Managerial and institutional assessment of the Bay region agricultural development project

Special evaluation covers a period ending 2/80; no methodology is noted. The project is in effect an integrated development project in which 8 Government of Somalia (GOS) entities are participating directly and 7 others indirectly. The Project Management Unit (PMU), negotiated for the project by the World Bank, is a large and overdue step towards decentralization and interagency cooperation. To institutionalize these concepts, the Interministerial Coordination Committee (ICC) should be strongly supported; a regional Technical Committee created; and the most qualified member of Somalia's regional staff be made Deputy Project Director. Linkages with national institutions should not be neglected; as a case in point, USAID/S should urge an agreement between the Water Development Authority (WDA) and the Ministry of Agriculture which commits the WDA to send USAID/S rigs and personnel out of the region only after the WDA has completed drilling. To date, no provision has been made for popular participation; a crop and livestock advisory committee for all four project districts is urged. Due to a shortage of trained Somali manpower, resident (not short-term) consultants should be employed and given intensive language training. Although GOS salaries are very low, donor allowances seem excessive and should be regulated by a GOS commission or at least by the ICC for this project. USAID/S should provide comparable allowances to GOS project personnel. To improve rural outreach, it is recommended that vehicles be provided in moderation; no service arrangements be made which would be negated by a partial cut in vehicles; and base-level veterinary and extension staff be housed in the villages. In light of supply shortages, it is urged that the PMU and national agencies (with help from the PMU accountant) authorize expenditures for supplies in good time; USAID/S use project funds to build a regional store of water pumps for the WDA; and spare vehicle parts be procured. Means suggested to provide a project contingency fund include increased World Bank commitment to the project or USAID/S use of P.L. 480 local currency funds. USAID/S should allow the GOS Magistrate of Accounts to audit the project (subject to USAID/S review) only if the World Bank provides technical assistance. In fine, the project is managerially sound and should work well if problems with the WDA are solved.