1. ECO-RCC Steering Committee Meeting 16 February 2017, Ankara
Update on ECO Regional Programme for Food Security Status of implemented activities and work plan of ECO-RCC
Good afternoon distinguished delegates,
My name is Burcu SERİN.
I am working in the Turkish Ministry of Food Agriculture and Livestock, DG for EU and Foreign Relations.
I will present you the «Update on ECO Regional Programme for Food Security AND Status of implemented activities and work plan of ECO-RCC»
ECO-RCC Steering Committee Meeting 16 February 2017, Ankara

2. Outline Main Objective Programme Outputs Functions
Status of implemented activities and work plan of ECO-RCC
Outline
Main Objective
Programme Outputs
Functions
Establishment of ECO-RCC
Implemented Activities
Planned Activities
The content of my presentation is like this.
As it was indicated by my colleguagues in the former presentations, I will shortly mention the main objective of the Programme, project outputs and the process of the establishment of the ECO-RCC.
Then I will present the implemented and planned activities in due course.

3. Status of implemented activities and work plan of ECO-RCC
Main Objective
Establish the ECO Regional Coordination Centre for Food Security (RCC)
to facilitate the identification,
prioritization and
addressing the main impediments to food security at national and regional levels
As you all know, the ECO Regional Coordination Centre for Food Security is established mainly for facilitating the identification, prioritization and adressing the main impediments of food security at natioanl and regional levels in ECO countries.

4. Programme Outputs Establishment of and trainings for RCC
Status of implemented activities and work plan of ECO-RCC
Programme Outputs
Establishment of and trainings for RCC
Support coordination and cooperation among ECO countries
Support capacity development for formulation of project proposals
Raise awareness among ECO member countries and potential donors on food security
The expected outputs of the Programme are establishment of RCC at first, then organizing training programmes for RCC and ECO member countries.
Coordination and cooperation among members is a priority. So, the another output is maintaining this issue in the region.
We expect also enhancing capacity for formulation of projects under this Programme.
Last but not least, raising awareness between members and potential donors on food security is another expected output in the context of the Programme.

5. Functions Facilitating & coordinating all activities under RPFS
Status of implemented activities and work plan of ECO-RCC
Functions
Facilitating & coordinating all activities under RPFS
(i.e. assisting MS to develop FS projects)
Enhancing cooperation and information exchange on FS
Collaborating with stakeholders interested in FS
Contacting potential donors for funding projects
Raising awareness on FS in ECO Region
Organizing trainings, seminars and workshops on FS
Cooperating closely with FAO-SEC & ECO Secretariat
I’ll also mention about the functions of the ECO-RCC. These are;

6. Establishment of the ECO-RCC-I
Status of implemented activities and work plan of ECO-RCC
Establishment of the ECO-RCC-I
ECO 20th Regional Planning Council (2010, Antalya)
Turkey >> elected as the coordinating country on FS
ECO 19th Council of Ministers (2010, Istanbul)
RCC >> decided to be based in Ankara
ECO 5th Meeting of Ministers on Agriculture (2012, Antalya)
RCC >> publicly announced
As my colleagues have alredy mentioned, the history of the ECO-RCC dates back to 2010 when Turkey was elected as the coordinating country for food security in the ECO Regional Planning Council.
Then, the place of the RCC was decided to be based in Ankara in the 19th Council of Ministers.
At the last, the 5th Meeting of Ministers on Agriculture publicly announced officially the establishment of ECO-RCC.

7. Establishment of the ECO-RCC-II
Status of implemented activities and work plan of ECO-RCC
Establishment of the ECO-RCC-II
Established within the DGEUFR, MFAL in 2012
A coordination unit of ECO for RPFS
Full time staff appointed by MFAL
Fully financed and supported by MFAL under FTPP by the «ECO Regional Coordination Centre for Food Security (RCC-FS) - GCP/RER/044/TUR» with a budget of $ 500,000 as of 01 June 2013
Currently, the ECO-RCC which is supported by the Turkish Ministry of Food Agriculture and Livestock is functioning within the premises of the Ministry.

8. Project Components Activity Planning of ECO-RCC
Status of implemented activities and work plan of ECO-RCC
Project Components
Activity Planning of ECO-RCC
Establish a National Forum on Food Security
Analytical Services to ECO-RCC
Update Regional Programme for Food Security
The project has 4 components. These are;

9. 1. Activity planning of ECO-RCC
2. Establish a National Forum on Food Security
Results:
ECO-RCC can lead planning, implementation and monitoring of ECO-RCC activities after the project
Deliverables:
Work plan and progress report endorsed by the SC
Training on food security
Online training materials developed in Russian and Turkish
A National Forum on Food Security established in Turkey
A National Forum on Food Security formulated with key national institutions, scholars and practitioners
4. Update Regional Programme for Food Security
3. ECO-RCC provides analytical services to ECO
Update Regional Programme for Food Security raise awareness of the Programme among ECO countries and donors
Current Programme updated in alignment with the SDGs and presented to potential donors for funding
Updated programmes and all other background documents (analysis, training materials) shared through ECO-RCC website
Regularly analyse food security of Turkey and ECO-member countries in the context of the SDGs and provide policy recommendations
Food security analysis bulletin with policy recommendations regularly produced by ECO-RCC with FAO and inputs from the National Forum
This flow chart summarises the project components, expected results and deliverables based on technical level meetings of the ECO-RCC.
After the completion of the project activities;
the ECO-RCC will have the ability to lead planning, implementation and monitoring of ECO-RCC activities
A National Forum on Food Security will be established in Turkey
ECO-RCC will provide analytical services to ECO through analysing food security in Turkey and also the ECO member countries
update of the Programme and raising awareness among member countries will have been achieved.

10. Implemented Activities (June 2013 – Jan 2017)
Status of implemented activities and work plan of ECO-RCC
Implemented Activities (June 2013 – Jan 2017)
ECO RCC established in Team comprises 1 Regional Programme Coordinator and 3 technical experts
First Steering Committee and Inception Workshop in September 2013
Two Trainings on Food Security and Project Cycle Management in November 2013 and June 2014
Russian language courses in 2014
ECO RCC country missions to the Kyrgyz Republic (2014) and Azerbaijan (2016)
RCC Coordinator and staff attended events on food security at international and national level, incl. ECO Regional Planning Council (RPC), Committee on World Food Security and resource mobilization meetings.
I’ll touch briefly about the implemented activities.
Currently, there is a team comprising 1 Regional Programme Coordinator and 3 technical experts.
This team made country missions to Kyrgyz Republic and Azerbaijan, 2 training programmes have been implemented on Food Security and Project Cycle Management. Also the members of the RCC team have attended to the events on food security at national and international level. Also Russian language courses were given to the team.
At the current status, out of 20 planned activities, 4 activities (%20) have been completed as of October 2016 and 8 activities (%40) have not been started yet.
Unfortunately, the most important reasons of the delay are low level of commitments from ECO countries and frequent changes in focal points.

11. Planned Activities (Feb 2017 – Feb 2019)
Status of implemented activities and work plan of ECO-RCC
Planned Activities (Feb 2017 – Feb 2019)
ECO-RCC provides analytical services to ECO on food security issues
Expected results:
- Comprehensive regional food security available for updating the Regional FS Programme
- Online training materials developed in Russian and Turkish for capacity building at national level
- Common understanding of food security and regional level challenges
Update Regional Programme for Food Security
- Current programme updated in alignment with the SDGs and up-to- date situational analysis and needs
In the comming period, there are also some planned activities.
a) By providing analytical services to ECO on food security issues, we expect;
- Comprehensive regional food security available for updating the Regional FS Programme
- Online training materials developed in Russian and Turkish for capacity building at national level
- Common understanding of food security and regional level challenges.
b) Another expectation is to have the Current Programme updated in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals and up-to-date situational analysis and needs.

12. Thank you for your attention