Project Management Structure

The SFISH project implementation institutional arrangements will be based on an adapted and streamlined set-up from the previous PERSGA GEF project Strategic Ecosystem Management in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden (SEM). The SEM Project was performed by PERSGA as the executing agency and implemented by the World Bank.

The project implementation design adapted for SFISH is setup to be simple and efficient, avoiding multi-level committees and complicated administrative procedures. The project will be managed by PERSGA through a Project Coordination Unit (PCU), which has been assigned by an administrative decision issued by PERSGA Secretary General in this regard. The work will be facilitated in the countries by project National Coordinators (NCs) assigned by PERSGA National Focal Point in each respective country. The PCU, headed by the Project Coordinator (PC) will report regular progress to PERSGA Secretary General. The Steering Committee of the Project (PSC) will be PERSAG National Focal Points (PNFPs) and Secretary General. The Project management structure is outlined in Figure 2 below. The roles and responsibilities of the PCU, and the NC are elaborated below. More details of the PCU team at PERSGA and their skills and roles is provided in Annex II.

The Project Coordination Unit (PCU)

The assigned Project Coordination Unit (PCU) includes 11 PERSGA staff (see Annex II), comprising five technical /scientific staff (the Project Coordinator and 4 technical experts); four Finance and Procurement staff (Finance Amin Manager, a Finance Assistant, a Procurement Assistant,); and 3 ICT support staff (Head ICT Unit assisted by 2 ICT specialists). The PCU will also be supplemented by a project management assistant hired on the project, who will support principally the procurement function, in addition to secondary duties assisting project finance and administration.

The PCU will be housed in PERSGA located in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia headed by Project Coordinator (PC). It will be responsible for the management of day-to-day activities and the timely and verifiable attainment of project objectives. The PCU will assume the following roles: (i) prepare annual work-plans and budgets; (ii) manage, monitor and evaluate implementation of project components; (iii) report implementation progress and financial management performance to the Steering Committee and the World Bank in quarterly reports; (iv) ensure timely external auditing of project accounts; (v) ensure appropriateness of procurement and FM activities as per agreed terms; (vi) ensure adherence to and implementation of agreed ESS instruments ; and (vi) ensure effective M & E, proper Results Framework and indicators monitoring, timely and on midterm and final reviews.

The PCU will be responsible for hiring specialized consultants through short term consultancy needed to carry out specific tasks, and procuring goods and other items, as prescribed in the PPSD and PP. In this regard, the project management shall adhere to the guidance provided in the “Guidelines on Preventing and Combating Fraud and Corruption in Projects Financed by IBRD Loans and IDA Credits and Grants”, dated October 15, 006, and updated January 2011. The PCU will also ensure quality, and enable the generation of knowledge collation and exchange between participating countries in all activities that will be implemented through contractual agreements between PERSGA and project contractors as individual consultants or consulting firms.

National Coordinators

A National Coordinator (NC) will be assigned by the PERSGA National Focal Point (NFP) in each member country to assist the PCU with national level coordination in connection with the project (Fig 2). He will be official staff based on the specified agency by the NFP to facilitate the national inputs and participation in connection with the project activities, which may include: participation of nominated national specialists and stakeholders in the project regional capacity building/ training workshops and regional forums; assisting with hiring national consultants to be assigned for carrying out national level assessments and action planning as part of the regional team undertaking such assessment studies and umbrella regional action plans (listed in paragraph 11 above), and facilitating fieldwork related to the national assessment studies, national level consultation and capacity

building workshops to be organized in the project framework. The NC will also participate in regular regional meetings of the NCs with the PCU to ensure coordination of joint activities, monitor and report on the contribution of national activities to regional objectives of the project, and knowledge management.

Project Steering Committee (PSC)

The SFISH Project Steering Committee (PSC) includes PERSGA National Focal Points and Secretary General. It is the supervisory body for the project, providing long-term vision, policy, and strategic advice. The PSC will hold annual meetings to reviewing and approve AWPs and Budgets; monitor the Project’s progress towards achieving its PDO and key indicators; ensure regional and national coordination as required for Project implementation; and providing recommendations to help resolve any difficulties that the Project may face during implementation.