Kosovo

Summary Sheet

Title:
Support for the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development (MAFRD) in legislative and policy development and in implementing the Agricultural and Rural Development Programme (ARDP)

EU Twinning Project Number:
KS 2010/IB/AG01 

Beneficiary Institution:
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development of Kosovo

Member States:
Austria in cooperation with Hungary and Germany

Member State Institutions:
Agrarmarkt Austria in cooperation with
Austrian Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management
Federal Institute of Agricultural Economics

Project Start: 23.01.2012
Project End: 22.04.2014

Budget: 2,000,000 EUR

Estimated Short Term Expert Input: 1,100 working days

MS Project Leader:
Franz Patschka
Department of International Cooperation of Agrarmarkt Austria
Contact: franz.patschka@ama.gv.at

RTA:
Michaela Pichler
Department of International Cooperation of Agrarmarkt Austria
Contact: michaela.pichler@ama.gv.at

Overall project objective:
To increase the contribution of the agriculture and rural development sector to economic development and growth in Kosovo.  

Project purpose:
To help strengthen administrative structures within the MAFRD and civil society organisations; to formulate and implement the national agriculture and rural development programme in conformity with EU principles and standards.

Component I “Mid-term evaluation of the current ARDP 2007-2013 and preparation the ARDP 2014-2020”
• Mid-term evaluation of ARDP 2007-2013 is available
• National Strategy 2014-2020 is available
• Draft ARDP 2014-2020 is available
• Priority measure fiches, guidelines, manuals and procedures are prepared (including agro-environmental measures) for implementation of the ARDP 2014-2020;
• Legal texts are aligned to the EU acquis regarding ARDP implementation
• Recommendations on the IT needs for establishing the monitoring & evaluation system are issued;

Component II “Strengthen the capability of socio-economic partners (civil society organisations, local action groups, agricultural producer organisations and other stakeholders) for dialogue with MAFRD in programming and implementing the ARDP 2014-2020”
• Broad understanding of EU CAP achieved among socio-economic partners
• Knowledge on ARDP has been increased as regards opportunities and rules for receiving financial assistance
• A series of information material is available for dissemination
• Socio-economic partners are provided with an enhanced capability for dialogue with the MAFRD in respect of programming and implementation of the ARDP 2014-2020
• Dialogue (national and regional partnership meetings) between MAFRD and socio-economic partners is established and participatory work approach applied in the programming process
• Socio-economic partners are trained

Component III “Further strengthening of ARDP implementing structures (Managing Authority, Paying Unit, Advisory Service, Monitoring Committee)”
• The ARDP implementing structures at MAFRD implement the rural development grant programme in accordance with EU standards and requirements;
• Number of staff of ARDP implementing institutions at MAFRD are trained on programming and implementing the RDP
• Participants of Monitoring Committee are trained
• Participation of civil society in Monitoring Committee meetings is strengthened

Component IV “Preparation of a framework for an Agricultural Information System (AIS) based on existing data and registers ”
• Basis for AIS operation, based on the existing farm register, market information system and trade statistics, is laid
• Knowledge on data updating and entering regularly into the system is given
• Quality checks on the available data are carried out
• Basis for relevant institutional relationships is laid
• Regular exchange of information and data between MAFRD, SOK, KVFA and Customs is defined
• Number of staff is trained in the methodologies for data handling
• Study visit to MS is carried out
• Basis for a comparison of national agricultural statistics with EU statistics is laid
• Staff is deeply involved in the whole development process in order to guarantee sustainability and ownership
• Principles of Quality Management (e.g. ISO, TQM) are established

Component V “Development of a comprehensive IT strategy (IT Master plan) for MAFRD incl. PU”
• Comprehensive IT strategy (IT Master plan) for MAFRD incl. PU is available, technically discussed and communicated to the management
• A budget plan and time table for implementation is proposed, discussed and communicated to the management