Implementing Agency:
Department For International Development (LACAD)

Project Code: 087-599-026	Start Date: 01/04/1997	End Date: No End Date
Commitment: £40,000	Status: Current	Type of Funding: Bilateral - TC

Project Background:
During 1995 DFID missions to Mexico identified the need to develop linkages between forestry projects within the country and other similar projects in Latin America. With three RNR Field Manaers/Co-ordinators now in post in the region and DFID RNR projects addressing common issues in different countries, a need for improved exchange of information has been expressed from those involved in project and programme management within the region. Information flow, its quantity, quality and relevance is often cited as a critical factor, at all levels and stages of the project cycle.

Enhancing information exchange within a region and with a sectoral focus can facilitate both improvements in individual project outputs and also enhancement of the effect of the programme through enabling dissemination and scaling up of outputs. Exhange of monitoring with sustained impact on Latin American institutions if national staff take the lead. The critical mass of the project activity will be enhanced, better enabling DFID's limited resources to influence policies of governments and other donors (particularly the EU), as well as improving the effectiveness of our own programmes.

A summary description of all DFID RNR projects in the region has recently been collated and will be distributed to project managers and associated institutions early in 1997. Similarly, a directory of Sustainable Forest Management Projects has been completed for distribution. These documents provide basic information on project objectives, outputs and activities and summarise common activities. This could be followed up by improving project level access to project information in electronic format in particular DFID Natural Resources Information System database, NARSIS.

There are a number of professional networks already operating in the region of varying effectiveness and DFID projects have sponsored a number of study tours and exchanges between project personnel within the region. This will continue as a matter of good practice funded from within project resources as far as possible. This linkages allocation is intended to complement project level links and existing networks by focussing primarily on RNR policy and institutional leaders in the region and broadening their exposure to the issues and experiences of DFID financed projects. It will also augment current project links by improving the quality of and access to information on DFID projects.

Target groups will thus be governmental RNR policy and decision makers, counterpart national project managers and those not directly involved in DFID funded projects, NGO leaders, and key RNR institutions in the region such as the international agricultural research centre (CIP, CIAT, CATIE, CIMMYT). RNR specialists, those involved in cross cutting disciplines (social development, economics, institutional and human resource development) and non-specialists should be involved. TCO/consultant project managers would not be able to utilise allocation funds directly, project funds being available.

Intended Outputs:
Decision makers and organisations and institutions involved in natural resources management better informed about current project management and social, economic and technical issues, in particular pilot initiatives funded by DFID in Latin America.

Improved dissemination of information and linkages between DFID projects and programmes, with those supported by other donor agencies and with policy development in the region.