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Italian Ministry Foreign Affairs

Italian Cooperation

UNITED NATION

UNDP
in Iran

Shilat Iran

Ministry of
Agriculture Jahad

CIRSPE

Feder Coopesca

European Union

NACA

FAO

Brief Description

The objective of the project is to reduce poverty and social imbalance while raising the income level of the local populations and communities in the Province of Sistan-Baluchestan through the reinforcement and dissemination of aquaculture activities. The project’s main target is to strengthen and expand aquaculture activities in two areas in the Sistan Baluchestan Province, in terms of production, technology, economic results, in order to increase the socio-economic level of target groups and the local communities involved. The project is expected to have significant impact on the living standards of target groups, as well as indirect socio-economic benefits for the local communities, and also generate a model for provincial level replication. The specific objectives, therefore, are: i) Identification of valid production strategies for aquaculture in Sistan-Baluchestan;   ii) Identification of appropriate technologies for both the different contexts (fresh water and sea water);  iii) The Expansion of the base production and the diversification of the product; iv) Institutional capacity building and professional growth on the part of the Shilat-Iranian Fisheries Organisation . The project comprises 3 main components: technical assistance, training and supply of technology and equipment.

This document gives a picture of the history of the project “Aquaculture Development in Sistan Baluchestan”, financed by Italia Ministry of Foreing Affaris/Italian Cooperation for Development.   

The Italian Government intends to reinforce political and economic relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran, taking into account reciprocal interests in very important economic sector such as the exploitation of Iran’s raw materials and the export of Italian technology, industrial products and consumer goods.

At this regard, Italy has always taken into account the importance of Iran in the context of Middle East such as crucial regional Country. This policy is strictly connected to the development of a peace process in all Middle East area, which Italian Goovernment want to contribute promoting and financing development project, investing in local human resources and  supporting the civil society and economic productive processes.   The project’s main target is to strengthen and expand aquaculture activities in order to increase the socio-economic level of target groups, reducing poverty and social imbalance.

The project is expected to have significant impact on the living standards, as well as indirect socio-economic benefits for the local communities and also generate a model for provincial level replication. To achieve this target the activites are planned to identifie valid production strategies for aquaculture in Sistan-Baluchestan, appropriate technologies for expanding and diversificating the production. The project intends also determine institutional capacity building and professional growth on the part of the Iranian counterpart; it comprises 3 main components: technical assistance, training and supply of technology and equipment.

Rome 1 July 2006                     

                                                                                                            Project Manager                                                                                                                 Roberto Ugolini

Project:             “AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT IN SISTAN BALUCHESTAN”

  (act n.49; 24/6/2003; N. aid 6945.01.3).

1.1. Country and locations

Since 2000 the Italian Government tried to reinforce political and economic relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran, in consideration of the reciprocal interest in the exploitation of Iran’s raw materials and for exporting Italian technology, industrial products and consumer goods. Apart from that Italy has always considered the importance of Iran in the context of Middle East such as crucial regional Country.

The Italian Government wants to develop a peace process in all Middle East area and, for this reason, it is promoting development project and investing in local human resources in the area, supporting the civil society and economic productive processes.   

In June 2000 the General Department of Development Cooperation of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs signed a “Meeting Memorandum” in which the Italian party expressed its intention to finance cooperation activities in the Province of Sistan Baluchestan, that is the poorest in the Republic of Iran (UNDP, 1999 “National Human Development Report”).  At the same time the Province borders with Afghanistan and with Pakistan, having a strategic role for the central Government. 

The topics relevant to the cooperation program were deeply studied during technical missions carried out by the General Department of Cooperation Development.

Priority was given to the development of aquaculture; there are interesting prospects for the development of this sector. The zone of Chabahar, in the south-east of Iran, is suitable for the rearing of shrimp; in the internal zones of Zahedan/Zabol/Kash there are several rural facilities, playing an very important social, cultural and economic role. Anyway macroscopic limitations in terms of technology, service and marketing are evident. In short, along with the high potential, recognised by the central system, which continues to invest on structures and equipment, there are unmistakable problems of growth and consolidation strictly connected to the technical-cultural isolation that the country has experienced over the last decade.

1.2. Official approval

The Technical Project proposal has been prepared on 2002 by the Italian technical staff; in June 2003 the General Directorate of Development Cooperation/Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has approved for financing the project “Aquaculture development in Sistan Baluchestan” (act n.49; 24/6/2003; N. aid 6945.01.3), identifying the UNDP as International Agency in Iran, allocating the project budget in the beneficiary Country with the modality of cost-sharing agreement.  The project budget has a funds of “3.034.000.00 EURO” by grant.

The United Nations Development Programme (“UNDP”) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Italy – General Directorate for Development Co-operation of Italy agreed to co-operate in the implementation of the project “Aquaculture Development in Sistan-Baluchistan”.

On 25^th of February 2004 The Italian Government/Ministry of Foreign Affairs signed the contract agreement with the United Nations Development Programme (“UNDP”) for the project implementation that includes three components as follows: technical assistance, training, and equipment.

1.3. Budget management

UNDP has taken the duty to manage directly the budget related to the equipment that will be purchased on the base of identification by SHILAT and CIRSPE technical approval, for a value of 1.130.594 Euro. A budget of 159.406,00  Euro  is allocated for UNDP such as agency expenses

The Ministry of Jihad Agriculture – SHILAT  Iranian Fisheries Organisation  has been designated as the implementing agency. The CIRSPE (Italian Fisheries Research Centre-Rome) has been designated as the contractor for providing technical assistance and training for a total budget of 1.744.000 Euro, on the base of an agreement with SHILAT on February 2004.   

1.3. Time schedule  

The project begun on 19^th of May 2005 and the activities planned to last 36 months, fall under the following “Technical  phases”. Its conclusion is foreseen for May 2008.

The project is articulated as follows (Technical Phases) :

ط       I Technical Phase

Planning (6 months: May 2005 – November 2005):

Technical and logistical organisation.

Identification of production activities and details of supplies.

Context evolution and new needs/exigencies of SHILAT and of the sector.

Work financial plan revision.  

ط       II Technical Phase 

Production management (24 months: December 2005 – November 2007):

Start-up of production experiences at facilities.    

Organisation and activation of extension service.

Technical items purchaising/installation.

Training.

Internet/Newsletter.

Work plan revisions/budget control and activities verification/up to date.

ط       III Technical Phase - Impact analysis (6 months: December 2007-May 2008):

Impact analysis of the project.

Performance of activities.

The three Technical Phases are articulated in n. 6 Operative Phases of about 6 months each, according the project needs on the field. This approach is finalised to administrative control and, above all, to up to date the project necessities to understand and consider the context  evolution, according to a flexible project management

1.4. Technical approach

The project consists of 2 initiatives in 2 zones of the province (Sistan and Baluchestan), efforts that meet the different kind of needs present in the surrounding contexts.

The first zone of interest for the purpose of the project is that on the border with Afghanistan, around the city of Zabol. This reality, which features facilities for the fatting of trout and carp run on a family level shows a production limitation that can be traced to the fluctuating availability of seed fingerlings, an annual uncertainty that prevents these family enterprises from properly planning their activities.  The SHILAT directly operates the centre for the reproduction of carps in Zahak (150 km north of Zahedan); this facility is already equipped with hatching facilities and fattening ponds.

The second zone for the project activity is in the south of the Province. A large facility for the shrimps raising (600 hectares) has been constructed near the location of Gowater, roughly 110 km to the east of the city of Chabahar.  Inside this area is an active perimeter of 20 hectares managed by the SHILAT for pilot and demonstration project currently underway. To the west of Chabahar, near the Bahu Kalat river, another 4,000 hectares of ponds are being constructed for shrimp.

Taking into account the Project Proposal financed by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (act n.49; 24/6/2003; N. aid 6945.01.3), the project consists of:

ط       production initiatives both in the public facilities of the SHILAT (Zabol/Zahak hatchery) and in the private farms (Chabahar/Gowater), with the results to be transferred to the private beneficiaries (the extension service of the SHILAT, seminars, Internet/newsletter);

ط       training reserved for the technicians of the SHILAT/the Ministry of Agriculture, with forecast fall-out on the private operations, given that the individuals trained are employed in the extension service;

ط       supply of technology and items useful to the project pilot activities to demonstrate the worth of the new production strategies and, finally, testing and proposing technical packages innovative and, at the same time, appropriate to the context.

1.5.  Synthesis of financial aspects

In June 2003 the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has approved the financing of the project “Aquaculture Development in Sistan Baluchestan” (act n.49; 24/6/2003; N. aid 6945.01.3).

1.5.1. Project total cost

The United Nations Development Programme (“UNDP”) has agreed to co-operate in the implementation of the project, with the modality of cost-sharing agreement to allocate the project budget in the beneficiary Country, that has a fund  of “3.034.000.00 EURO” by grant. 

On the 25^th of February 2004 The Italian Government/Ministry of Foreign Affairs signed the contract agreement with the United Nations Development Programme (“UNDP”) and also UNDP and Shilat signed the agreement for the project implementation. That was strictly connected to the identification of contractors for the components of the project, as follows: technical assistance, training, and equipment.

The budget is the following: 

1.5.2. Execution

The Ministry of Jihad and Agriculture – SHILAT  Fisheries Organisation is the project implementing agency. CIRSPE (Italian Fisheries Research Centre-Rome) has been designated as the contractor for providing technical assistance and  training for a total budget of 1.744.000 Euro, on the base of an agreement with SHILAT on February 2004.

The parties agreed to reconsider the budget on annual base to reduce the risk of delay of payment, as follows:

ANNUAL FINANCIAL WORK PLAN
(Proposed Revision June 2006)

1.5.3. Financial codification

The following table shows the UNDP method of codification. CIRSPE has reconsidered the initial budget proposal (see CIRSPE/SHILAT agreement) on the basis of UNDP method and codification, taking also into account the new exigency and needs of SHILAT.

UNDP FINANCIAL CODIFICATION