Agriculture Development in Afghanistan

The objective of this transition project is to transfer organizational and individual functional capacity from externally funded programmes to the MAIL formal organizational structure. To accomplish this requires close coordination with a wide range of stakeholders, internal to MAIL’s technical and administrative structures (e.g., Human Resources, Finance) and other international donors supporting MAIL’s transition efforts. The project will focus on supporting the transition process of integrating the five EU-funded programmes into MAIL’s institutional organization, specifically:

• Assisting MAIL’s Deputy Minister for Technical Affairs Directorate assume policy and programme, technical, and administrative responsibilities of the EU-funded programmes

• Coordinating transition activities specific to the EU-funded agriculture programmes with MAIL and other donors,

• Assuring the regularity of all the transition programme in MAIL, and

• Advising the EU Delegation on specific technical matters related to structuring their budget support post-transition.

The structure and functioning of project management unit which will be in a position to assume the above-mentioned responsibilities should be proposed as an introduction to the expertise mobilized. This structure illustrated by an organigramme will take into consideration i) the external staff related to the five EU-funded agricultural programmes expected to be absorbed by the Project and than progressively transitioned to the MAIL Taskheel and ii) the expected need for National and International Technical Assistance. While the overall requirement for national and international expertise is left to the appreciation of the contractor, the following expertises is considered by the contracting authority and the Beneficiary (MAIL) as essential.

The Monitoring and Evaluation expert will be responsible for the M&E of the project, as well as participate to the strengthening of the MAIL M&E Directorate. Other responsibilities envisioned include, but is not necessarily limited to:

• Identify information requirements of components concerning planning, monitoring and evaluation;
• Work closely with the MAIL to ensure that the results of the operational monitoring and evaluation in the field are efficient and effective;
• Implement the project monitoring and evaluation strategy, as established in agreement with MAIL M&E strategy;
• suggest measures to improve the monitoring system;
• Review the performance indicators and reports produced by different stakeholders and suggest necessary changes;
• Monitor and report on the performance of the project and the MAIL during the transition process;
• Set up operational arrangements for collecting, analyzing and reporting.
• Ensure that the M&E system feeds in the Institutional Development and Capacity Building component of the project;
• Provide training related to the Monitoring and evaluation function;
• Coordinate and assist in the institutional strengthening and capacity building activities of the project to ensure a long-term approach to participatory monitoring and evaluation process;
• Provide support to the MAIL experts to develop better performance indicators, and agree on reporting requirements;
• Assist the project in preparing periodic reports on the activities, schedule, and financial status of all project components in a standard reporting format as required by the EU contractual obligations;