Management

LIFE-ND MANAGEMENT AND INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENT

1.0        Objectives and expected results

The main objective and expected outcome of LIFE-ND project management is to ensure that the Project is efficiently and effectively managed to achieve planned developmental and gender transformative results with knowledge management, Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E), and gender considerations integrated into all aspects of management including financial, Audit and procurement management.

 

2.0        implementation arrangements:

2.1        Implementing Institutions:

2.1.1     Lead implementation agency: The Federal Ministry of Agrivculture and Food Security (FMAFS) is the lead implementation agency while International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is the donor agency/main financier while Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) is a co-financier as well as an implementing partner to the FMAFS.

2.1.2     National and State Project Coordinating offices [NPCO/SPCO]: LIFE-ND, through the NPCO and SPCO facilitate the operations of activities at the states and local Government/Community levels respectively. This function is conducted under the oversight of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS) through the Project Coordinating Unit (PCU) and the State Ministries of Agriculture respectively as well as the Niger Delta Development Commission [NDDC]

2.2        Steering committees

The activities of LIFE-ND is been supervised and monitored by stakeholders through various committees at the national, regional, and state levels. These include the national steering committee (NSC), technical steering committee (TSC) and the state steering committees (SSC). The NSC and SSC are mandated amongst others to review and approve the Annual Workplan and Budget [AWPB] at the national and state level respectively before submission to IFAD for a No-objection. 

2.2.1     The National Steering Committee(NSC) at the federal level, chaired by the Minister of Agriculture is comprised of stakeholders representatives which include the Permanent Secretary of the FMAFS, Director of PCU responsible to coordinate donor-funded projects/programmes, Directors of Extension, Agriculture, Agribusiness, Processing and Marketing, and Rural Development in the FMAFS; Director of Agriculture and Fishery Directorate in the NDDC; Director and Deputy Directors of International Economic Relations Department of Federal Ministry of Finance (FMF); Ministry of Budget and National Planning (MBNP), Water Resources (FMWR), Environment (FME), and Labour and Productivity (FMLP); Director of Development Finance Department of CBN, and Representative of Youth Group. The NSC will provide oversight to the implementation of the LIFE-ND project and approve the AWPB. The LIFE Project Coordinator will serve as Secretary to the NSC which is expected to meet once per year.

2.2.2     The Technical Support Committee (TSC) at the regional level, chaired by the Managing Director of NDDC or his designee will comprise the NDDC Directors of Agriculture and Fisheries and of Planning; FMAFS Regional Director, Director of PCU; representative of FMF; National Project Coordinator of LIFE-ND (who serves as Secretary); representatives of recognized youth and women organizations, one representative of private sector operators from each participating state, as well as relevant financial institutions and research institutions. The TSC will meet quarterly to review progress of Project implementation and provide guidance for the smooth implementation of the Project activities, or whenever there is an urgent technical issue that requires the attention of the Committee.

2.2.3     The State Project Steering Committee (SPSC) chaired by the Commissioner of Agriculture and composed of the commissioners of Finance, Budget and Planning, Women Affairs, representatives of government agencies and departments responsible for youth and women empowerment, FMAFS State Director, representatives of selected commodity associations in the State, representatives of youth and women organizations, and relevant financial institutions, will provide oversight function on the Project and approve the AWPB at the state level. In addition, the SPSC will facilitate the effective participation of relevant actors in the Project.

2.3        The National Project Coordinating Office (NPCO) have direct responsibility for supervision, technical support and coordination of the activities of the SPCOs. Headed by the National Project Coordinator (NPC), the NPCO have the following professional staff: Agribusiness Promotion Coordinator, Rural Infrastructure Coordinator, Rural Institutions Coordinator, M&E Coordinator, Knowledge Management and Communication (KMC) Coordinator, Project Financial Controller, Project Accountant, Procurement Coordinator, Administration and Logistics Officer, and Project Internal Auditor. In addition, subject matter specialists are hired when the need arises for the following areas relevant for overall Project implementation: (i) Rural Finance; (ii) Gender and Youth; (iii) Climate and Environment; (iv) Nutrition and Food Security; (v) Sustainable Agriculture; (vi) Data/IT Management and (vii) Project Management. In addition, a suitably qualified staff from NDDC’s Directorate of Agriculture and Fisheries at the National Headquarter office is deployed to work in the NPCO and designated as NDDC National Desk Officer. Such staff, serve mainly as a liaison between the LIFE-ND National project office and the NDDC National Headquarter office, but report to the National Project Coordinator at the National office.

2.4        The State Project Coordination Office (SPCO): in each participating state, have the responsibility for the coordination and supervision of Project activities in the state. Headed by the State Project Coordinator (SPC), the SPCO have the following professional staff: Agribusiness Promotion Officer, Rural Infrastructure Officer, Rural Institution/Gender and Youth Officer, M&E Officer, KMC Officer, State Project Accountant, State Finance Officer, Procurement Officer, Administration and Logistics Officer, as well as State Project Internal Auditor. In addition, subject matter specialists are hired when the need arises for the following areas: Rural Finance, Gender and Youth, Climate and Environment, Nutrition and Food Security, Sustainable Agriculture, and Project Management. In addition, a suitably qualified staff from NDDC’s Directorate of Agriculture and Fisheries at the state offices is deployed to work in the SPCO and designated as NDDC State Desk Officer. Such staff, serve mainly as a liaison between the LIFE-ND State project office and the NDDC State offices, but report to the State Project Coordinator at the State offices.

2.5        Local Government Level: At the LGA level, the Project maintains a LG-Desk Office in the Department of Agriculture. The Local Government Desk Officers [LGDOs] in each of the participating LGA in the state are responsible for sensitization and advocacy at the community level, support in data collection and coallation and other mobilization functions. The Desk officers participate actively in the selection of Project beneficiaries, and are the focal point for Project implementation and data management at the LGA level.

2.6        Community Level: At the community level, the Project strengthens the existing community / enterprise groups and apex associations through capacity building and promote the formation of new ones where they do not exist to further promote agribusiness among youth and women for employment creation.

3.0        LIFE-ND Alignment with Government Policy on Agricultural Development

LIFE-ND is supportive of the current Federal Government policy on Nigerian Agricultural Policy and the Strategic Framework for Youth Employment and Job creation under the National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Policy (NATIP) 2022 – 2027. A policy instituted to guide the implementation of programs and projects to ensure food security, employment generation and wealth creation in Nigeria. This policy in line with the mandate of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development as well as LIFE-ND is being implemented in the project through improved commodity value chain activities and rural infrastructural development. NATIP is a policy aimed at deploying knowledge, technology, innovative and global best practices to integrally strengthen the economic diversification process and revitalize agricultural production and processing in a manner that would create job opportunities and increase export revenue of the country.    

 

The Project Organogram: The matrix of roles and responsibilities of the key implementing institutions

 

 

STATE ADDRESSES

Abia – ADP Headquarters, Along ossah road, near umuahia tower, Umuahia, Abia state.

Akwa Ibom – 16 jubilee School Road, Off Aka Road, Uyo.

Bayelsa – School to land premises, Imiringi Road, Edepie, Yenegoa LGA, Bayelsa state.

Cross River – Agricultural Development Program Premises, Opposite Margaret Ekpo Int’l Airport. IBB WAY. Calabar.

Delta – DARDA premises, along Ibusa Express way, Ibusa, Asaba Delta State.

Edo – Edo State Agriculture Hub Premises, Oko-Ogba Road, Benin City.

Imo – Port Harcourt Road opposite NDDC Office by Engr. Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu’s house, Owerri, Imo State.

Ondo – ADP Premises, Alagbaka, Akure. Ondo state.

Rivers – ADP premises, Rumuodomaya, Obio Akpor. River state