Background

This is a back-to-office report on a task carried out for the Provision of Adequate TreeSeed Portfolios (PATSPO) project. It is a report on an initial scoping mission that took place between 5th – 9th March 2018. The findings are based upon visits to and discussions/interviews in institutions around Addis Ababa (see Annex I), some limited fact-checking as was possible, and previous and subsequent desk research. Unfortunately, two planned visits did not happen. It was impossible to visit the regional seed centre in Sebeta as a result of civic unrest in Oromia. The planned visit to the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources did not take place because the staff of the relevant directorate was on a week’s meeting outside of Addis Ababa.

Although my ToR did not call for any specific recommendations at this time, some needs for reform and change are becoming evident, so I have included some recommendations for discussion.