JFPR >> Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction

In this connection, the Government of Tamil Nadu have in G.O.Ms. No.118, Revenue (NC IV) Department, dated:08.03.2007, ordered as follows:-
The Officer on Special Duty (Relief and Rehabilitation) and Project Director (ETRP/TEAP) who has been nominated to sign the Letter of Agreement with Asian Development Bank on behalf of Government of Tamil Nadu has signed the Agreement for Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction (JFPR Project No.9094) on 27.09.2006. The Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Government of India, has also signed the Agreement on 04.10.2006 as the co-signatory to the Letter of Agreement.  
The Proposal for implementation of Grant Assistance under Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction has also been issued by Asian Development Bank. The Officer on Special Duty (Relief and Rehabilitation) and Project Director (ETRP/TEAP) has now requested that orders granting administrative sanction for the implementation of Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction and constituting a Project Steering Committee may be issued. He has also requested to grant permission to open an Account in the State Bank of India, Chepauk Branch for the purpose of receiving the initial deposit of funds from the Asian Development Bank / Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction.


The Government, after careful examination of the proposal, accord administrative sanction for the implementation of JFPR with the assistance of Asian Development Bank to the extent of Rs.16.704 crore (Rupees sixteen crore seventy lakh forty thousand only) over a period of four years from the date of Letter of Agreement.
The Government also direct that a Project Steering Committee (PSC) be established with the following members for the overall governance and to provide advisory support to the project.
 

1 Special Commissioner & Commissioner of Revenue Administration - Chairman
2 Project Director -Convener
3 Secretary to Govt. Finance Dept./ Representative - Member
4 Commissioner of Fisheries /Representative - Member
5 Any other departmental Representative
of Govt. of Tamil Nadu as may be required
from time to time to assist in the
implementation of sub-projects		 - Member
6 District Collector concerned .

 - Member

 7 Two Representatives from reputed NGOs/
Civil Society Organizations nominated by
Special Commissioner & Commissioner
of Revenue Administration		  

- Member


8		 Livelihood Specialist, ADB-EMTK  

- Advisor/ Observer

9 Deputy Project Manager (PIU)
The Committee shall meet at least once in 3 months or as often as necessary to guide project implementation. The cost of the meetings shall be met from the funds of Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction. 		- Asst. Convener
 

The Functions and Powers of the Project Steering Committee shall be as follows:-

  1. Approve all the sub-projects proposals for various activities under the aforesaid 4 components submitted for consideration by the Project Implementation Unit (PIU) established for facilitating project implementation.
  2. Approve the Grant Implementation Manual (GIM) and revisions thereof during the project implementation period.
  3. Approve recruitment of Project Implementation Unit staff, engagement of consultants for poverty Impact assessment studies, benefit monitoring and evaluation, auditors, and / or any other person to be engaged / required for to facilitate project implementation.
  4. Approve all procurements (including those required by the PIU), evaluations and reports submitted by the Project Implementation Unit.
  5. Approve all expenditures incurred under the project including monthly accounts of the Project Implementation Unit and disbursements effected by the Project Implementation Unit to Project Implementation Agencies (PIAs) for implementing the approved subprojects.
  6. Review and approve semi-annual progress reports (SAPR) required to be submitted to Government of India and Asian Development Bank.
  7. Review quarterly, half-yearly, and annual progress reports submitted by PIAs and approve the same with its suggestions / recommendations / comments, as required.
  8. Review computation of grant Implementation progress, individual subproject performance/implementation ratings, prepared by the PIU based upon the progress reports, and /or also give necessary directions to Project Implementation Unit / Project Implementation Agencies, if any required, to improve project performance.
  9. Approve other costs or actions not referred to above as per the project guidelines, and /or any other, as detailed in the JFPR documents, LoA and GIM, as applicable.

 

The Government further direct that consistent with JFPR criteria referred to in para 9 Appendix 4 of the JFPR proposal, the Project Implementing Agencies(PIAs) or project partners shall be the Department of Fisheries, INGOs., NGOs, CBOs, Civil Society Organizations, SHGs, PLFs, district administration and/or any other agency as approved by the Project Steering Committee.
The Revenue Administration, Disaster Management and Mitigation Department (RADMMD) shall establish a separate JFPR account with a Nationalized Bank as agreed to in sub cl. (a)-i, para-11 of the LoA to receive and disburse funds for the implementation of the project as approved from time to time by the Project Steering Committee.
The Government also permit the Project Director (ETRP/TEAP) to establish a separate Project Implementation Unit with professionals/sector specialists recruited from open market on contract basis, in the premises of the TEAP-PMU to share the office facilities and ensure linkages with Government’s Tsunami Rehabilitation and Reconstruction efforts. The Project Implementation Unit will execute its tasks and responsibilities as detailed in appendix 6 of the Grant Implementation Manual.