Australia Pakistan Agriculture Sector Linkages Program Phase 2, 2010-2015

Purpose

To collaborate strategically to improve livelihood systems for the rural poor in Pakistan, and to build linkages between the agricultural sectors of Australia and Pakistan.

The Agricultural Sector Linkages Program Phase 2 (ASLP 2) has a budget of $AU 12.95 M over five years. It has three components:

• pro-poor value chains
• enabling policy
• agricultural capability

Under an agreement with AusAID, ACIAR will manage and implement ASLP 2. ASLP 2 will:

1. Enhance selected value chains that benefit the rural poor through improved productivity market and employment opportunities
2. Support analysis that improves economic and natural resource management
3. Build the capacity of government, private and civil sectors to service the needs of stakeholders across the program.

ASLP 2 features:

• implementation within value-chain frameworks, with additional attention to benefiting the poor and marginalized
• focus on horticulture (mango and citrus) and livestock (dairy) sectors, with scope to later extend to other industries
• attention to underlying policy, and institutional and technical capacity building
• support for baseline assessment of the poverty and gender dimensions, and the modalities and technologies for modern communication within the industries, to broaden improvements and to enhance benefit flows to the poor and marginalised
• poverty, gender and communication studies to strengthen capacity for better targeting of effort and extension delivery, and enhance intra- and inter-project collaboration and engagement with industry.

More details on the rationale and general structure of the ASLP 2 may be viewed in the attached document outlining the ASLP focus, priorities and activities, while details on program activities and projects are provided in the focus pages:

• mango
• citrus
• dairy

Program governance and administration

An ASLP Reference Committee oversees and provides strategic guidance to the program, as well as reviewing the priorities and performance. The Reference Committee comprises representatives from Australian Government agencies (AusAID, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) and Pakistan Government agencies (Ministry of Food Security and Research, Pakistan Agricultural Research Council, the Economic Affairs Division and provincial agencies).

The operational aspects of the ASLP will be managed by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) on behalf of AusAID. ACIAR has nominated Mr Les Baxter to act as the ASLP Coordinator to manage and implement the program. The Coordinator will receive reports on activities undertaken and provide an annual synthesis report (see attached document below) to the Australian and Pakistan governments. To assist the Australian coordinator locally, an ASLP Operations Manager is based within the Australian High Commission in Islamabad.

Commissioning of scoping studies, workshops, exposure visits, other analytical activities, the development of projects and program monitoring and evaluation will be undertaken by ACIAR in accordance with its standard procedures. Approval of R&D projects will be required by Australian and Pakistani government representatives, and will also follow standard ACIAR governance procedures. ACIAR will use its existing project development and reporting procedures to manage and disperse funds.

ACIAR will continuously engage with partners in Pakistan and Australia using its usual modus operandi, whereby the ASLP Coordinator, supported by the ASLP Program Officer and other ACIAR research program managers (horticulture, livestock production systems, land and water and impact assessment), interacts with partners and oversees monitoring and evaluation on a routine basis through regular visits to Pakistan, participation in workshops, project reviews and field inspections.

Contacts

Mr Les Baxter
ASLP Coordinator
ACIAR
GPO Box 1571 Canberra
ACT 2601 Australia
Tel: +61 (2) 6217 0531
Fax: + 61 (2) 6217 0553
Mobile: +61 40 305 6676
Email: les [dot] baxter [at] aciar [dot] gov [dot] au

Dr Munawar Raza Kazmi
ASLP Implementation Manager
Australian High Commission
Diplomatic Enclave No. 1
Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +92 51 8355 367
Fax +92 51 282 0418
Mob +92 301 8554740
Email: Munawar [dot] kazmi [at] dfat [dot] gov [dot] au

More information: