BY LORETTA B MANELE
The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) has some issues to straighten out with Food and Agriculture Organisation’s (FAO) sub-regional office in Apia, Samoa before rolling out an approved programme.
Douglas Yee, National Project Coordinator for Integrated Forest Management Project relayed this to the paper during an interview last week at MAL’s event comprising of the celebration of World Food Day, and launch of MAL’s 2025-2028 Corporate Plan and launch of it’s first ever Agriculture National Advisory Council (ANAC).
When asked about some of FAO’s current projects with the Ministry, Yee said there are a number of programmes, such as those coming through the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
He said one programme, the “Food Systems Integrated Programme” has already been approved and it is now up to the Ministry to set themselves up and establish the project management unit to implement it.
Yee also mentioned that at this stage, for that particular project, there are some issues the Ministry has to sort out.
“At this stage, within that particular project, there are some issues where the Ministry has to clear within FAO via our sub-regional office in Apia,” he said.
Yee explained that only after having cleared those issues, can they start rolling out funds for MAL to implement the project.
He mentioned that they are also doing consultations for one other project through GEF as well.
Yee said for this project, they are trying to access funds from the Least Developed Countries fund, where GEF is also managing, adding that it is a bigger project compared to the first one mentioned.
He stated that for this project they are trying to get about $10 million.
Yee stressed that collaboration and partnership is important, pointing out that apart from MAL and FAO’s partnership, they also need support from wider stakeholders including donors and other government partners.
He also acknowledged UNDP’s support for MAL in establishing the Agriculture National Advisory Council (ANAC), a first for the ministry.
“It is also good to see that UNDP had lent their support in this particular event, and especially with the establishment of the Agricultural National Advisory Council,” he said.
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