ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK JFICT: REG 37707

GRANT ASSISTANCE (Financed by the Japan Fund for Information and Communication Technology)

TO THE

KINGDOM OF CAMBODIA,

KINGDOM OF THAILAND,

AND

SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIET NAM

FOR

IMPROVING POOR FARMERS’ LIVELIHOODS THROUGH

RICE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

June 2004

ABBREVIATIONS ADB – Asian Development Bank CD-ROM – compact disc read only memory GMS – Greater Mekong Subregion ICT – information and communication technology IRRI – International Rice Research Institute JFICT – Japan Fund for Information and Communication Technology JFPR – Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction JICA – Japan International Cooperation Agency NGO – nongovernment organization MAFF – Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries MARD – Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development PPA – poverty partnership agreement RKB – rice knowledge bank SME – small- and medium-sized enterprise

NOTE

In this report, “$” refers to US dollars.

JAPAN FUND FOR INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (JFICT)

JFICT Grant Proposal

I. Basic Data Name of Proposed Activity Improving Poor Farmers’ Livelihoods Through Rice

Information Technology Countries Cambodia, Thailand, and Viet Nam Grant Amount Requested $1,000,000 Regional Project • Yes Grant Type • Capacity building II. Grant Development Objective(s) and Expected Key Performance Indicators Grant Development Objectives: The overall objective of the proposed initiative is to improve food security and livelihood of poor farmers in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) through increased application of existing agricultural information, using information and communication technology (ICT) to manage and share information at the national and regional levels. The immediate objectives are to (i) manage and apply information at global and national levels to the local context using ICT to consolidate the process: the Rice Knowledge Bank (RKB) of the web-based information of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) will be the main tool to pilot the initiative; this will include identifying and prioritizing information needs of local farmers, and adapting and translating materials into local languages to meet local needs; (ii) institutionalize the use of ICT and adaptation of global information to local context: the RKB will be used in capacity building for agricultural extension workers, information facilitators, nongovernment organizations (NGOs), and other institutions at national and provincial levels; (iii) build and strengthen the knowledge network of agricultural extension practitioners at national and regional levels using RKG as the main tool: Practitioners will be involved in continued updating of RKB information sharing experience and knowledge. Expected Key Performance Indicators: The indicators are as follows: (i) the localized RKB addresses the production issues and knowledge needs of target groups; (ii) RKB is institutionalized locally with key agricultural service institution; (iii) agricultural service institutions are better able to address rice production issues encountered by poor farmers; and (iv) rice production quality and profitability improves at the farm level, based on improved information quality of extension service.

III. Grant Categories of Expenditure, Amounts, and Percentage of Expenditures Category Amount of Grant Allocated

($) Percentage of Expenditures

1. Consultants 360,000 36 2. Equipment 128,000 12 3. Training 182,500 18 4.Supply and Support Services 65,550 7 5. Administrative Support 130,450 13 6. Travel 99,500 10 7. Contingency 34,000 4 Total 1,000,000 100 Incremental Cost 45,000 5

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JAPAN FUND FOR INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (JFICT)

JFICT Grant Proposal Background Information

A. Other Data Date of Submission of Application

October 2003

Project Officer (Name, Position)

Juri Oka, Project Specialist

Project Officer’s Division, E-mail, Phone

Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources Division; joka@adb.org; 632-5833

Other Staff Who Will Need Access to Edit/Review the Report

C. R. Rajendran, M. Otsuka, A. Siddiq, M. Mitra

Sector Agriculture Theme Human development Name of Associated ADB Financed Operation(s)

Agriculture Sector Program (Thailand); Agricultural Sector Development Program (Viet Nam); and Agriculture Sector Development Program (Cambodia)

Executing Agency

International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)

Grant Implementing Agency(ies) (Names, Exact Address, Contact Persons, E-mail, Phone, Fax)

Cambodian Agricultural and Rural Development Institute (CARDI), Cambodia Dr. Men Sarom, Director, km 20, National Highway 3, Sangkat Prateah Lang, Khan Dangkor, Phnom Penh, Cambodia; Phone: +855 23 219692; Fax : +855 23 219800; Post: PO Box 01, Phnom Penh; email: CARDI@bigpond.com.kh Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture, Thailand Dr. Tawee Kupkanchanakul, Assistant Director, Rice Research Institute, Department of Agriculture, Paholyothin Road, Chatuchak, 10900 Bangkok; Phone: +66-2 561-4671; Fax: +66-2 561-5024 Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), Viet Nam Dr. Nguyen Van Bo, Director General, Department of Science, Technology and Product Quality; 2 Ngoc Ha Street, Hanoi, Viet Nam Phone: +84-4-843-6818; Fax: +84-4-845-5407

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B. Details of the Proposed Grant 1. Components, Monitorable Deliverables/Outcomes, and Implementation Timetable Component A Component Name Localizing the Rice Knowledge Bank System Cost ($) 450,491 (including contingency) Component Description Key activities include (i) capacity building of agricultural

service institutions to identify farmers’ information needs; (ii) identify and prioritize farmers’ information needs; (iii) prioritize the adaptation of materials, and translate into local languages; (iv) make information available through local web sites, on compact disks (CD-ROMs), and in print for dissemination at the national, provincial, and district levels; and (v) enable participating agricultural service institutions to train other extension agents and agricultural service institutions. Given the role of women in rice production and because ethnic minorities are often the most information deprived groups, a special effort will be made to include women extension workers and people working in remote and border areas.

Monitorable Deliverables/Outputs

• Two agricultural service institutions (government, university, and/or NGO) in addition to the implementing agency in each country identified to act as ICT sites. The institutions will be selected based on their mandate, interest, and commitment to training, development, and knowledge network at the national level.

• Report on training needs analysis of participating agricultural service institutions.

• Staff of participating agricultural service institutions have strengthened capacity to assess farmers’ information needs, have improved knowledge of training and extension methodologies, and are able to adapt training materials to meet the beneficiaries' needs, including the special needs of ethnic minorities and women.

• Farmers’ information needs identified and report prepared.

• Training materials adapted to address the top three priorities of client needs. Farmers’ workshops organized.

• RKB materials adapted to local contexts, with priority materials translated into local languages. These are made available through new access features on the RKB, CD-ROM, and print.

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Implementation of Major Activities: Number of Months from Grant Activities

• Project team assembled and participating agricultural service institutions identified and selected (months 1–4).

• Training needs of agricultural service institutions assessed (months 3–4).

• Training of staff from participating agricultural service institutions based on assessment of farmers' needs, and ICT used to strengthen agricultural service to farmers (months 5–6).

• Trained staff to analyze farmers’ needs (months 6). • Materials available through RKB translated based on

identified priority needs (months 5–9). Component B

Component Name Institutionalizing the use of ICT

Cost ($) 394,740 (including contingency)

Component Description Trained agricultural service institutions will transfer knowledge to poor farmers, using information obtained through ICT. The farming communities will be selected through a consultative process with the implementing agencies, the participating agricultural service institutions, and other key stakeholders, taking into account the poverty level, reliance on rice for food security and livelihood, potential for impact, gender and ethnicity, information need, interest in gaining knowledge, and complementary activities ongoing in the area. The RKB will be a key tool in demonstrating the potential use of ICT to strengthen the speed and quality of information provided to farmers. Based on experience and application of ICT to meet the needs of poor farmers, participating agricultural service institutions will contribute to a national knowledge site. The institutions are also expected to strengthen currently available information and training materials for agricultural service institutions on the use and application of ICT. At the beginning and end of the project, beneficiaries will be surveyed on the benefits and results, based on project activities.

Monitorable Deliverables/Outputs

• Culturally appropriate training packages for farmers designed by participating agricultural service institutions, using the RKB.

• Transfer of knowledge to poor farmers completed by participating agricultural service institutions.

• Published results of ICT use and benefits survey. • Rice production and profitability increase at pilot farm sites.• RKB country sites established. • Information and materials for agricultural service

institutions revised and strengthened, based on experience.

Implementation of Major Activities: Number of Months

• Culturally appropriate training packages for poor farmers produced (month 7).

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• Training and transfer of information to farmers completed (months 8–9).

• RKB country sites established (month 10). • Participating institutions meet to discuss experience

(month 11). • Information and materials for agricultural service

institutions revised and strengthened based on experience. (months 11–12).

• Interventions with farmers reevaluated and documented, for strengthening the capacity-building program for agricultural service institutions (month 19).

Component C Component Name Strengthening the Network of Agricultural Extension

Practitioners Cost ($) 154,768 (including contingency) Component Description Secondary level of training of agricultural service agents will

take place. Trained agricultural service institutions will train, at the national and provincial levels, extension workers/information facilitators from the Government, NGOs, and other institutions on the potential use of ICT and the appropriate way to identify information needs, and to effectively transfer knowledge to farmers using the RKB as a key tool. Capacity building will develop skills among agriculture service agents. It will focus on how to access latest information and will develop skills to work with farmers in providing client-oriented agricultural extension services, accessing and delivering information to farmers. A special effort will be made to include women extension workers and those working in remote and border areas, given the role of women in rice production and because ethnic minorities are often the most information deprived group. A network of practitioners trained to use and apply ICT accessible information will be established at the national and regional levels. This network will be instrumental in sharing and disseminating information and experience, and contributing to the RKB.

Monitorable Deliverables/Outputs

• Each participating agricultural service institution has conducted seminars for other agricultural service institutions to demonstrate the use of ICT.

• Each participating agricultural service institution assists at least two agricultural service institutions in the use of ICT-based information for the design and delivery of training for farmers.

• Each participating agricultural service institution has developed a plan to continue use of ICT in training and extension work.

• A “community of practice” is operating online to share lessons learned and maintain local information sites within the RKB.

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Implementation of Major Activities: Number of Months from Grant Activities

• Participating institutions have identified other agricultural service institutions identified for capacity building in the use of ICT and training needs of these institutions assessed (month 17).

• Training plan for each participating institution developed (months 16–18).

• Participating institutions have provided training to other agricultural service institutions (months 18–20).

• Network of trained extension officers meeting in each country to develop plan for ongoing use of the RKB and expanding application of ICT (months 20–21).

• An ongoing monitoring and evaluating process is designed for each country (months 23–24).

2. Financing Plan for Proposed Project to be Supported by JFICT

Financier Amount ($) Japan Fund for Information and Communication Technology

1,000,000

Government 100,000 Other Sources (Please identify) 150,000 (IRRI) Total 1,250,000

3. Genesis The GMS Program was launched in 1992 by the ministers of six participating countries: Cambodia, People’s Republic of China (Yunnan Province), Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam to promote sustainable economic growth and a better life for all in the region. As part of the GMS Program, a working group on agriculture was established in July 2002 to consider how rural poverty may be reduced through cooperative efforts in strengthening agricultural production, increasing food security, and income. The proposed initiative to expand the application of ICT to help poor farmers in improving production and profitability was identified and supported by the working group of agriculture during its first meeting in January 2003. Agriculture plays an important role in the economies of Cambodia, Thailand, and Viet Nam. Across these three countries, the rural populations account for more than 75% of the total population. Rice, a staple crop and a major export of these countries, is particularly important for the poor and small-scale landholders, most of whom live in rural areas and are dependent on agriculture. In Cambodia and Viet Nam, about 36% and 30%, respectively, of the population are classified as poor. Of these people, 90% live in rural areas and 70–75% depend on agriculture for food security and income. In Thailand, approximately 13% are poor, and about 54% of them are farmers. These poor farmers are concentrated in the rice growing areas in northeastern Thailand. ICT offers powerful new ways to capture, present, and disseminate the wealth of knowledge. However, most of the poor and small-scale farmers are unable to access such information available through ICT due to language barriers, lack of tools, and lack of knowledge about existing information, and they may be overwhelmed and intimidated by ICT. Provincial and district-level agricultural extension workers and civil society organizations that work with and

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support the poor farmers to improve agricultural production techniques, but often have limited knowledge of types of global knowledge and best practices, and experience in applying such information available through ICT at the local level. This knowledge gap and limitations constrain farming options and efficiency, and ultimately have a negative effect on production levels and income of the poor, and on the environment. These countries need to build and strengthen agricultural information networks to manage and apply information to benefit farmers. For example, the technical assistance completion report on Restructuring of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Thailand, highlights the need for continued support to strengthen agricultural information networks and technology transfer at local levels. To respond to this constraint, the proposed initiative focuses on capacity building to harness ICT to manage existing information for extension work and farm-level application. The RKB will be a key tool for the process. Under this initiative, activities will be targeted to strengthen the capacity to determine the priority information needs of clients, access the required information, and transfer the knowledge to clients in a user-friendly manner. This includes possible use of radio to communicate rice production information. The activity is in line with the governments’ efforts to strengthen the use of science and technology and delivery of extension services to farmers, and development of agricultural information networks. Under the approved Asian Development Bank (ADB) Agriculture Sector Program for Thailand (1999), the approved Agricultural Sector Development Program for Viet Nam (2002), and the approved Agricultural Sector Development Program for Cambodia (2003), the governments are undertaking policy reforms that will, among others, promote more effective management and use of science and technology information to benefit farm-level productivity. Activities proposed will be implemented in 2004–2006 (3 years), pending funding confirmation. This proposed grant is designed as a regional initiative to include Cambodia, Thailand, and Viet Nam. Given the social and economic context of each country and in view of their shared borders, the experience and lessons learned based on piloting this initiative in each country will be complementary and mutually supportive. This complementarity is one primary reason for including Cambodia, Thailand, and Viet Nam. Thailand, with its concentration of poor farmers in the northeastern region, and relatively greater national ICT capacity, offers an excellent opportunity for rapid application of project products and impact. The lessons learned in Thailand can then be rapidly passed through the project network activity to the other two countries and positively influence the activities in those countries. Moreover, this proposed initiative is intended to demonstrate the benefits of GMS cooperation for the development of agricultural methodology and technology, and application of ICT to manage and share this information between these countries, which will lead to further investment and collaboration in the future. This JFICT proposal will complement the Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction (JFPR) proposal for Improving Poor Farmers’ Livelihoods through Postharvest Technology. The JFPR proposal focuses on postharvest and marketing issues related to rice. The JFICT proposal will bring to farmers comprehensive information related to rice production, which are available through the RKB, such as how to manage crop disease. This proposal will link, as appropriate, with other ICT initiatives in concerned countries. The proposal supports ADB's ICT Strategy to enable the use and application of ICT, including human resource development. 4. Sustainability The agricultural service institutions participating in this initiative will be the key sites for ICT access to rice-related knowledge. The careful identification of the agricultural service institutions is a key factor in ensuring sustainability. The project will only work with existing

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organizations that have the mandate, interest, and commitment to support the agricultural information network, and in extending information to farmers, including the small-scale landholders and poor farmers. The project will add value to such organizations' existing activities, by improving their efficiency and focus. The organizations are expected to strengthen the agricultural information network by transferring information and training other in-country research and extension organizations about management and delivery of information that meet farmers’ needs. They are also expected to contribute to building rice-related knowledge and sharing it through national and regional networks, using ICT. The institutions and individuals that will be involved in the project will be integrated into IRRI's network. As network members, they will be involved in knowledge exchange workshops and discussions, which provide incentives for them to continue the work started by the project. The local RKBs will be linked to IRRI’s RKB, which is being maintained as its core activity. Thus, IRRI will ensure that new materials will be made available and remain available. The outcomes will demonstrate the applicability, usefulness, and importance of applying ICT in extension work. Based on the outcome, the project will provide added incentive to sustain and expand project activities. 5. Participatory Approach To ensure that appropriate information is transferred to poor farmers, a key training component is the capacity building of agricultural service institutions to assess the information needs of poor farmers. Based on the capacity building provided, an initial assessment of farmers’ information needs will be undertaken. The results will be used to prioritize the translation of web-based materials and adapt the materials to enable transfer of information to farmers. The proposed initiative also includes assessing capacity and needs of primary agricultural service institutions, to consider their existing knowledge and computer hardware and software to ensure that appropriate training and infrastructure support are made available. The proposed initiative will make a special effort to include women extension workers, and those working with remote and ethnic communities, given that women and minorities are often deprived of information. Primary and Other Stakeholders (including any NGOs, especially Japanese NGOs) and Brief Description of their Involvement: Primary stakeholders will be staff from the implementing agencies, and other participating agricultural service institutions. The project has evolved after discussions with four levels of stakeholders and beneficiaries in the three countries—farmers, NGOs, national research and extension workers, and ministries of agriculture officials. First, IRRI’s participatory research and development activities with poor farmers have identified that they (especially women farmers and ethnic minorities) lack access to knowledge of improved practices for rice that could raise the return on rice, and improve their livelihood. Second, IRRI has been working successfully with grassroots organizations and has identified limited access to information as a constraint. Third, research and extension staff have expressed frustrations about the difficulties faces in making research results on improved technologies available to farmers and to other agriculture intermediary institutions. Initial discussions with these groups about the possible use of ICT, as demonstrated by IRRI’s RKB, has led them and ministry officials to express interest and support for this initiative.

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Based on preliminary discussions held, key participating agricultural institutions, in addition to government agriculture research and extension organizations, will include the Royal University of Agriculture (Cambodia); Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere, Inc. (Japan), Khon Khaen University (Thailand), Population and Community Development Association (Thailand), and Angiang University (Viet Nam). The ultimate target beneficiaries will be the small-scale poor farmers who are disadvantaged in the face of declining resource base, rising input costs, stagnant output and price levels, and market failures. To empower these farmers and increase their viability represents major challenges, but success would carry widespread benefits. Where possible, activities will complement ongoing work by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS). Of the three groups, the role of farmers and information service providers will initially be to help ensure the identification of the true farm-level needs, and to ensure the relevance and appropriateness of information targeted to them. Subsequently, participating service provider institutions will be responsible for disseminating knowledge to other institutions. The participating service provider institutions are expected to implement needs analyses, after capacity building to strengthen their skills. They will then identify information and training needs, and develop and deliver these courses to farmers, with coaching from project staff. They will also develop their ICT skills and capacity to apply knowledge obtained through ICT and to develop and maintain national sites for the RKB.

Primary Beneficiaries and Other Affected Groups and Relevant Description

Other Key Stakeholders and Brief Description

• At least 9 participating agricultural service institutions from government, and the university and NGO community. Key staff from these institutions will be trained to analyze farmers’ information needs, use ICT to respond to farmers’ information needs, and transfer knowledge to farmers. As women and ethnic minorities are often the most deprived of knowledge and information, at least half of the participants will be women staff members, and at least one-fifth of the participants will be working in regions with ethnic minorities.

• After the initial training of service

providers, at least 3,300 farmers will be reached per year. Their knowledge base for decision making is expected to expand, based on increased and improved transfer of information to them. Information provided should enable them to improve their rice production and profitability.

The participating agricultural service institutions are expected to train approximately 540 other agricultural agents (each institution will run three courses a year, with approximately 20 participants in each course), accessing and applying information obtained through ICT. These agents are expected to expand the effort to provide farmers with the right kind of information in a timely manner. If the information provided meets actual needs, and is made available in simply understood forms, dissemination is expected to occur rapidly.

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6. Coordination JICA was consulted about undertaking this regional initiative in Cambodia, Thailand, and Viet Nam. IRRI held discussions with JICA and Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS), in 2002 about IRRI’s application of ICT in agriculture. Staff from both organizations expressed interest and agreed to review mechanisms to complement existing Japanese programs in the process of identifying and selecting agricultural agents at the secondary level of capacity building on the use of ICT to strengthen agricultural service. The World Bank has been consulted through the consultative group meetings, where IRRI’s activities in ICT and the RKB were encouraged. They have also been consulted in the formulation of the agriculture sector development programs for Cambodia, Thailand, and Viet Nam. Such programs provide the context of this initiative, and to which this initiative is linked. 7. Cost Estimates (See Appendix 1) C. Linkage to ADB Strategy and ADB-Financed Operations 1. Linkage to ADB Strategy

Document Document Number

Date of Last Discussion

Objectives

PPA (Cambodia)

Memo to Board 71-02

15 Aug 2002

The PPA notes that significant investment is required to strengthen the rural economy, which is key to reducing poverty. This includes strengthening agricultural support services.

CSPU (Thailand)

Sec-M58-01 July 2001 To strengthen its longer-term competitiveness, human resource development, and the application of science and technology is considered a priority. Regional cooperation was identified as a priority, where regional initiative is to contribute to balanced growth in Thailand’s poorer and lagging regions.

PPA (Viet Nam)

Memo to Board 16-02

25 Feb 2002

One key challenge to poverty reducing growth that the PPA identifies for future ADB cooperation “is enabling the rural poor to benefit from productivity advances. Productivity enhancement, in turn, is dependent on the application of science and technology to identify new production processes and innovative products.”

2. Linkage to Specific ADB-Financed Operation Project Name Cambodia: Agriculture Sector Development Program; Thailand:

Agriculture Sector Development Program; Viet Nam: Agriculture Sector Development Program

Project Number Cambodia: Loan 2022/2023/TA4228 (approved) Thailand: Loan 1698 (approved) Viet Nam: Loans 1972/973 (approved)

Date of Board Approval Cambodia: November 2003 Thailand: September 1999 Viet Nam: December 2002

Loan Amount ($ million) Cambodia: 25 million Thailand: 300 million Viet Nam: 92.277 million

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3. The Projects' Development Objectives Thailand’s Agriculture Sector Development Program is to improve the sector’s productivity, enhance the export competitiveness, and improve sector management. Within this framework, the Program was designed to strengthen the efficient use of natural resources, technology, and human resources; reduce regional income disparities; increase rural employment; expand agricultural exports based on its comparative advantage; and, ultimately, reduce poverty. The Program included activities to strengthen research and technology, extension systems, and farmer education, and to enhance demand-driven agricultural research and extension service. Viet Nam’s Agriculture Sector Development Program is to assist the Government to address constraints related to productivity, profitability, and competitiveness with emphasis on small-scale farmers and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to ultimately achieve sustainable agricultural growth and rural employment. The program component focuses on policy reforms in research, extension, market information, and financial services to agro-industry SMEs to implement the Government’s 10–year (2001–2010) development strategy. The component is to improve the availability of and access to funds for private agro-industry SMEs that have largely been bypassed by the formal banking sector. The Agriculture Sector Development Program for Cambodia is to promote sustainable growth of the market-based agriculture sector, thereby contributing to the country's economic growth and poverty reduction. It will facilitate agricultural commercialization and diversification in line with the Second Socioeconomic Development Program of the Government and will ensure increased participation of the poor and women in agricultural production, marketing, and postproduction system. 4. List the Projects' Main Components For Cambodia: Agriculture Sector Development Program No. Component Name Brief Description 1. Policy Component a. Support for ensuring that access to secure land is

provided. b. Strengthening of the legal, policy, and institutional framework for water management. c. Establishment of a legal and institutional framework to ensure better access to improved seeds. d. Strengthening of the regulatory system to assure the quality of agro-chemicals traded in the market. e. Divestiture of state-owned rubber estates. f. Removal of state interventions into agricultural input and output markets. g. Support to facilitate implementation of the approved medium-term work plan of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (MAFF), as well as to complete Cambodia’s accession to the World Trade Organization. h. Assistance to strengthen the role of MAFF’s agricultural marketing services, and to establish an operational policy and strategy for gender mainstreaming in agriculture.

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No. Component Name Brief Description i. Rationalization of the role and responsibilities of MAFF’s departments.

2. Project components a. One area of support would be to strengthen extension support for farmer groups. b. Another area is to strengthen support services provided to agro-based enterprises. c. Support would also be provided to strengthen institutional capacity for agricultural commercialization.

For Thailand: Agriculture Sector Program No. Component Name Brief Description 1. Increase of Productivity a. Support a unified water management system,

through changes in institutional framework, legal instruments, and national policy, and enhanced coordination. b. Promote sustainable water service delivery, through (i) participatory approaches, (ii) establishment of policy for cost recovery for public irrigation schemes, and (iii) increase overall agricultural productivity in irrigation schemes. c. Support sustainable water resource management, through (i) establishment of integrated water resources planning and management for major river basins, and (ii) development of national plans for flood and drought management. d. Strengthen watershed protection and soil conservation through participatory watershed protection and management. e. Support the reform of land tenure and management, (i) the setting of clear rules and procedures for demarcation of protected areas, (ii) accelerated issuance of land-use certificates for state lands, and (iii) enhanced land consolidation and land development programs. f. Reduce the degradation of coastal resources through support to (i) proper land-use planning, (ii) private-sector led rehabilitation of abandoned shrimp ponds, and (iii) sustainable management of marine resources. g. Improve access to rural financial services by (i) supporting preparation of a new legal and regulatory framework for grassroot-level credit and savings institutions, (ii) strengthening the capital base of the Bank of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives, and (iii) establishing a market-determined interest rate for rural credit under the Program.

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No. Component Name Brief Description 2. Strengthen Export

Competitiveness a. Strengthen research and technology through support for (i) decentralization of agricultural research and extension service; (ii) demand-driven agricultural research and extension service; (iii) proper policy guidance and resource mobilization through a national council for agricultural research, and (iv) dissemination of up-to-date information on agricultural marketing and technology, through establishment of the Agriculture and Resource System Information Network b. Support the restructuring of extension systems and improve farmer education through improved agricultural marketing and related support services with the (i) provision of one-stop service centers, (ii) implementation of the national plan for farmers’ education, and (iii) devolution of regional operations to provincial and district levels. c. Promote export of agricultural products by strengthening quality assurance and increasing investment in infrastructure to facilitate agricultural production for export promotion d. Minimize government intervention in the market by removing market distortions from agricultural input markets, and supporting market-determined interest rates for rural credit.

3. Restructuring Sector Management and Improving Governance

a. Support the restructuring of the Ministry of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives, through (i) rationalization based on its functional areas, (ii) strengthening of the transparency of systems and procedures, and (iii) promotion of private sector participation in input supply functions and in its decision-making processes. b. Strengthen community participation in agricultural planning by (i) supporting increased transparency and accountability in the agricultural sector, (ii) creating institutional links for demand-driven agricultural support services, and (iii) increasing the devolution of decision making to the local level.

For Viet Nam: Agricultural Sector Development Program/Project No. Component Name Brief Description 1. Strengthen Science and

Technology a. Support is provided to reorganize and restructure management of agricultural research. This includes establishing standards and performance- based evaluations for research, providing more autonomy to research institutes, and phasing out the commercial activities of research institutes. b. The policy component will also support the restructuring of management, extend reach, and

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No. Component Name Brief Description revamp the operations to strengthen agricultural extension. This includes reorganizing the Department of Agriculture and Forestry Extension into a national extension center, establishing a provincial extension advisory council in each province to provide a forum for stakeholder participation in preparing extension programs and other activities, developing extension strategies and priorities, preparing a mechanism to enhance the link between research and extension, and improving targeting in extension activities.

2. Promote Agro-Industry Development

a. Address nonperforming loans at Viet Nam Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development b. Strengthen the operations of Viet Nam Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development, and ensure compliance with minimum core capital adequacy ratio of 4% of its risk assets, and with State Bank of Viet Nam Decision 488. c. Provide funds for medium- and long-term loans to SMEs in agro-industry, to promote environmentally sound rural businesses to improve productivity, enhance product quality, and generate economic growth and employment. d. Establish a market information system connecting provinces and districts, to include market demand and risk analysis for trade promotion. e. Support the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to terminate subsidies in on hybrid maize seed.

5. Rationale for Grant Funding versus ADB Lending This initiative is intended to pilot test and demonstrate the benefit of GMS cooperation and exchange of agricultural and biotechnology information using ICT, in extending support to poor farmers and small-scale landholders. It is expected to catalyze investment in regional cooperative initiatives using ICT to share information between countries and address common challenges of improving research and extension support, strengthen delivery of information to poor farmers and small-scale landholders, and increase access to market information, to increase agricultural productivity. Activities proposed complement the objectives and goals of the agriculture sector development program loans to Cambodia and Viet Nam, and the Agriculture Sector Program Loan to Thailand. The summary cost table (Appendix 2), detailed cost estimates (Appendix 3) and proposed arrangement for funds flow (Appendix 4) are attached.

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D. Implementation of the Proposed Grant 1. Implementing Agency Each country will have one lead implementing

agency: • Cambodian Agricultural and Rural Development

Institute, Cambodia • Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture,

Thailand • Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development,

Viet Nam IRRI will be the Executing Agency and an Implementing Agency. IRRI has 40 years of experience and a proven track record in improving rice production in Asia through its research and training. It is also providing leadership in using ICT for content packaging and delivery. IRRI will draw on its existing networks to link with key national partners and increase their capacity to (i) draw on ICT resources for enhanced knowledge access, (ii) provide local language versions by translating key materials, (iii) ensure target farmers’ needs are efficiently identified and matched to information sources, and (iv) target training needs and develop and deliver courses combining ICT and field applications. The role of implementing agencies will be to provide the lead for organizing training workshops, transforming and adapting RKB to fit the local context and needs, becoming key sites for ICT access to rice-related knowledge, and disseminating and expending the use of ICT-based information. A team in each country (Appendix 5), will be constituted by the implementing agency and other participating agriculture service institutions, IRRI, and a national counterpart officer. The team will be responsible for the overall management and monitoring of activities at the country level. A national advisory forum will be convened to share project experience at the policy level and with other interested agriculture service institutions. When the project is approved, the grant implementation manual will be prepared. Detailed implementation arrangements, including the establishment of a project implementation unit, will be outlined in the grant implementation manual. The project will be implemented in two phases. In the first phase, a meeting of key stakeholders will be held to collect input on proposed project activities, collate institute activities in training and development, assess the institutional potential to use and benefit from ICT, and identify key participating organizations. The villagers' information needs will also be assessed during the first phase of implementation. Based on the meeting, the grant implementation manual will be reviewed and updated for the second phase of implementation. The grant implementation manual will be the basis for the letter of agreement between ADB and IRRI. To support the implementation, approximately 114 person-months of consultants will be required: 42 months, international and 72 months, local. 30 person months, international and 72 person months, local would be supported through funds provided by JFICT. IRRI will support 9 person-months for the overall IRRI project manager to coordinate the activities in the three countries (3 months, international) and the IRRI training and technical specialists (6 months, international). Consultant service required include extension and communication experts (30 months, international), ICT technical support from IRRI (6 months, international), national counterpart officers (18 months, national), and intermediary counterpart officers (54 months, national). Draft terms of references are attached in Appendix 6 and tasks will be further detailed at the end of phase one of project implementation. International and national (domestic) consultants will be recruited on an individual basis, in accordance with ADB guidelines on the

16

use of consultants and other arrangements satisfactory to ADB on the engagement of domestic consultants. Office equipment and materials will be procured in accordance with ADB’s guidelines for procurement. Equipment to be purchased is detailed in Appendix 7. The disposal of equipment will be in accordance with ADB's guidelines.

2. Risks Affecting Grant Implementation Type of Risk Brief Description Measure to Mitigate the Risk Commitment • Participating agricultural service

institutions remain interested and committed through project life and beyond.

• Those trained will extend their knowledge to other agricultural service institutions and are willing to share their experience with national and regional colleagues.

• Appropriate agricultural service institutions are identified.

• Participating agricultural

service institutions will be selected based on the consistency of their mandates with the goals of the project. They are expected to prepare plans for ICT use, and for further dissemination of their experience with other national-level, and regional-level colleagues, which IRRI will continue to monitor after the project.

Relevance • Training developed for participating agricultural service institutions is needed, and does not duplicate other support provided.

• Type of information and training provided to farmers are relevant.

• Training needs of each participating agricultural service institutions will be analyzed to ascertain current capacity and identify areas for training.

• Participating agricultural service institutions will be trained to analyze farmers’ needs, to help them determine materials and information requirements of farmers.

Viability ICT focal points remain viable. Careful selection of ICT focal point to ensure capacity and interest.

3. Incremental ADB Costs Component Incremental Bank Cost Amount requested ($) 45,000 Justification

Extra support is requested to help develop the project implementation manual for this regional project. This is important to ensure the smooth achievement of planned project activities.

17

Component Incremental Bank Cost Type of Work to be Rendered by ADB

Project implementation manual produced ($25,000). Project review and monitoring of village-level activities ($20,000).

4. Monitoring and Evaluation Key Performance Indicator Reporting Mechanism Plan and Timetable for

M&E 1. Localized RKB addresses the production issues and knowledge needs of target groups.

• Report of team leader on

the status and needs of participating agricultural service institutions.

• Report of farmers’ needs

analyses (noting gender and ethnic considerations).

• The training programs

and materials are adapted and produced.

• Quarterly progress

report, yearly audits, midterm review, and final report.

• Report of team leader

available end of month 6. • Report on farmers needs

analysis available by end of month 9.

• First sets of adapted

materials available end of month 6.

• ADB midterm review in

month 18. • Yearly audit.

2. RKB institutionalized locally with key agricultural service institutions.

• A “community of practice” is operating online to share lessons learned.

• For each country, local

ICT training materials and language versions are produced and available on line, as CD-ROMs, and in hard copy.

• Quarterly progress

report, yearly audits, midterm review, and final report.

• Country ICT sites running by month 8.

• Content of materials

adapted by month 13. • ADB midterm review in

month 18. • Yearly audit.

3. Agricultural service institutions are better able to address rice production issues encountered by poor farmers.

• Published results of ICT use and benefits survey.

• Quarterly progress report, yearly audits, midterm review, and final report.

• Report available month 36.

• ADB midterm review in month 18.

• Yearly audit.

18

4. Improvement in rice production quality.

• Published results of the rice production/returns.

• Quarterly progress

report, yearly audits, midterm review, and final report.

• Report available month 36.

• ADB midterm review in

month 18. • Yearly audit.

5. Estimated Disbursement Schedule (for amount from JFICT only) Maximum 4 years following grant approval Fiscal Year (FY) Amount ($) FY ending 2003 50,000 FY ending 2004 400,000 FY ending 2005 300,000 FY ending 2006 250,000 Total Disbursements 1,000,000

E. Clearances Director General of relevant regional department endorses the cleared JFICT grant proposal to the Government of Japan, through the Office of Cofinancing Operations (OCO).

To be Cleared By Name / Division Comments 1. Director General of the Relevant Regional Department

Kazu Sakai, Deputy Director General, Mekong Regional Department

• Cleared

2. Director of the Division in the Relevant Regional Department

C.R.Rajendran, Director, Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources Division, Mekong Regional Department

• Cleared

3. Staff Review Committee members

1. S. Sahajanathan 2. R. O’Sullivan

• Cleared

4. Other reviewers Controller's Department Economic and Research Department Office of Cofinancing Operations Operations Evaluation Department Regional and Sustainable Development Department

• Cleared

5. CC List

19

F. Checklist 1. Does the application support activities that will assist the developing member countries to bridge the "digital divide" to help reduce poverty in Asia and Pacific. • Yes Response is found in Section 3. 2. Do the proposed activities fit within at least one of the following basic purposes of the JFICT? (i) In developing member countries, support ICT-related activities that can add substantive

value to promote and impact the poverty reduction strategy of the ADB and other related development aims.

(ii) Encourage private sector participation in ICT development and enhance its capabilities in the region.

(iii) Improve regional and international cooperation, partnership, and networking to enhance local efforts at development through appropriate ICT applications.

• Yes Response is found in Sections 1, 3, and 4. 3. Are the proposed activities designed and expected to be implemented with full participation by local community groups and NGOs? • Yes Response is found in Sections 5 and 6. 4. Do the activities support interventions that will have a catalytic effect or magnify the impact of ADB-financed operation(s)? • Yes Response is found in Section 5. 5. Does the application identify methods to monitor and evaluate outcomes, implementation progress, and the impact of the grant on the beneficiaries? • Yes Response is found in Section 4. 6. Are Japanese NGOs participating in this JFICT activity? • Yes Response is found in Section 5. 7. Have Japanese aid agencies (e.g., Japan Bank for International Cooperation, JICA) been consulted in the development of the JFICT application? • Yes Response is found in Section 6.

Please confirm statements 8–15 below. 8. Proposed JFICT activities are not eligible or cannot be funded under loans, or through other sources of funding available to ADB. • Confirmed 9. Proposed JFICT activities are not being used to prepare projects or supplement existing project preparation activities being funded through Japan Special Fund or other project preparation fund. • Confirmed 10. The application includes an exit strategy or a mechanism to ensure long-term sustainability. • Confirmed

20

11. The legal status, financial soundness, track record, and arrangements for use and accounting of grant funds have been checked for grants that are expected to be executed by community groups or NGOs. • Confirmed 12. Where funding of incremental costs (staff or consultants) for grant preparation and/or implementation is requested, a full justification is provided. • Not Applicable 13. The grant will not include study tours or foreign training. • Confirmed 14. The application does not include support for academic training, research work, and core program activities of global/regional programs. • Confirmed 15. The director general and the director of the relevant regional department have endorsed the grant activity. • Confirmed

Appendixes

1. Cost Tables 2. Implementation Arrangements 3. Fund Flow Arrangement 4. Project Management Chart 5. Terms of References 6. Proposed Equipment Configuration

COST ESTIMATESTable A1.1: Summary Costs Table

($)

Appendix 1 21

Component A Component B Component C Total (Input) Percent

1. International Consultants 162,000 144,000 54,000 360,000 36

2. Equipment 55,850 50,200 21,950 128,000 16

3. Training 88,950 69,400 24,150 182,500 18

4. Supplies and Support Services a. Support Staff b. Supplies

29,175 26,650 9,725 65,550 7

5. Travel 45,750 39,000 14,750 99,500 10

6. Contingencies (0–10% of total estimated grant fund)Use of contingencies requires prior approval from ADB. 10,000 14,000 10,000 34,000 3

7. Management and Coordination (incl. Audit) 58,766 51,490 20,194 130,450 13

Subtotal 450,491 394,740 154,769 1,000,000 100

Inputs by IRRI

1. Consultants 27,000 24,000 9,000 60,000 40

2. Supplies and Support Services 30,000 24,000 11,500 65,500 44

3. Travel 10,000 10,000 4,500 24,500 16

Subtotal (IRRI) 67,000 58,000 25,000 150,000 100

NARES Inputs (in-kind)

1. Equipment 2,250 2,000 750 5,000 5

2. Training 23,250 22,000 6,750 52,000 52

3. Supplies and Support Services 13,000 13,000 8,000 34,000 34

4. Travel 3,000 3,000 3,000 9,000 9

Subtotal (NARES ) 41,500 40,000 18,500 100,000 100

Total 558,991 492,740 198,269 1,250,000 IRRI = International Rice Research Institute; NARES =National Agriculture Research and Extension Services.Source: Asian Development Bank Estimates.

Project Inputs

Project Components

Table A1.2: Detailed Cost Estimates ($)

Code Supplies and Services Rendered Unit Quantity

Units Cost per

Unit $ JFICT IRRI NARES

Component A Subtotal: 556,741 450,491 67,000 41,5001.1 Consultant Subtotal: 189,000 162,000 27,000 1.1.1 Remuneration–International Person per

year 1 120,000 135,000 135,000

Focal officers & national counterparts–national (72 months total–all outputs)

27,000 27,000 27,000

IRRI staff–6 months total training development (all outputs)

27,000 27,000

1.2 Equipment Subtotal: 55,850 55,850 2,250 1.2.1 Knowledge bank ICT (PCs + software +

multlimedia) Sets 9 12,556 50,850 50,850

1.2.2 Maintenance Fee Lump sum 5,000 5,000 Site 9 Lump sum 2,2501.3 Training Subtotal: 112,200 88,950 23,250 1.3.1 Monitoring & evaluation Study 1 15,000 6,750 6,750 1.3.2 Stakeholder Meetings Course 4 5,000 9,000 9,000 1.3.3 Three events/institution/year plus other support Course 3 14,000 81,450 58,200 23,250 1.3.4 Materials 15,000 15,000 15,0001.4 Supplies and Support Services Subtotal: 72,175 29,175 30,000 13,000 1.4.1 Support Staff Person per year 3 3,500 14,175 14,175 IRRI staff 25,000 NARES staff 3,000 3,000 1.4.2 Supplies Lump sum 20,000 15,000 5,000 1.4.3 Office space 10,000 10,0001.5 Travel 58,750 45,750 10,000 3,000 1.5.1 International Travel IRRI Staff Travel (Los Baños) Lump sum 12,250 2,250 10,000 Visit to 2 countries x 8 trips/year Lump sum 30,000 30,000 1.5.2 Local Travel Lump sum 16,500 13,500 3,000 Subtotal 487,975 381,725 67,000 41,500 Allocation 1.6 Contingency 10,000 10,0001.7 Management and Coordination (incl. Audit)

of this Component 58,766 58,766

ICT = information and communication technology; IRRI = International Rice Research Institute; JFICT = Japan Fund for Information Communication Technology; NARES = National Agriculture Research and Extension Services; PC = personal computer.

Continued on next page

22 Appendix 1

Appendix 1 23

Table A1.2 – Continued

Code Supplies and Services Rendered Unit Quantity Units

Cost per Unit

$ JFICT IRRI NARES

Component B Subtotal: 490,740 394,740 58,000 40,0002.1 Consultant Subtotal: 168,000 144,000 24,0002.1.1 Remuneration–International Person per

year 1 120,000 120,000 120,000

Focal officers & national counterparts–national (72 months total–all outputs)

24,000 24,000

IRRI staff–6 months training development 24,000 24,0002.2 Equipment Subtotal: 50,200 50,200 2,000 2.2.1 Knowledge bank ICT (PCs + software +

multlimedia) Sets 9 12,556 45,200 45,200

2.2.2 Maintenance Fee Lump sum 5,000 5,000 Site 9 Lump sum 2,000 2.3 Training Subtotal: 91,400 69,400 22,0002.3.1 Monitoring & evaluation Study 1 15,000 6,000 6,000 2.3.2 Stakeholder Meetings Course 4 5,000 8,000 8,000 2.3.3 Three events/institution/year plus other support Course 3 14,000 72,400 50,400 22,000 2.3.4 Materials 5,000 5,000 5,0002.4 Supplies and Support Services Subtotal: 63,650 26,650 24,000 13,0002.4.1 Support Staff Person per year 3 3,500 12,600 12,600 IRRI staff 20,000 20,000 NARES staff 3,000 3,000 2.4.2 Supplies Lump sum 18,050 14,050 4,0002.4.3 Office space 10,000 10,0002.5 Travel 52,000 39,000 10,000 3,000 2.5.1 International Travel Lump sum 12,000 2,000 10,000 Visit to 2 countries x 8 trips/year Lump sum 25,000 25,0002.5.2 Local Travel Lump sum 15,000 12,000 3,000 Subtotal 425,250 329,250 58,000 40,000 Allocation 2.6 Contingency 14,000 14,0002.7 Management and Coordination (incl. Audit)

of this Component 51,490 51,490

ICT = information and communication technology; IRRI = International Rice Research Institute; JFICT = Japan Fund for Information Communication Technology; NARES = National Agriculture Research and Extension Services; PC = personal computer.

Continued on next page

Table A1.2 – Continued

Code Supplies and Services Rendered Unit Quantity Units

Cost per Unit

$ JFICT IRRI NARES

Component C Subtotal: 197,518 154,768 25,000 18,5003.1 Consultant Subtotal: 63,000 54,000 9,000 1.1.1 Remuneration–International Person per

year 1 120,000 45,000 45,000

Focal officers & national counterparts–national (72 months total–all outputs)

9,000 9,000 27,000

IRRI staff–6 months training development 9,000 9,0003.2 Equipment Subtotal: 21,950 21,950 750 3.2.1 Knowledge bank ICT (PCs + software +

multlimedia) Sets 9 12,556 16,950 16,950

3.2.2 Maintenance Fee Lump sum 5,000 5,000 Site 9 Lump sum 750 3.3 Training Subtotal: 30,900 24,150 6,750 3.3.1 Monitoring & evaluation Study 1 15,000 2,250 2,250 3.3.2 Stakeholder Meetings Course 4 5,000 3,000 3,000 3.3.3 Three events/institution/year plus other support Course 3 14,000 25,650 18,900 6,750 3.4 Supplies and Support Services Subtotal: 29,225 9,725 11,500 8,000 3.4.1 Support Staff Person per year 3 3,500 4,725 4,725 IRRI staff 10,000 10,000 NARES staff 3,000 3,000 3.4.2 Supplies Lump sum 6,500 5,000 1,500 3.4.3 Office space 5,000 5,0003.5 Travel 22,250 14,750 4,500 3,000 3.5.1 International Travel IRRI Staff Travel (Los Baños) Lump sum 5,250 750 4,500 Visit to 2 countries x 8 trips/year Lump sum 10,000 10,000 3.5.2 Local Travel Lump sum 7,000 4,000 3,000 Subtotal 167,325 124,575 25,000 18,500 Allocation 3.6 Contingency 10,000 10,0003.7 Management and Coordination (incl. Audit) of this Component 20,194 20,194 Total Project Cost Total: 1,245,000 1,000,000 150,000 100,000ICT = information and communication technology; IRRI = International Rice Research Institute; JFICT = Japan Fund for Information Communication Technology; NARES = National Agriculture Research and Extension Services; PC = personal computer. Source: ADB and IRRI estimates.

24 Appendix 1

Asian Development Bank

IMPLEMENTATION ARRANGEMENTS

Executing Agency

Implementing Agencies

International Rice Research Institute (JFICT Project Unit) in Los

Baños, Philippines

AgriculturalService

Institution

JFICT = Japan Fund for Information and Communication Technology

Knowledge shared with at least 6 other institutions

Knowledge shared with at least 6 other institutions

Cambodian Agricultural and Rural Development Institute

Cambodia

Department of Agriculture, Ministry of

Agriculture, Thailand

Ministry of Agriculture and

Rural Development Viet Nam

AgriculturalService

Institution

AgriculturalService

Institution

AgriculturalService

Institution

AgriculturalService

Institution

AgriculturalService

Institution

Knowledge shared with at least 6 other institutions

Appendix 2 25

26 Appendix 3

FUND FLOW ARRANGEMENTS FOR JFICT FUNDS

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will channel the Japan Fund for Information Communication Technology (JFICT) funds directly to a JFICT imprest account, which will be opened and maintained by the project implementation unit (PIU) in the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), at a bank endorsed by the executing agency (EA) and acceptable to ADB, to facilitate day-to-day local expenditures of the JFICT Project. The EA will be kept informed by the PIU about all transactions, and receive copies of all financial statements and audit reports. The JFICT imprest account will be managed by the PIU. ADB will initially channel $100,000 to the imprest account as advance for day-to-day project implementation during the inception period, and will replenish funds every 3–6 months to the imprest account, based on the replenishment requests from the PIU to ADB, in accordance with ADB's statement of expenditures procedure. The statement of expenditures procedure will apply for all payments and transactions under $10,000 to ensure speedy project implementation. Detailed implementation arrangements, such as the flow, replenishment, and administrative procedures will be detailed in the project implementation manual, and be established between ADB and IRRI through the JFICT Letter of Agreement. The schematic fund flow for the JFICT Project is shown in Figure A3.

Figure A3: Fund Flow Arrangements for JFICT Project

Asian Development Bank

ICB/ICQ/LCB/LCQ Procurements (e.g.

equipment in bulk, etc.)

Component 1: Localizing the RKB

Component 2: Institutionalizing the Use

of ICT

Component 3: Strengthening the Network of Agricultural

Extension Practitioners

Project Imprest Account

held at IRRI

Overall Management, Coordination and Monitoring

Contingencies $34,000

$130,450

ADB = Asian Development Bank; EA = executing agency; ICT = information and communication technology; IRRI =International Rice Research Institute; JFICT = Japan Fund for Information and Communication Technology; PIU =project implementation unit; RKB = Rice Knowledge Bank.

$124,475

$329,250

$381,725

$1,0

00,0

00

ADB (Japan Fund for Information and Communication Technology)

Cambodia, Thailand and Viet Nam [CARDI] [DOA-MOA] [MARD]

IRRI Corporate – Los Banos (Executing Agency and JFICT Project Unit)

IRRI Key intermediaries counterpart officers

National focal officer

Policy

Implementation

National advisory forum

Other institutions 1 2

Extension Service Counterpart officer [3 months per year]

Other institutions 1 2

University Counterpart officer [3 months per year]

Other institutions 1 2

NGO Counterpart officer [3 months per year]

Farmers Link to existing development projects in country

ICT,

Extension and M and E

input

Project Oversight Group IRRI project manager

Project coordinator (extension and/or communications experts) National focal officers

Key Project Intermediaries partnerships

Appendix 4 27 PROJECT MANAGEMENT CHART

ADB = Asian Development Bank; CARDI = Cambodian Agricultural Research and Development Institute; DOA = Department of Agriculture; NGO =nongovernment organization; ICT = information and communication technology; IRRI = International Rice Research Institute; MOA = Ministry of Agriculture;MARD = Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Country Management Team

28 Appendix 5

OUTLINE TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR CONSULTANTS A. Extension and/or Communications Experts (international, 30 person-months) 1. The experts will do the following

(i) Facilitate the formation of a network of farmer intermediaries from Government, universities, nongovernment organizations and the private sector to improve use of information communication technology (ICT) in rice production, processing and marketing in the project countries.

(ii) Work with the farmer intermediaries to improve their capacity to develop plans,

establish the most important needs of their client groups, and oversee the initial needs analysis required by the project.

(iii) Deliver training and support in the use of ICT to meet priority needs. (iv) Support farmer intermediaries and International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)

staff in the identification and documentation of good and best practices for dissemination in the countries.

(v) Support the intermediaries in using the rice knowledge bank (RKB) to store and

disseminate information and best practices through use of the IRRI RKB

(vi) Help document activities and prepare reports on the use of ICT within the project for the Asian Development Bank, IRRI management, and national systems.

(vii) Organize, implement, analyze and document the required monitoring and

evaluation. 2. The experts must each have (i) a doctoral or equivalent degree; (ii) at least 6 years experience in extension activity, preferably in agriculture, with 3 years in ICT use; (iii) prior experience in developing and delivering training using ICT in developing countries, and appropriate country experience will be an asset; (iv) the ability to work effectively in developing countries with differing cultures and language, and to function effectively as a team member; (v) willingness to learn new approaches to training and extension activity and (vi) ability to travel extensively in the project countries.

B. Training and Technical Specialist Inputs (international, 6 person-months)

—Provided by IRRI

3. The specialist will do the following

(i) Develop and deliver training on ICT use for the farmer intermediaries. (ii) Work with the farmer intermediaries to establish the use of ICT in the project

countries on an ongoing basis.

(iii) Develop, validate, and document appropriate training for farmers and rice millers about the benefits of ICT use.

(iv) Disseminate ICT information through training in the host countries, using printed

materials and electronic materials in the IRRI RKB and ensuring translation of materials into local languages.

Appendix 5 29

(v) Document activities and prepare reports on the impact of ICT activities for the

Asian Development Bank, IRRI management, and national systems. 4. The specialist will (i) have appropriate tertiary qualifications; (ii) have had at least 3 years in training and extension work, preferably in developing countries, and relevant country experience will be an asset; (iii) be able to work effectively in developing countries with differing cultures and languages; (iv) be able to function well as a team member; (v) be willing to learn new approaches to training and extension activity; and (vi) be prepared to travel extensively in the project countries. C. National Focal Officers (3 positions— domestic, total 18 person-months) 5. The officers will do the following:

(i) Provide a focal point within each country for all project activity and be an advocate for the project.

(ii) Ensure an ongoing focus throughout the project.

(iii) Manage all country-level planning, activities, and budgets of the project.

(iv) Coordinate the activities of the three intermediaries to ensure coherence and

consistency across all project activities.

(v) Provide advice and support to IRRI and the international consultants operating within the country.

6. The officers will (i) have appropriate post-secondary qualifications; (ii) have had at least 5 years in training and extension work, in agricultural development in the country; (iii) be able to work effectively with all people of differing cultures and languages in the country; (iv) be able to function well as a team member; (v) be willing to learn new approaches to training and extension activity, and (vi) be prepared to travel extensively in the project country. D. Intermediary Counterpart Officers (9 positions—domestic, 6 person-months, total of 54 months) 7. The officers will do the following:

(i) Provide a focal point within each intermediary for all project activities.

(ii) Ensure an ongoing focus within each intermediary for the project.

(iii) Manage all planning, activities, and budgets of the project within each intermediary.

(iv) Advise and support IRRI and international consultants operating within the area

of each intermediary’s operations. 8. The officers will (i) have the appropriate education level or equivalent experience; (ii) have had at least 3 years in training and extension work, and current position within the intermediary; (iii) be able to work effectively with all farmers within the intermediary’s area of operations; (iv) be able to function well as a team member; (v) be willing to learn new approaches to training and extension activity; and (vi) be prepared to travel extensively in the intermediary’s area.

30 Appendix 6

PROPOSED EQUIPMENT CONFIGURATION FOR INTERMEDIARY ORGANIZATIONS 1. Each intermediary, (three per country) will be equipped with the following configuration of information and communication technology equipment to allow them to conduct training and prepare materials for non-information technology sessions (Figure A6).

2. The desktop computers will be Pentium 4 desktop machines with at least 256 megabytes of memory, a 40 gigabytes disk, 10/100 ethernet, and 2 Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports. 3. The laptop will allow officers to present information technology supported sessions in the field. This machine will be a Pentium 4 with 256 megabytes memory and an internal disk of at least 30 gigabyte capacity. The docking station will allow this machine to be easily attached to the small local area network for class activities. 4. The multimedia projector allows the network to be used effectively as a teaching resource. The compact disk-read only memory (CD-ROM) writer is included to allow the trainer to create CD-ROMs of selected information for specific purposes for particular audiences. The digital camera will be used to capture information to be added to the country’s knowledge bank. 5. Using experience of similar purchases in Myanmar, a budget of $12,500 per set is included and considered to be adequate.

Desktop 2

Desktop 3

Desktop 4

Desktop 1

8-port network hub

Internet

Laptopwith

docking station

Digital CD-ROM writer

Printer HP 2200DN

with JetDirect

Figure A6: Proposed Equipment Configuration

Multimedia projector