ECO-DCCU Revised Project Document

Letter of Agreement

UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL DRUG CONTROL PROGRAMME (UNDCP)

AND 

THE SECRETARIAT OF ECONOMIC COOPERATION ORGANIZATION (ECO)

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On behalf of :

Economic Cooperation Organization

On behalf of :  

UN Drug Control Programme (UNDCP)

Dr. Abdolrahim Gavahi

Signed...................................... 

Secretary-General

Economic Cooperation Organization 

Antonio Maria Costa

Signed...................................... 

Director-General Executive Director - ODCCP

Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention

 Date of Signature ……………………. 

Date of Signature ……………………. 

        Context of Agreement

1.      Phase 2 Project Document Work Plan – Annex 1

2.      Phase 2 Project Document Logical Framework Matrix – Annex 2

3.      Phase 2 Project Document Monitoring Sheet – Annex 3

4.      Phase 2 Project Document TOR of Programme Officer – Annex 4

5.      Phase 2 Project Document TOR of Trilingual Translator/Secretary – Annex 5

6.      Phase 2 Project Document TOR of Local Assistant – Annex 6

7.      Phase 2 Project Document TOR of Web Manager – Annex 7

8.      Phase 2 Project Document DCCU Staffing Arrangements – Annex 8

A.    CONTEXT

Background

In 1964, Iran, Pakistan and Turkey created an organization, named the Regional Cooperation for Development (RCD).

In 1977, the three countries signed the Treaty of Izmir that outlined a number of policies, programmes or directives to be implemented by the member states and, in its Article II, listed the following four purposes of the Organization:

1.     Expansion of trade among member countries.

2.     Promotion of conditions for sustained economic development.

3.     Consolidation of cultural and spiritual affinities.

4.     Contribution to world trade and striving for the removal of iniquitous trading policies that result in adverse terms of trade for developing countries.

In 1985, RCD was renamed to the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO).  In 1992, ECO was expanded to include also Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

Consequently, the following ten countries are at present the member states of ECO: Afghanistan, Republic of Azerbaijan, Islamic Republic of Iran, Republic of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Republic of Tajikistan, Republic of Turkey, Turkmenistan, Republic of Uzbekistan.  The ECO region comprises population of more than 320 million people.

a.             General drug control situation in the ECO region

                Drug cartels undermine governments and corrupt legitimate business, thus affecting adversely the overall economic and security situation not only confined to a particular country but with spillover effects and direct bearing on a larger scale in a whole region. The incentive mechanism behind the drug traffic is very simple: 1 kilogram of heroin could be purchased on the Afghan/Tajik border, or on the Afghan/Iran border, for roughly 1,000 US dollars, and sold in Europe for 200,000 US dollars. Considering that a large portion of the globally laundered money at US$ 600 billion per year is transacted in the ECO region, the issue gains more importance. 

                In some large geographic area within the ECO region there exist considerable opium poppy cultivation and cannabis harvesting, as well as opium, morphine and heroin production.  While many clandestine laboratories have been destroyed by the national law enforcement agencies, new laboratories are being established and the refining of opium into morphine base and heroin is increasing in some ECO countries. 

                New drug trafficking routes are emerging through the territories of ECO Member Countries, particularly for transit traffic in drugs via Central Asia to Europe. There is a rapid spread of illicit drug trafficking in five Central Asian Member States (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan). Owing to the ready availability of opium and locally manufactured acetic anhydride, it is suspected that heroin is also being manufactured in illicit laboratories in some Central Asian States.

                Due to the increased drug trafficking in the ECO region, the highest rates of addiction in the world can, unfortunately, be found today in some of the ECO countries.  Based on the official data, it is estimated that more than 6,5 million people regularly abuse drugs in the entire ECO region. However, the real number of drug abusers in the region is strongly suspected to be much higher. The most serious drug abuse trend in recent years has been the rise in the use of injected drugs, primarily opiates, and the associated rapid spread of HIV/AIDS. Intravenous drug use has become the major vector for the spread of the disease.  

Aside from the health hazards, the illicit drug traffic also brings other hazards to the societies. It fuels various forms of crime, including arms’ dealing and smuggling of people, and also – the terrorist activities in the ECO region. The recent events in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan testify to a fact that the drug trafficking from Afghanistan and the Afghan-based terrorism have reached a level, endangering the security and stability in the region and beyond. 

                The ECO countries account for over 90% of the global seizures of Afghan opiates. The Islamic Republic of Iran, which follows a determined policy of interdiction, has lost more than 3,000 law enforcement personnel over the last 20 years in armed conflicts with the drug traffickers’ gangs. Heavy losses of drug control staff are also reported in other ECO countries. 

b.     Specific drug control field or target area of action

ECO region is among the priority target areas for UNDCP programme development to pre-empt illicit drug activities, that is, cultivation, production, trafficking, and abuse.

Drug problems within the ECO region are inter-related.  This calls for a close cooperation and coordination in respect of planning and implementing drug control activities in the region.

The Project will offer a cost-effective course of action to strengthen drug control coordination capacities of ECO.

c.     The policy, strategy and plans of ECO for the specific field or target area of action

The Council of Ministers, in its Second Meeting on 5-6 February 1992, set up a new Technical Committee on Drug Control.  Parallel to the creation of a full-fledged technical committee with a specific mandate to promote regional cooperation in the fight against narcotics, the subject was included as a major policy issue in the "Istanbul Declaration" adopted by the ECO Council of Ministers in its Special Meeting held on 5-7 July 1993.

Various Expert Group Meetings and Technical Committee Meetings have finalized the ECO Plan of Action on Drug Control, which was on 11 May 1996 approved by the ECO Council of Ministers at its Sixth Meeting in Ashqabat (Turkmenistan) and provides a framework for measures to be taken at national and regional levels in:

-       Eradication of opium poppy crop;

-       Elimination of heroin laboratories;

-       Strengthening control of drugs and psychotropic substances used for licit purposes, as well as control of essential chemical precursors;

-       Fight against illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, including promotion of national drug control legislation, strengthening national and regional structures and institutions, exchange of drug liaison officers between member states; exchange of information and experience; training of law enforcement staff, improvement of interdiction capacities, introduction of a reward system by member states, measures against money laundering;

-       Reduction of illicit demand, promotion of treatment and rehabilitation of drug addicts.

The ECO Plan of Action on Drug Control specifically calls for the creation of a Drug Control Coordination Unit (DCCU), which "will operate under the Secretary General" and shall "in consultation with UNDCP and other relevant agencies, prepare and implement projects and programmes to strengthen national law enforcement agencies and promote cooperation among them.  It may also engage in instructive programmes and activities aimed at the full implementation of international drug conventions.  The Unit shall serve as a channel of information and legal and technical assistance to member states" (ECO Plan of Action on Drug Control, Chapter II, Section III, Item "a").

The ECO Plan of Action on Drug Control, in its Annex VI, outlines the following duties of DCCU:

1.     To prepare and undertake coordinated regional activities in consultation with member governments in the implementation of the ECO Plan of Action on Drug Control.

2.     To compile, maintain and disseminate data and information on drug related matters.

3.     To organize training programmes and other relevant courses for officials/experts of member states in priority areas.

4.     To organize meetings, seminars and conferences for drug law enforcement officers from the region.

5.     To provide legal assistance and advisory services, subject to request from member governments, for codification of anti-narcotics legislation by the member states in conformity with the UN Drug Control Conventions.

6.     To facilitate interaction between member governments and specialized international agencies/organizations by serving as a channel of communications.

d.     The institutional framework of ECO

The revised Treaty of Izmir signed on 16th September 1996, provides for the following institutional framework of ECO:

-       The Council of Ministers (COM) is the highest policy making organ of ECO.  It is composed of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and meets annually.

-       The Council of Permanent Representatives, which consists of the Permanent Representatives/Ambassadors of the Member States accredited to the Islamic Republic of Iran as well as to the ECO, and the Director General for ECO Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran.

-       Regional Planning Council, which consists of the heads of the Planning Organizations of the Member States.

-       The Heads of State/Government meet biennially or more often, if considered necessary, to review the objective conditions and progress in implementation of the ECO Programmes and Projects.

-       ECO Secretariat is located in Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran, and in accordance with its organizational set-up, comprises the Secretary General, three Deputy Secretaries General, six Directors and three Assistant Directors.

-       The Assistant Director (for Coordination) is also in charge of Drug Control.

e.     Prior and ongoing cooperation in the same field or target area of action

In line with its mandate, UNDCP is providing assistance to each ECO Member State to prevent an escalation of illicit drug activities with the objective to curtail illicit drug production and drug trafficking, and to prevent an aggravation of the drug abuse situation.

During the ECO Summit in Islamabad, ECO and UNDCP on 15 March 1995 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to promote cooperation between these two organizations in all areas of drug control, inter alia, in improving coordination of drug control activities within the ECO region.

The Consultative Session of the ECO Technical Committee on Drug Control, held in Tehran on 5-7 November 1995, and attended by representatives from three international organizations (UNDCP, EU, ICPO/Interpol), decided that the ECO Plan of Action on Drug Control should be implemented through a Drug Control Coordination Unit (DCCU) to be established at ECO Secretariat.  The Meeting also discussed opportunities for an international assistance to ECO in implementing the ECO Plan of Action on Drug Control and urged formulation by UNDCP of a Project Document to support the creation of the DCCU.

Following this, UNDCP prepared an Outline of a Project Idea "Assistance in Establishing a Drug Control Coordination Unit (DCCU) at the Secretariat of the ECO", which was approved by the UNDCP Project Review Committee (PRC) on 22 February 1996 and subsequently endorsed by ECO Secretariat.  A Preliminary Draft Project Document was afterwards prepared by UNDCP.

A UNDCP staff member, in charge of formulating the Project, visited the Project's site (ECO Secretariat in Tehran) from 7 to 13 October 1996 and discussed the Preliminary Draft Project Document with ECO Secretariat (Secretary General, Deputy Secretary General and Director in charge of drug control issues) as well as with UN Office in the Islamic Republic of Iran.  The draft was also shared with UNDCP Regional Office for South-West Asia and with UNDCP Regional Office for Central Asia.  All valuable comments and suggestions made during the above consultation process were taken into account in preparing the full-fledged draft Project Document.

Accordingly, a project titled “Assistance in Establishing a Drug Control Coordination Unit (DCCU) at the Secretariat of the ECO” was concluded between ECO and UNDCP on March 5, 1998. This Unit became operational on July 25^th 1999, following the debriefing session from the UNDCP Consultant who visited the ECO Secretariat Headquarters and prepared a revised work plan of the activities of the DCCU for the pilot phase of the Project. The following achievements have been made within the first phase of the Project:

-                     Standard equipment was procured and installed in the DCCU premises;

-                     All Member States appointed their National Coordinators for liaison with DCC;

-                     A periodic reporting system between DCCU and Member States has been established;

-                     Two DCCU Task Force Meetings on Law Enforcement and Coordination with participation of all Member States, UNDCP representatives from Vienna and Tehran were held in the ECO Secretariat;

-                     Computer needs of the focal points were assessed during the ECO-DCCU staff’s mission to the ECO Member States from 3 April to 3 May, 2000;

-                     The DCCU Web site has been developed;

-                     A provisional Glossary, containing particulars of governmental and non-governmental organizations/institutions active in the field of drug control in the ECO region as well as Provisional Country Profiles on drug situation in the Member States and Provisional Drug Trends in the ECO region for 1999 – 2000 have been prepared by DCCU and will be placed on the DCCU Web site.

B.             JUSTIFICATION

-       The drug issue and its implications in terms of both security and health related problems have a tremendous importance within the ECO region and its individual Member States.

-       The endorsement of the “security belt “ strategy by the “Six plus Two” Group, together with the approval of the Regional Action Plan vis á vis the narcotic issue in Afghanistan by the Group, call for the strengthening and further development of the current operational cooperation between UNDCP and ECO in addressing the narcotics problem of the ECO region.

-          The initial response by the ECO Member States to the first phase of the ECO–UNDCP Project underlined the strong political commitment of all ECO Member States in joining hands against the illicit narcotic scourge.

-       The establishment of the Drug Control Coordination Unit (DCCU) in the ECO Secretariat in July 1999 and its achievements in the shape of development of a Web site, drug-related country profiles, glossary of the drug control organizations active in the region and study mission report demonstrated the capability and commitment in providing the ECO Member States with a valuable service, as well as the good will of ECO Member States in enhancing their mutual narcotic control operational cooperation within a regional institutionalized framework.  

-       Due to the time constraints and technical difficulties, the assistance planned under the first phase of the ECO-UNDCP Project could not be fully delivered, and consequently the first phase of the Project could not produce all the expected outputs. At the same time, the activities implemented under the first phase of the Project have removed most of the initial obstacles on the way to a real regional drug control coordination system and prepared the ground for the strengthening of international technical assistance to the ECO Secretariat in the field of drug control.

a.     Drug problem to be addressed

        With the growing drug-related problems caused by illicit drug production and trafficking, the ten Member States of the ECO have all strengthened their national drug control systems. However, drug trafficking from Afghanistan to consumer markets in Europe, Asia, and Middle East continues with the opening up of new trafficking routes throughout the territories of ECO Member States. As a result, drug consumption in the ECO Member States shows upward trends, thus, urging the ECO countries anti-narcotic establishments and civil societies to fight against drugs. 

        The transnational nature of the criminal organizations operating in the illicit drug business coupled with the impossible task of sealing all borders around the major illicit narcotics producing areas require the setting up of effective anti-narcotic cooperation mechanisms at the regional level. In this context, all ECO Member States recognize the need for strengthening their operational cooperation links in the fight against the narcotic threat with a view to give a regional response to a regional threat. 

b.     Expected end-of-project situation

        The Project will assist ECO initially in consolidating and, later on, in widening its drug control policies and operational strategies. Capitalizing on the outputs produced under the first phase of the Project, the second phase of the Project will assist the DCCU of the ECO Secretariat in providing its Member States with technical and coordination services in the field of drug control in the region.

        In particular, the second phase of the Project will result in the improvement of the overall capability of national drug control agencies of ECO Member States in monitoring and fighting the drug issue both in their territories and as a regional threat. This achievement would be the result of the coordination services rendered to the ECO national drug control agencies by DCCU and, in the longer run, of the operational network established by the project. 

        In more concrete terms, a regular reporting system and a Regional Data Bank on narcotic issues will be established and run by the ECO-DCCU. A Web site and a secure procedure for electronic sharing of the data will facilitate the circulation of the information provided by and directed to every ECO Member State. 

        The project will also contribute to the establishment of a first regional network of drug demand reduction operators, including both governmental and non-governmental operators. As for supply reduction, drug demand reduction information will be made available to the general public through the ECO-DCCU Web site together with operational information aimed at facilitating the regional transfer of specialized know how. A first data bank on drug demand reduction will be also established within the DCCU structure. 

The ECO Secretariat will ensure sustainability of the Project’s achievements, particularly the smooth functioning of the DCCU and availability of the sufficiently trained DCCU’s staff after the end of the Project.

c.     Intended beneficiaries

The immediate beneficiary will be ECO Secretariat and the ECO Member States, who will be sharing regularly the latest up-dated information on the drug situation in the ECO region.  This will allow ECO to closely monitor the implementation of the ECO Plan of Action on Drug Control.

ECO Member States will benefit from coordination of their regional activities, as well as from the services provided to them by the DCCU (drug reporting system, publications by ECO on the drug situation in the region, new modus operandi used by illicit traffickers and the emerging drug trafficking trends, regional trends and data about internal consumption, specialized trainings, etc., as well as requirements for priority attention by ECO in drug control and the needs for further regional cooperation, etc.

In a broader context, the international drug control at large, and UNDCP's goals in particular, will benefit from the increased and better-coordinated drug control activities within the ECO region.

d.     Project strategy and institutional arrangements

In order to achieve the objective of the project and to increase the ownership of the project by the different ECO Member States, particular emphasis will be given to the participation of the already appointed National Focal Points in the design and implementation of the main operational outputs and mechanisms of the Project. In this context, the recommendations formulated by the First Meeting of the DCCU National Coordinators, held in Tehran on 28 February 2000, will be used for the Project’s second phase. This initial work plan will be then complemented and fine-tuned with the new additional inputs provided by the ECO Member States. 

As regards modus operandi of the DCCU, the second phase will maintain the overall conceptual parameters (coordination, monitoring and reviewing), designed by the UNDCP Consultant in 1999.  Taking into consideration the need for addressing the issue of drug consumption at the regional level, it will develop a drug demand reduction component by using the same conceptual parameters and implementation strategy used for drug supply reduction. Accordingly, ECO Member States National Focal Points will be requested to assign a relevant official for this specific activity for liaison with DCCU. This drug demand reduction liaison personnel would facilitate the work of DCCU in setting up a drug demand reduction regional network able to provide analysis and data on the regional narcotic drug consumption situation. These activities will also be linked to the UNDCP Global Assessment Programme (GAP), ensuring consistency and compatibility with the methodologies for data collection of the GAP.

Finally, the overall coordination dynamic will be facilitated by the implementation of regional training exercises. Taking advantage of the Turkish International Academy Against Drugs and Organized Crime (TADOC), established by the Turkish Government in collaboration with UNDCP, the Project will organize and implement regional training programmes on issues related to regional operational cooperation (both supply and demand reduction).

During the Project’s second phase, UNDCP will provide the DCCU at the ECO Secretariat with the financial and operational assistance required for the implementation of the different activities of the Project through its Office in the I.R. of Iran. UNOPS/Vienna provided the ECO Secretariat with the financial assistance/support during the Project’s first phase. The UNDCP-ODCCP Offices for Central Asia, the I.R. of Pakistan and Afghanistan will be associated  into the implementation of the different activities of the Project as required. 

 UNDCP will provide costs of recruiting and ECO Secretariat will recruit, in consultation with UNDCP Office in the Islamic Republic of Iran (Tehran), the staff for DCCU, i.e. a Programme Officer from one of the ECO Member States, who will be responsible for the daily management of all DCCU's activities, a Computer Operator/Web Manager, a Support Assistant/Tri-lingual Translator (Russian, Farsi, English), and a Local Assistant as staff of the DCCU at the ECO Secretariat.  These staff will be instrumental for ensuring the smooth functioning of the DCCU.

Upon completion of this Project, ECO Secretariat will assign, at its own expense, DCCU's staff and will ensure the continuation and consistency of DCCU's operations as well as the sustainability of the Project.

 ECO Secretariat will ensure that DCCU is directly supervised by the Assistant Director (Coordination) from ECO Secretariat, who reports to the ECO Deputy Secretary General on the DCCU's activities.

UNDCP will provide to the ECO Secretariat equipment for the DCCU. The UNDCP will authorize the UNDCP Offices in the region to purchase and install the equipment for the National Focal Points as identified and recommended by the ECO-DCCU Mission during their visit to the Member States National Focal Points in April-May 2000. This equipment will be handed over directly to their beneficiaries who will be directly responsible for the equipment use and maintenance.

ECO Secretariat will organize, with financial support from this Project, study tours for DCCU-ECO officials, who are managing DCCU, to get familiarized with the functioning of similar coordination systems outside the ECO region, e.g. at UNDCP HQs, ICPO-Interpol HQs, Caribbean Drug Control Coordination Mechanism (CCM).

The reporting system established under the first phase of the project will remain unchanged. The same will apply to the holding of Meetings of National Focal Points for both drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction. A tentative calendar of the scheduled meetings is included into the present Project Document.

ECO Secretariat will organize, through this Project, a Tri-partite Review Meeting to assess implementation of the Project, particularly the functioning of DCCU and its role in facilitating implementation of the ECO Plan of Action on Drug Control.

e.     Reasons for assistance from UNDCP and selected execution modality

        Illicit drug traffic and related crime and consumption of illicit drugs is the reason for growing concerns to many countries in the ECO region as well as to ECO neighboring countries. The emergence of Afghanistan as world wide hub for illicit opium poppy cultivation, opium derivatives production and trafficking prompted UNDCP to analyze the issue at the regional level and consequently to devise a comprehensive “security belt” strategy, aimed at reducing its impact in the region. The concept of the UNDCP “security belt” together with the identification of UNDCP/ODCCP as the most skilled and impartial implementer of any drug control related technical assistance programmes in the region has been widely recognized not only by the ECO Member States (both individually and through the ECO Secretariat) but also by a number of donor countries which have provided funding to the implementation of UNDCP technical assistance projects in the ECO region.  Currently three UNDCP/ODCCP Offices in the ECO region are actively involved in implementing various technical assistance projects in Afghanistan, I.R. of Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, I.R. of Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey and Uzbekistan.  In this context, the Project is, on one side, complementing the national projects, which UNDCP is currently implementing in ECO Member States and, on the other, is an indispensable instrument for facilitating the setting up within the ECO Secretariat of an operational mandate on drug control/security related issues affecting its Member States and the region as a whole. 

        As the execution modalities are concerned, the overall management of the Project will remain with the ECO Secretariat. The UNDCP Office in Iran, through the UNDP Office in Iran, will act as the executing agency for the Project by providing the required administrative, financial and procurement services. 

        Considering the need for facilitating the full integration of the Drug Control Coordination Unit and of its staff within the set up of the ECO Secretariat, and keeping in mind the special status granted by the Government of the I.R. of Iran to the ECO staff, the Project will transfer to the ECO Secretariat all responsibilities related to the management and administration of the staff recruited for serving within the DCCU. Annex 8 will detail the responsibilities and duties of UNDCP and the ECO Secretariat in this respect.   

f.      Special considerations

        In March 2000, the UNODCCP briefed the UN Security Council on the issue of illicit drugs coming out of Afghanistan. The subsequent statement by the President of the UN Security Council reflected the Council’s concern over the issue and requested, inter alia, UNDCP to continue its work in facilitating the coordination of anti-narcotic efforts. In June, 2000, the Heads of State and Prime Ministers participating at the Tehran ECO Presidential Summit expressed their concerns about the deterioration of the drug control situation in the region, stressed the need for increasing their operational cooperation, and reiterated their support to the UNDCP “security belt” strategy and to the recently established Drug Control Coordination Unit at ECO. 

g.     Co-ordination arrangements

This Project has been developed in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding between the ECO and UNDCP signed on 15 March 1995, the ECO Plan of Action on Drug Control, approved by the Council of Ministers of ECO on 11 May 1996, and the recommendations of the First Meeting of DCCU National Focal Points held in the ECO Secretariat on February 28, 2000. 

ECO Secretariat will utilize DCCU for communication/coordination with the National Drug Control Coordinating Bodies and other counterparts, such as National Central Bureaus of ICPO/Interpol, RILO's, etc., and will ensure that this regional mechanism cooperate with, rather than duplicate any already existing national and regional information systems.

UNDCP Office in the I.R. of Iran, in consultation with and support from the ODCCP Office for Central Asia, the ODCCP Office in Afghanistan and the UNDCP Office in the I.R. of Pakistan, will undertake coordination and cooperation at the field level. 

h.     Counterpart support capacity

ECO Secretariat has sufficient support capacities to implement the Project with some international assistance, to be provided under this Project.

C.     DRUG CONTROL OBJECTIVE 

                To reduce the impact of the illicit narcotics issue in the ECO region by strengthening drug control regional cooperation and coordination. 

D.             OBJECTIVE, OUTPUTS, ACTIVITIES, ACHIEVEMENT INDICATORS AND INPUTS

a. Phase 1

Objective:                                    To create a Drug Control Coordination Unit (DCCU) at the Secretariat of the ECO and to promote its coordination activities.

1.             Outputs:

1.1.          Through the UNDCP international consultancy:

a)     requirements of ECO for assistance in implementing the Regional Drug Control Coordination Strategy, as contained in the ECO Plan of Action, identified;

b)     arrangements for creating DCCU at ECO Secretariat outlined;

c)     nature/volume of technical assistance for establishing DCCU assessed;

d)     draft plan of action for establishing DCCU elaborated.

1.2.          Organizational and substantive matters for establishing DCCU reviewed, finalized and agreed between ECO Secretariat, UNDCP Regional Office for South-West Asia (Islamabad), the Project's site host country (Islamic Republic of Iran), UN Office (Tehran).

1.3.          Initial Joint Meeting for the national coordinators/focal points from all ECO countries on establishing DCCU convened at ECO Secretariat with participation of the international consultant.

1.4.          Plan of action for establishing DCCU discussed/agreed with national drug control coordinators/focal points at the Initial Joint Meeting at ECO Secretariat.

1.5.          DCCU's core staff, i.e. the National Programme Officer from one of ECO member states and the Support Assistant/Tri-lingual Translator (Russian, Farsi, English), recruited.  Other core staff also assigned to DCCU, at ECO Secretariat's own expense, to prepare for the provision by ECO of well-experienced core staff to DCCU after the Project's end and to ensure the smooth continuation of DCCU's functions and the sustainability of the Project's outputs once the Project has been completed.

1.6.          Equipment, as identified and recommended by the international consultant (tentatively, computer network for processing, analyzing and disseminating information, fax, photocopier, tools for basic training), provided and installed at ECO Secretariat.  The NDS software, the relevant NDS means for storage (database), analysis, dissemination of information and a mechanism for electronic reporting and exchange of data and information needed for DCCU, identified, installed using a subcontractor according to the NDS concept, and operational.

1.7.          National drug control coordinators from all ECO member states trained (fellowships, study tours, etc.) in two ECO member states and the network of national focal points for drug control coordination with ECO created.

1.8.          DCCU is established and operational, and is directly supervised by ECO Assistant Director, who reports on its activities to ECO Deputy Secretary General.

1.9   .       Through the Advisory Missions by UNDCP expert staff:

a)     DCCU's core staff advised on the processing and management of information according to the NDS database module;

b)     Assistance provided in establishing DCCU's Drug Data Bank (NDS concept);

c)     Advice provided for the establishment at DCCU of the Reporting/Information Analysis System compatible with the NDS.

1.10.        Information received from the national drug control bodies and other counterparts analyzed, stored in DCCU's Data Bank, and constantly up-dated.

1.11.        Analytical information, periodic reports and reference documentation are regularly prepared by DCCU and disseminated to ECO member states and other counterparts, e.g. UNDCP.

1.12.        Comprehensive information on the drug situation in the ECO region and on the assistance needs, is available to ECO member states, other counterparts, e.g. UNDCP.

1.13.        The up-dated information on programmes of the ECO Plan of Action on Drug Control which were implemented, and those which still need to be addressed is available to ECO member states.

1.14.        Periodic reporting system between ECO member states and ECO Secretariat on the evolving drug situation in the region, emerging new trends, status of the national drug control legislation, and priority drug control needs, established and functioning.

1.15.        Monthly Reports and Quarterly Consolidated Reports on the drug situation in the ECO region, emerging new trends, status of the national drug control legislation and priority drug control needs prepared by DCCU with the use of the NDS methodology, and distributed, through ECO Secretariat, to ECO member states and UNDCP.

1.16.        Information-gathering/disseminating process provides ECO with an additional managerial tool for a continuous dialogue with the national drug control coordinating bodies of ECO member states and facilitates monitoring, assessment and fine-tuning of the process of implementation of the ECO Plan of Action on Drug Control.

1.17.        Two Joint Semi-annual Meetings for drug control coordinating focal points from all ECO member states convened at ECO Secretariat to review:

a)     functioning of DCCU;

b)     priority needs for drug control coordination in the ECO region;

c)     strengthening of drug control coordination contacts among ECO member states;

d)     initial proposals for developing drug control cooperation framework in the ECO region.

1.18.        Project's implementation assessed at the Tri-partite Review Meeting.

2.             Activities:

2.1.          A UNDCP international consultancy (4 w/weeks) was provided, under this Project, to identify ECO's requirements for assistance in implementing ECO's Regional Drug Control Coordination Strategy, to outline arrangements for creating a DCCU at ECO Secretariat and to develop specific recommendations enabling UNDCP expert staff to install at DCCU the Computer and Telecommunication System (NDS).

2.2.          ECO Secretariat discussed with UNDCP Regional Office for South-West Asia (Islamabad) and  finalized and re-confirmed with the host country (Islamic Republic of Iran) and UN Office (Tehran) all organizational and substantive matters for establishing DCCU at ECO Secretariat.

2.3.          ECO Secretariat convened, with the financial support from this Project, the Initial Joint Meeting of national coordinators/focal points from all ECO member states to discuss, with the assistance provided by the UNDCP international consultant, the modalities for establishing drug control coordinating arrangements at ECO Secretariat.

2.4.          The Initial Joint Meeting reviewed and approved the draft plan of action for establishing the DCCU, elaborated by the international consultant.

2.5.          Under the Project, ECO Secretariat recruited, in consultation with UNDCP HQs/UNDCP Regional Office for South-West Asia (Islamabad) and UN Office (Tehran), DCCU's core staff: a National Programme Officer and a Support Assistant/Tri-lingual Translator (Russian, Farsi, English).  ECO Secretariat assigned, at its own expense, other core staff to DCCU to train the core staff to be provided to DCCU by ECO Secretariat after the Project's end and to ensure the smooth continuation of DCCU's functions and the sustainability of the Project's outputs upon completion of the Project first phase.

2.6.          The Project provided to ECO Secretariat the equipment for DCCU, as identified and recommended by the international consultant (tentatively, computer network, fax, photocopier, tools for basic training), and ECO Secretariat installed and took proper care of this equipment.  Based on recommendations of the UNDCP international consultant and with the assistance of Subcontractor, the UNDCP expert staff identified, provided and installed at DCCU the NDS software, the relevant NDS means for storage (database), analysis, dissemination of information and a mechanism for electronic reporting and exchange of data and information.

2.7.          ECO Secretariat ensured the functioning of DCCU, directly supervised by ECO Assistant Director (Coordination), who reported on DCCU's activities to ECO Deputy Secretary General.

2.8.          UNDCP staff advised DCCU's core staff on the processing and management of information under the UNDCP Computer and Telecommunication System for National and International Drug Control (NDS), assisted in establishing DCCU's Drug Data Bank according to the NDS concept, advised on the establishment at DCCU of the NDS Reporting/Information Analysis System.

2.9.          DCCU staff stored in DCCU's Data Bank, analyze and periodically up-date all incoming information.

2.10.        DCCU regularly prepared analytical reports and reference documentation and disseminated these materials to ECO member states, other counterparts, e.g. UNDCP.

2.11.        DCCU provided ECO member states, other counterparts, e.g. UNDCP, with the most comprehensive information on the drug situation in the ECO region and on the emerging assistance needs. 

2.12.        DCCU regularly furnished to ECO member states the latest information on the process of implementation of the ECO Plan of Action on Drug Control.

2.13.        ECO Secretariat established, through DCCU, a periodic reporting system between all ECO member states and ECO Secretariat on the evolving drug control situation in the region, emerging new trends, status of the national drug control legislation, and the priority drug control needs.

2.14.        DCCU prepared the Monthly Reports and the Quarterly Consolidated Reports on the drug situation in the ECO region and distributed, through ECO Secretariat, these reports to ECO member states, other counterparts, e.g. UNDCP.

2.15.        ECO Secretariat convened, under this Project, two Joint Semi-annual Meetings for the national drug control coordinators/focal points of all ECO member states to review the functioning of DCCU, priority needs for drug control coordination in the ECO region, strengthening of drug control coordination contacts among ECO member states, initial proposals for developing drug control cooperation framework in the ECO region.

2.16.        ECO Secretariat will organize, through this Project, a Tri-partite Review Meeting to assess implementation of the Project, particularly the functioning of DCCU and its role in facilitating implementation of the ECO Plan of Action on Drug Control.

3.             Achievement indicators:

3.1.          DCCU established and functioning according to the work plan;

3.2.          DCCU reporting on monthly/quarterly basis;

3.3.          Four analytical reports of satisfactory quality produced by DCCU;

3.4.          Two drug control officer from each of the ECO member states received sufficient training to carry out the required reporting obligations;

3.5.          Training and achievement reports produced as required;

3.6.          Areas of need for further assistance identified and relevant projects proposed.

4.             Inputs:

4.1           ECO Secretariat:

(a)           Provided administrative and logistic support during the process of establishing DCCU under this Project, including the premises and additional staff for DCCU, assistance to UNDCP expert staff on advisory missions for the creation of DCCU, and during DCCU's subsequent operations.

(b)           In consultation with UNDCP HQs/UNDCP Regional Office for South-West Asia (Islamabad) and UN Office (Tehran), selected and recruited DCCU's core staff, funded under this Project (National Programme Officer, Support Assistant/Tri-lingual Translator) as well as the National Consultant for ad hoc assignments.

(c)           Assigned, at its own expense, other core staff to DCCU, bearing in mind that ECO Secretariat will take over all the support for DCCU upon completion of this Project and will therefore need to have available the sufficiently trained DCCU's core staff to be thereupon provided exclusively by ECO Secretariat; and also taking into consideration that ECO Secretariat will need to ensure the smooth continuation of    DCCU's functions and the sustainability of the Project's outputs following the Project's end.

(d)           Provided assistance to the Tri-partite review of this Project.

(e)           Organized all meetings, related to establishing/operating DCCU, envisaged under this Project, and provided for these meetings conference services, interpretation, background papers, meetings' reports.

(f)            Provided maintenance and services all equipment provided to ECO Secretariat under this Project.

Total inputs by ECO Secretariat:  (in kind, equiv.) USD 11,000.

Total

(USD)

a.  International consultant on establishing DCCU: 4 work/weeks  (travel, DSA, fee)

17,338

b.  UNDCP Advisory Missions to introduce, establish and  launch into operation the Computer & Telecommunication NDS System:  and Tri-partite Review

11,768

62,134

538

  3,000

f. Initial Joint Meeting of national Focal Points and top-level coordinators at ECO Secretariat:1 work/week x 9 staff (travel, DSAs

27,822

g.  Equipment: Expend./Non-expendable (Computer network, fax,  photocopier, tools for basic training)

10,752

3,586

893

137,831

155,750

1.  Changes of Legal and Institutional Framework

Problem:  The organizational structures as well as legal mandates and/or authorities of ECO Secretariat are not yet fully determined and evolving.  Any legislative and administrative changes at ECO Secretariat may impact on the drug control activities of ECO and the functioning of DCCU.  It is, therefore, possible that DCCU, having a clear and defined drug control coordination mandate under this Project, may see mandatory changes in the future.

Remedial Action:  The inputs of this Project have been designed in a way that they are strictly related to drug control.  Even if mandatory changes occur as a result of new measures at ECO Secretariat, its drug control coordination function will remain as defined in the ECO Plan of Action on Drug Control.  The improved drug control coordination knowledge as well as adequate logistical supply will be required.  Any changes affecting the current structures, which may have an impact on this Project, will be discussed with the ECO Secretariat's senior officials, and should the need arise, joint revisions can be initiated.

2.  Security and procedural issue connected with regional drug control cooperation 

Problem:  Drug Control and the related administrative structures are relatively a new type of activity for both the ECO Secretariat and some ECO Member States.  Moreover, the security related aspects of the narcotic issue make operational cooperation with the regional ECO partners subject to cumbersome and time consuming procedures that can slow down the pace of implementation of the Project. 

Finally, the fulfillment of internal procedures related to the ECO may further slow down the pace of implementation of the Project.

Remedial Action:  The UNDCP Office in the I.R. of Iran will assist the ECO Secretariat and the staff of DCCU in addressing in due time all technical problems arising from the implementation of the work plan. In addition, the UNDCP Field Office network in West and Central Asia will also be involved in the implementation of the Project by facilitating the active participation of National Coordinating Agencies in the course of Project’s implementation.  The provision of the Project in terms of personnel assigned to DCCU (Programme Officer, Computer Operator/Web Manager, Support Assistant/Tri-lingual Translator, and Local Assistant) ought to some extent ameliorate the situation.  Finally, ECO Secretariat will assign, at its own expense and when needed, other staff to DCCU.

     In addition to the above technical solutions, the implementation strategy of the project centered on the active participation of national focal points in determining the concrete work plan of the Project and, consequently, its implementation pace, ought to ensure the transferring and sharing of responsibilities among all participants to the Project. 

G.      PRIOR OBLIGATIONS AND PREREQUISITES

     ECO Secretariat will be the Implementing Agency to provide all required counterpart services for the implementation of this Project. ECO Secretariat will facilitate access for all UNDCP advisory, technical and monitoring missions to be undertaken in the context of this Project to project sites, relevant drug control data, records.  The terms and arrangements for such missions will be mutually agreed upon.

      ECO Secretariat will provide all inputs specified in Section D of this Project Document, and in particular, will absorb the costs for adequate administrative and logistic support to DCCU, including premises and additional staff for DCCU, its operation and maintenance, as well as conference services, preparation of working papers and reports, supported by this Project.

     ECO Secretariat will share with UNDCP all reports and analytical information, generated by DCCU.

     ECO agrees to grant to the possible third founders of the Project the same visibility granted to UNDCP through the Project. Accordingly, all equipment and materials produced by the project and displaying the UNDCP-ECO Secretariat Logos will equally display the third founder name and logo.

     ECO Secretariat will take over all the support for DCCU upon completion of this Project, will provide thereupon all sufficiently trained staff for DCCU and will ensure the smooth continuation of DCCU's functions and the sustainability of the Project's outputs after the Project's end.

     ECO Secretariat will continue implementation of the ECO Plan of Action on Drug Control and will keep UNDCP informed, through DCCU, about the extent of the progress achieved in implementing the Plan of Action.

     ECO Secretariat will continue to develop its legal and institutional frameworks for drug control measures with a view to implementing the regional drug control strategy, outlined in the ECO Plan of Action on Drug Control.

     Subsequent functioning of DCCU will be institutionalized in accordance with the  resolutions of the final Tri-partite Meeting which will examine the recommendations of the external evaluation forecast into the project's strategy/project's budget and to be implemented  towards the end of the Project. Should any revisions of the present Project Document be required, this will be done in consultation between UNDCP and ECO Secretariat.

     Assistance will be provided under this Project, subject to the assessment by Parties that the prerequisites stated above have been met or are likely to be fulfilled.  When the anticipated fulfillment of one or more prerequisites fails to materialize, UNDCP may, at its discretion, either suspend or terminate the assistance.

H.   PROJECT REVIEWS, REPORTING AND EVALUATION

          The Beneficiary States shall receive a work plan one month after the appointment of the National Programme Officer, a mid-term technical and financial report on the sixth month after the start of the project and a final technical report and a final financial report within two months following the date of the end of the Project’s implementation as specified in the Project Document’s text.  

Parties can jointly review this Project at any stage during its implementation.  Approximately three months before the scheduled end of the Project, an external evaluation will be held to assess the results/success of the project in its entirely (first and second phases) and to formulate recommendations on the future institutionalization of the DCCU by the ECO Secretariat. The TOR of the evaluation team will be shared with the ECO Member States in due time.

The finding and recommendations of the above-mentioned evaluation constitute an integral part of the documentation to be submitted to the Final Tri-partite Meeting for reviewing and possible adoption. The Parties will consult on the timing and agenda of this Tri-partite review, which can be called by any Party at an earlier stage, if considered necessary.

The ECO Secretariat will submit the findings of the Tri-partite meeting and its recommendations related to the institutionalization of DCCU to ECO decision making competent body for a due follow up. 

This Project is subject to examination by both the United Nations Internal Audit Division and the United Nations Board of External Auditors.  Upon their request, the auditors' access to Project's documentation and correspondence, the Parties to this Project Document will facilitate accounts, expenditures and inventory records.

The Implementing Agency will provide a Semi-annual Narrative Project Progress Report.  This Report will describe the activities already undertaken, and the results achieved with the assistance provided by the Project.  Problems occurring during implementation as well as any foreseeable delays will also be indicated in this Report. 

The Implementing Agency will include in this Report the status of expenditures vis-à-vis allocated funds and will advise on and initiate any required budget revisions.  The Semi-annual Project Progress Report will also include a brief description of the current situation in the Project areas with particular emphasis on the drug control coordination, changes and trends, especially those that are of direct relevance to this Project. 

In addition, the Implementing Agency will regularly update the Project Monitoring Sheet hereby attached as Annex 3 and submit it to UNDCP whenever requested.  

National authorities of ECO Member States and officials of ECO Secretariat, benefiting from Trainings, Fellowships and Study Tours under this Project, will submit reports on their studies and training. These reports will include a short description of the sites visited, subjects studied, and measures they consider relevant for their own offices and the DCCU as a result of the studies.  The Implementing Agency will forward these reports to UNDCP. 

I.       LEGAL CONTEXT

This Project Document has been prepared in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding between ECO and UNDCP, signed on 15 March 1995, and on the basis of the ECO Plan of Action on Drug Control approved on 11 May 1996 by the principal ECO policy-making body, i.e. the Council of Ministers (COM) at its Sixth Meeting held in Ashgabat (Turkmenistan), and the recommendations of the First Meeting of the DCCU National Coordinators held in the ECO Secretariat on February 28, 2000. 

The ECO Plan of Action on Drug Control, in its Chapter II, para. III (a) urges creation at ECO Secretariat of a Drug Control Coordination Unit (DCCU), "which will operate under the Secretary General, shall, in consultation with UNDCP and other relevant agencies, prepare and implement projects and programmes to strengthen national law enforcement agencies and promote cooperation among them.  It may also engage in instructive programmes and activities aimed at full implementation of international drug conventions.  The Unit (DCCU) shall serve as a channel of information and legal and technical assistance to Member States".

          Regarding the legal status of the DCCU staff recruited under this project, UNDCP and ECO Secretariat’s responsibilities will be spelt out in Annex 8.

Implementation of activities by UNDCP under this Project is, each year, subject to the availability of adequate funding. Available funds will be committed through an annual budget allocation based on a work plan cost. Both the work plan cost and both parties can revise the budget calculations during the Project’s implementation, subject to approval, if and as required. Should required funding not be available, UNDCP reserves the right to unilaterally terminate its assistance under the Project.

J.       Liability Clauses

ECO Secretariat will make arrangements with the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran (host country for the Project's site) needed for ensuring the entry and free movements of the ECO-DCCU staff recruited under the Project as well as of any other privilege recognized by the Iranian Government and the ECO Member States to the ECO Secretariat staff. 

ECO Secretariat will make arrangements with the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran (host country for the Project's site) to defray any Customs duties and other charges related to the import of equipment, its transportation, handling, storing, and related expenses within the territory of the host country. The same privileges should also be extended to all equipment procured by the Project and distributed to National Coordination Agencies of the ECO Member States. 

ECO Secretariat shall be responsible for the safe custody of equipment, its installation and maintenance, insurance in accordance with the established practices, and the replacement of equipment, if necessary, after delivery. Upon arrival of equipment at the ECO Secretariat, which has been purchased for the ECO Secretariat under this Project, and upon certification of safe and complete delivery as is necessary to enable payment to be made to suppliers, ownership of the equipment will be transferred to the ECO Secretariat.  All equipment, material and supplies, purchased and funded in the execution of this Project, will be used exclusively for the purpose of the Project.

Upon completion of the transfer of ownership, UNDCP will not bear any further legal responsibility for the equipment, its operation and maintenance.  In the interest of Project’s monitoring, however, the ECO Secretariat will maintain accurate inventory control data on the equipment provided under this Project, and this information will be made available to UNDCP upon request.

ECO Secretariat shall be responsible for dealing with any claims that may be brought by third parties against the United Nations, including UNDCP and UNDP, against its personnel, or against other persons performing services on behalf of the United Nations, including UNDCP and UNDP, under this Project.  ECO Secretariat shall hold the United Nations, including UNDCP and UNDP, blameless in case of any claims or liabilities resulting from operations under this Project, except where it is agreed by the United Nations, including UNDCP and UNDP, that such claims or liabilities arise from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such persons.

It is understood by all parties concerned that the United Nations, including UNDCP and UNDP, are not liable to pay compensation in respect of any death or disability caused by injury or illness attributable to the performance of official duties of staff members, consultants, or other persons recruited by ECO Secretariat in the execution of this Project.  The United Nations, including UNDCP and UNDP, will not be requested to reimburse for compensation payable in such event. 

This Project Document may be modified by written agreement between the parties concerned.  Any relevant matter for which no provision is made in the Project Document shall be settled by the parties concerned in accordance with the relevant resolutions and decisions of the appropriate bodies of the United Nations and of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO).  Each party shall give full and sympathetic consideration to any proposal advanced by the other party under this paragraph.

K.   PROJECT BUDGET (see attached table)

L.      Attachments to the Project Document

                It is understood by all parties that upon signing of the Project Document between the UNDCP and Secretariat of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), the under-mentioned documents will be an integral part of the Project Document.

1.      Phase 2 Project Document Work Plan – Annex 1

2.      Phase 2 Project Document Logical Framework Matrix – Annex 2

3.      Phase 2 Project Document Monitoring Sheet – Annex 3

4.      Phase 2 Project Document TOR of Programme Officer – Annex 4

5.      Phase 2 Project Document TOR of Trilingual Translator/Secretary – Annex 5

6.      Phase 2 Project Document TOR of Local Assistant – Annex 6

7.      Phase 2 Project Document TOR of Web Manager – Annex 7

8.      Phase 2 Project Document DCCU Staffing Arrangements – Annex 8