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
An official letter of request to conduct a PCE should be sent by a high-level official (Minister of Agriculture or the head of the NPPO) 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 contact the requesting country to discuss and determine the following:
- Whether the country wishes to recruit a certified PCE facilitator or
not.
The alternative is for countries to conduct a PCEs independently, without the support of a PCE facilitator or the IPPC Secretariat.
Should the requesting country wish to recruit a certified PCE facilitator, the IPPC Secretariat will ask the country to select the preferred certified PCE facilitators from the updated IPPC list, considering geographical proximity to limit travel costs and language requirement. The IPPC Secretariat will then contact the preferred certified PCE facilitators for their availability and revert to the requesting country with the outcome. The requesting country is responsible to liaise with the PCE facilitator and agree on contractual terms.
- Whether the requesting country wishes to engage the IPPC Secretariat for support with the overall follow-up of the PCE process, in addition to the recruitment of a certified PCE facilitator. In this case, the country would still select the preferred certified PCE facilitator as detailed above, and the Secretariat would support remotely when needed.
How is the PCE process applied?
