DCI — technical assistance services to the nationaladaptation strategy (NAS) for the sugar sector in the Kingdom of Swaziland

The national adaptation strategy (NAS) was developed in 2006 by the GoS as a strategic response to thedeclining performance of the sugar sector and as a mitigation measure against the negative effects on the sugarindustry and wider Swaziland economy expected to result from the reform of the EU sugar market. The objectiveis to improve the competitiveness of the sugar industry while at the same time reducing poverty in the sugarregions of Swaziland.
Since 2006, the EU adaptation response strategy has made available 120 000 000 EUR to Swaziland through6 consecutive annual action programmes (AAPs). A technical assistance team (TAT) is envisaged under AAP2011 Financing Agreement result 1: NAS coordination is improved, implementation of EU funds under theAMSP is accelerated and results are better monitored.

The TAT will support the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development, other sectoral ministries and keysugar sector institutions in the implementation of the project. Provision of technical expertise tasks includes:
i) strategic advice with regards to the sugar sector;
ii) training and capacity building on project management and EU procedures;
iii) implementation support;
iv) support to coordination of stakeholders;
v) setting up M and E systems;
vi) support on the integration of cross-cutting issues and strengthening administrative, preparatory andancillary tasks relating to planning, monitoring, reporting on project components, procurement, and financialmanagement.
The services will be provided over a 5-year period with up to 5 medium- to long-term senior expert positions inthe fields of agronomy, extension, civil engineering (irrigation and transport), monitoring and evaluation, and EUcontract management and also include a provision for short-term experts.