activity, output and outcome levels. To pursue this, a checklist has been used for data collection and showing progress in attaining the programme deliverables. In view of that, the overall objective of the field mission was designed to share information and progress updates; identify constraints and recommend actions and means for speeding up the accomplishment of the programme deliverables in the remaining implementation period; to discuss and facilitate liquidation of aged advance which 2 has impeded further advance transfer and collect financial and progress reports of the 4th quarter; and initiate advance request as per the reprogrammed AWP. Generally, the joint field monitoring function were: • Results oriented , meaning its main goal is to report on progress on the high level of the logical causal chain, especially changes at the output and outcomes level. • Substantive in nature on regards of measuring changes in citizen’s, institutions or any other kind of stakeholder participating in the program. • Aggregational as a mean , is the first element of a causal chain on the whole system that is oriented to learn and to know what works and what does not and improves programme accordingly. 2. Specific Objectives The specific joint monitoring mission objectives were: • Assess progress of the JP in regional IPs, targeted Weredas and Kebeles; and identify challenges and provide technical support to overcome the problems and speed – up implementation. • Discuss technical backstopping required from partner UN agencies and federal government organizations to ascertain programme deliverables. • Ascertain the Reprogrammed Work plan implementation and increase participants’ awareness on the exit strategy, communication and advocacy strategic framework, and responsibilities for final programme evaluation. 3. Field Monitoring Mission Methodology Results-based monitoring and evaluation in this monitoring mission is basically the area where more focus was given to assess the performance of MDGE programme, on the basis of impacts and benefits that /project is expected to produce and examine progress on the high level of the logical causal chain, especially changes at the output and outcomes level. In undertaking the joint monitoring and technical backstopping missions, the team has • Prepared ToR and checklist on major activities of the mission. • Collected data, assessed progresses and discusses with IP regions and targeted Weredas and Kebeles on physical activities conducted, fund arrival, procurement, fund utilization, awareness of beneficiary communities, etc. 3 • Discussed and identified technical backstopping needs of Regions, Weredas and targeted Kebeles. • Ascertained action plan preparation and proper implantation of the Reprogrammed WP, oriented RIPs and WIPs on exit strategy, communication, and advocacy framework. • Identified challenges encountered and recommend solution; and provided technical support to overcome the challenges. • Identified best practices developed during the interventions and suggest possible dissemination for further scaling up. • Produced back to office report. 4. Mission Findings on Progresses Made in Implementation Since the deployment of the mission team in both regions a multiple of approach were used to explore information onto the executed activities and measure the results in terms of progress on the high level of the logical causal chain, especially changes at the output and outcomes level. Accordingly, the team made its first entry by briefing with the Somali LCNRD bureau. Secondly travelled to Harshin and Aysha Weredas where the Environment JP has been implemented since 2010. Following the completion of the Somali trip, the mission has traveled to Teltele Wereda of Oromia region for similar monitoring and technical backstopping mission. On arrival to Somali Regional State, Jijiga, the mission team conducted briefing session on the presence of Mr. Abdulkedir Mohamed Farah, deputy head of Somali LCNRD bureau. The briefing includes explanation of the objective of the joint monitoring mission, orientation of exit strategy, sharing information on the schedule of upcoming joint monitoring plan, reminding the preparation of programme closure plan and handing over requirements, and discussion on major challenges encountered. After briefing session, based on sent checklist, the focal person of Somali region, Mr. Ahmed Seid, has provided performance report to the mission members. From the report the mission team has realized that the Harshin and Ayesha CC adaptation action plan preparation, which is previously reported by EPA as completed activity, is not yet accomplished and need EPA’s close follow-up of the case to immediately rectify the problem associated with budget utilization. In reflection to the mission briefing, the deputy bureau head has acknowledged the mission presence at this point in time and considerable