The Phytosanitary Capacity Evaluation (PCE) is a fully comprehensive NPPO-led, facilitator-enabled, IPPC Secretariat supported process of multiple phases, with a wide range of benefits, to help countries evaluate their phytosanitary capacities.
The PCE
Is a framework that the country adopts for its own purposes and benefits, and with support from an internationally-trained PCE facilitator
Uses a modular online software system consisting of 13 modules that uses a questionnaire style to document the evaluation process. NPPOs can decide to apply all the modules or just a few, according to their preferences
Empowers NPPOs to put in place a sovereign plan for how they wish to address any gaps identified, at their system and organizational level and to better implement their core activities to enhance their food security and international trade.
Enables NPPOs to fully prioritize activities/resources, through a framework for rational strategic planning, to fill gaps and enhance the effectiveness of the overall phytosanitary system.
To find out more about the PCE process and how to start one in your country, read the next steps below or contact Sarah Brunel, IPPC Implementation Facilitation Officer, at [email protected]
Through the PCE process a strategic framework is developed that provides the basis for dialogue with donors of development aid, and thus improve the likelihood of access to further funding.
Builds confidence among importing NPPOs
Donor focused strategic plan
Enhances capacity to fulfill international obligations
National
The entire PCE process is under the control of the country – it is not something that is done TO a country, it is a framework that the country adopts for its own purposes and benefits.
Enhances food security preparedness and fosters the revision of animal health and food safety laws.
Empowers and builds capacities of individuals and institutions
Fosters the development of a mechanism for continuous national dialogue on Phytosanitary issues with relevant stakeholders
Legal
Drives revision, or development of new Phytosanitary legislation
Strengthens phytosanitary import and export regulatory systems
Stakeholders
Promotes ownership of changes in phytosanitary systems
Improves stakeholders overall understanding of the NPPOs mandate
Stronger linkages between regulators and research institutions
Stronger linkages among border protection agencies
The process is driven by staff of the NPPO but should involve non-NPPO representatives from appropriate government agencies, research institutes, universities, agro-industries or import/export associations, etc.
In order to empower the NPPOs to lead this process, the IPPC Secretariat, with the funding from STDF, has trained a network of PCE expert facilitators available to support the running of a PCE. Through rigorous training, these global experts have in-depth knowledge of every aspect of the PCE process and tool, they bring a key position of neutrality to the process and facilitate a transparent and reliable evaluation process. They guide the process to ensure interests of all stakeholders are fairly represented and no conflicts of interest are present.
The PCE tool is available to any country upon making an official request to the IPPC Secretariat. Once contact has been made, a facilitator has been chosen and a PCE team is in place:
1. The First PCE mission: situation analysis
The first PCE mission is held in the country and lasts about one week. It identifies and invites available members of the PCE team and relevant stakeholders. The mission starts with a briefing with the PCE team, followed by an official opening which may be attended by ministers.
A consensus workshop is then held with all relevant stakeholders to fill in the online selected PCE Modules. For each module, a maximum of five weaknesses are identified. The first PCE mission might also include technical visits to the airports, ports, border points, diagnostic laboratories, production sites, etc. A brief about the mission is prepared and sent to the FAO permanent representative, the highest authorities in the country and any stakeholders the PCE team considers relevant. A report is prepared after each mission and submitted the IPPC Secretariat, indicating results to date and next steps.
2. Second PCE mission: strategic planning
The second PCE mission brings together the PCE team and all relevant stakeholders to prepare a problem tree, do a SWOT analysis and develop a logical framework to address the weaknesses that were identified. They then begin drafting a national phytosanitary capacity development strategy. A workshop can be organized to discuss the revised phytosanitary legislation or regulations with all stakeholders.
Field visit may be organized and interviews are conducted with selected stakeholders.
3. Third PCE mission: validation
During the third and last PCE mission, all stakeholders validate the draft legislation/regulations and the national phytosanitary capacity development strategy. They officially present them to the FAO country office, high-level national authorities and donors.
At this stage, the PCE team and stakeholders have taken full ownership of the outputs of the PCE and of the process itself. They are fully empowered to present and defend their phytosanitary legislation, regulations and strategy.
The PCE is a modular online software system consisting of 13 semi structured questionnaire type modules.
Modules list:
System Level
1: Country profile
2: National phytosanitary legislation
3: Environmental forces assessment
Organization Level
4: NPPOs mission and strategy
5: NPPOs structure and processes
6: NPPOs resources
Core Activities
7: Pest diagnostic capacity
8: NPPO pest surveillance and pest reporting capacity
9: Pest eradication capacity
10: Phytosanitary import regulatory system
11: Pest risk analysis
12: Pest free areas, places and sites, low pest prevalence areas
13: Export certification, re-export, transit
L'ECP est mise en œuvre au rythme défini par le pays et dure généralement entre six mois et un an. Le Secrétariat de la CIPV recommande d'effectuer une ECP complète tous les 3-4 ans. L'ECP peut être effectuée intégralement ou partiellement, et aussi souvent que nécessaire.
Le Secrétariat de la CIPV a déployé des efforts considérables pour mettre au point l'ECP et l’appliquer dans des dizaines de pays. Une ECP complète coûte en moyenne 80 000 USD (cela comprend entre autres la révision et la rédaction de la législation phytosanitaire de base).
Le Secrétariat de la CIPV ne finance pas l'ECP mais travaille en étroite collaboration avec des bailleurs de fonds en vue d’apporter le soutien nécessaire à l'application de l'ECP lorsque cela lui est demandé. Les pays doivent identifier des ressources internes ou rechercher des financements auprès de bailleurs de fonds. Certaines parties contractantes sont en capacité de financer elles-mêmes l'ensemble du processus, en puisant par exemple dans le budget de leur pays. Dans d'autres cas, des bailleurs de fonds peuvent financer l'ECP.
Dans tous les cas, les pays doivent allouer des ressources pour la planification, l'identification des parties prenantes et l'organisation d'ateliers en vue de mener le processus d'ECP jusqu'à son terme.
Dans la majorité des cas, l'ECP est appliquée dans le cadre de projets au titre du Programme de coopération technique de la FAO. Les bailleurs de fonds – tels que le Fonds pour l’application des normes et le développement du commerce (STDF) - conditionnent souvent l'octroi de fonds au déroulement de l'ECP jusqu'à son terme.
Les modules et les résultats de l'ECP sont confidentiels pour les raisons suivantes:
Le processus d'ECP implique une réflexion stratégique aux niveaux politique, technique et managérial. Il exige également une connaissance approfondie de la santé des végétaux, de la gestion des parties prenantes, du fonctionnement du système phytosanitaire, du texte de la CIPV, du cadre phytosanitaire international, etc. Rendre les modules de l'ECP librement accessibles ferait courir le risque de les voir appliqués sans les connaissances et la facilitation nécessaires et utilisés de façon non appropriée.
Les modules de l'ECP recueillent des données complètes sur les systèmes
phytosanitaires nationaux qui peuvent être sensibles d'un point de vue économique, politique ou technique, et les pays peuvent ne pas souhaiter que ces données soient rendues publiques.
L'expérience montre que les ONPV demandent à ce que les données demeurent confidentielles par crainte d'éventuelles mesures de la part des partenaires commerciaux.
Par conséquent, la CIPV ne communique pas publiquement les résultats de l'ECP, sauf si le pays concerné souhaite utiliser les résultats de l’ECP ou les communiquer à des tiers.
An official letter of request to conduct a PCE should be sent by a high-level official (e.g. Minister of Agriculture) through the IPPC Contact Point of the requesting country to the IPPC Secretary (with copy to Sarah Brunel [email protected]) indicating that the country is fully committed to undertaking a PCE and has the available funds to do it. The PCE coordinators name and CV should be included.
The IPPC Secretariat will then propose a PCE facilitator and discuss further arrangements. If the IPPC Secretariat oversees the PCE, it will help organize the first PCE mission and identify stakeholders for the consensus workshops for each selected PCE Module.
However, countries may wish to conduct PCEs on their own.
Quels sont les avantages d'une ECP?
