Annex 1

VLAAMSE INTERUNIVERSITAIRE RAAD 
(VLIR)
FLEMISH INTERUNIVERSITY COUNCIL

Call for Own Initiatives 2005

Format for a fully-fledged Own Initiative Proposal 
Formulation phase

Please follow this format strictly when drafting a fully-fledged Own Initiative proposal. VLIR will not accept proposals exceeding 17 pages (without annexes).

GENERAL INFORMATION (1,5 page)

A.	 Country and region of the project: Cuba, Watershed of the Rio Cuyaguateje (Pinar del Rio Province)

B.	 Project title and FWO discipline code (based on the content of the project proposal): Capacity building of UNAH (Universidad Agraria de la Habana) and CENHICA (Centro de Hidrologia y Calidad del Agua) in view of a soil and water conservation program in the Rio Cuyaguateje watershed in Western Cuba - FWO discipline codes: B006, B410, B431

C. Project Duration: 5 years

D. Expected date of project start (not before 01/03/2005): July 2005

E. Applying Flemish institute (University, Faculty, Department):
•	Institute: Ghent University (UGent), Dept. Soil Management and Soil Care
•	Promoter: Prof. Dr. ir. Donald Gabriels
•	Address, phone, fax and e-mail address of the promoter: Coupure links 653, 9000 Gent, Belgium; +32 9 264 60 50; +32 9 264 62 47; donald.gabriels@UGent.be
•	Co-promoter (if applicable): Dr. ir. Wim Cornelis
•	Address, phone, fax and e-mail address of the co-promoter (if applicable): Coupure links 653, 9000 Gent, Belgium; +32 9 264 60 40; +32 9 264 62 47; wim.cornelis@UGent.be

F. Partner (University, Faculty, Department):
•	Institute: Universidad Agraria de la Habana (UNAH); Promoter: Prof. Dr. Maria Elena Ruiz (UNAH)
•	Address, phone, fax and e-mail address of the promoter: Apdo 18 San José de las Lajas, Habana 32700, Cuba; tel. 064 63013 ext 278; fax: 064 9 82 71; mruiz@isch.edu.cu or mruiz80@yahoo.com

G. Total budget requested to VLIR (in EUR for the full duration of the project) (max. € 310.000)
309,898 €

H. Nature of the proposed project

	Score (1-5)	
Research	3	
Capacity Building	5	
Extension 	3	

Legend:

1: Of minor importance with regard as to the overall project
2: Not very important with regard as to the overall project
3: Relatively important as to the overall project 
4: Very important as to the overall project 
5: Of overriding importance as to the overall project

I. Project Summary (content, problems, objectives, results) (max. 10 lines):
The state policy of land use changes on steep erodible slopes is a global problem in Cuba leading to severe land degradation resulting in increased erosion, runoff and sediment transport from fields, sediment concentration in rivers and silting up of  rivers and water reservoirs. In the long run this leads to agricultural, environmental and ecological problems, including reduced land productivity and crop yields, increased flooding hazard, reduced quality of drinking and irrigation water, a reduction in electricity production, and reduced biodiversity. These problems are enhanced by the lack of capacity to work out an erosion-control program by the services responsible for the management of the watersheds. One of the most severely affected areas is the rio Cuyaguateje watershed in Western Cuba. The project aims at developing the capacity within Cuba (and particularly within Western Cuba) to develop and implement erosion-control programs by upgrading the Universidad Agraria de la Habana (UNAH) as a centre of excellence and the Centro de Hidrologia y Calidad del Agua (CENHICA) as a management actor on soil erosion and soil and water conservation. This will be achieved during all steps in establishing an erosion-control program for the rio Cuyaguateje watershed.

J. Signature of the Flemish promoter:

DETAILED INFORMATION

1. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT CONTEXT (max. 4,5 pages)

1.1.Background of the project

•	Origin, and subsequent elaboration of the idea (identification and formulation process)
In the frame of the VLIR-OI project ‘Improving soil salinity management under sugar cane using Geoinformatica’ in Cuba (1999-2003) under promotership of the Dept. Soil Management and Soil Care, UGent and with partnership of UNAH, the idea was launched to study the soil and water balance on sloped areas in the Rio Cuyaguateje watershed in the Pinar del Rio province, where a change in land use (mainly towards a tobacco monoculture) resulted in an increase in erosion, flooding and silting up of rivers and water reservoirs. This region is very important from an economical and touristic point of view, due to respectively its important tobacco industry, and its nice landscape and scenery. The contacts with CENHICA were established during the Latin-American Congress of Soil Science, Varadero, Cuba, November 2001 and during the Escuela Latinoamericana de Física de Suelos (ELAFIS), La Habana, December 2002, in which lectures and seminars were given by members of both the applying Flemish institution and two of the three Cuban partner institutions, being UNAH and CENHICA. It should be stressed here that the underlying proposal is essentially demand driven and that the applying Flemish promoter was selected by the Cuban partner institutes because of previous successful co-operation (including several visits to the proposed project area) and expertise. The project proposal was further adapted during the formulation mission and PCM workshop in which many stakeholders including UNAH and CENHICA, but also the Universidad del Pinar del Rio (UPR), the Enterprise for Hydraulic Resources, the Enterprise for Research and Hydraulic Project, technicians of the local hydrometric stations, students and farmers, actively participated. This resulted in the current fully-fledged proposal.

•	Description of the main differences in terms of content (if any) between the Letter of Intent and the fully-fledged proposal
•	Because the previously selected San Diego watershed as a pilot project is located outside the Rio Cuyaguateje watershed, the upstream subwatershed including the V Aniversario station is now selected as the new pilot watershed.  
•	The three hydrometric stations that exist within the Rio Cuyaguateje watershed will be reinstalled during the first year of the project and new measurement procedures and technologies will be applied. 
•	The experienced permanent Flemish expert will be contracted for 18 months (as foreseen) in order to coordinate the reinstallation of the stations, to test the portable field rainfall simulator, to lead the inventory and the rainfall simulation field experiments, and to guide the scientific and technical staff and visiting students and stakeholders.
•	Because a new measuring campaign can only start after the reinstallation and well functioning of the stations, the project duration will be extended to 5 years. This will ensure that the interpretation of the intermediate results and the extension to the stakeholders can be achieved within the duration of the project.
•	Because of a fifth project year the budget is increased to 307,450 €. 
•	No permanent erosion plots will be constructed, but instead, a substantial number of tests with the rainfall simulator will be carried out in the pilot watershed during the first 18 months of the project and thereafter in the entire Rio Cuyaguateje watershed. This also excludes the necessity to install permanent field equipment on the plots. 
•	During the stakeholder analysis phase, a third institute, i.e. the Universidad del Pinar del Rio (UPR), was identified as being an important stakeholder. This university is together with UNAH the only university in Western Cuba, and is located in the near vicinity of the Rio Cuyaguateje watershed.
•	Dr. ir. Wim Cornelis, Dept. Soil Management and Soil Care, UGent, is added as second Flemish promoter, because of his expertise in parameter estimation, calibration and validation of mathematical models. He will be involved in the first installation phase of the project with the permanent expert. After the expert has left Cuba, he will be mainly occupied in guiding the Flemish and Cuban thesis students, and he will be involved in the soil conservation scenarios needed to establish the final erosion-control plan. 

1.2. Presentation of the project partners

1.2.1. The Partner institution (university and faculty/department/unit)

University:

•	General description in terms of status, history, size and disciplines offered.
The Agrarian University of Havana (UNAH) is the main Cuban agricultural university founded in 1976 as Instituto Superior de Ciencias Agropecuarias de la Habana (ISCAH). The name was changed to UNAH in 1998. Its campus is located some 40 km southeast from Havana. It is an ensemble, which includes the University (with Faculties of Agronomy, Mechanization, Contability, Social Problems, and Dairy Sciences) and four research centers, being the National Center for Animal Health (CENSA) devoted to dairy sciences, the National Institute of Agricultural Science (INCA) related to crop and soil research, the Institute of Agricultural Science (ICA) mainly related to livestock management and the Agricultural Mechanization Center (CEMA) conducting tillage and harvesting machine research. The ensemble UNAH has more than 200 Ph.D. and 1000 professionals in practically all the field areas of agricultural research. UNAH keeps relationships with more than 50 universities in the whole world, particularly with those in Latin America. Yearly, some 1000 students graduate at UNAH, among which some 300 are non-Cubans, mainly from other Latin-American countries. As an ensemble, UNAH has created some horizontally structured research units, which include professors and researchers of several faculties and centers. One of them is the Agrophysics Research Unit (GIAF) headed by the Cuban promoter, Prof. M.E. Ruiz.

Institute (unit with which will be directly collaborated such as a Faculty/Department/Unit):
Agrophysics Research Unit (GIAF)

Table 1: Summary partner presentation

Year of establishment, and major milestones in terms of its further development.	1985: Creation of the Unit; 1988: GIAF determined the hydraulic properties for the main Cuban soils; 1996: two National Projects in collaboration with other Cuban institutions; 1997: GIAF obtained a grant from the InterAmerican Institute for Global Changes Research (IAI); 1997: start of yearly organization of a Workshop on Physics Applied to Agriculture called “AGROPHYSICS” (since 2000, it is organized each two years). Topics were: ’98 “Evapotranspiration: Theory, Modeling and Estimating”, ’99 “Global Change effects on the rural environment”, 2000: “Soil Hydraulic Properties”, ’02 “Modeling soil water atmosphere system”, ’04: “Soil Pedotransfer functions”; 1998: GIAF begins the Diploma course in Agricultural Geoinformatics where more than 40 professionals coming from the whole country have been formed 1999: GIAF began collaboration with the Department of Soil Management and Soil Care at Ghent University; 1999: GIAF created and heads until now the section of Agrophysics in the Cuban Physics Society; 2001: GIAF got funding by the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources and collaborated with the Center of Hydrology and Water Quality; 2001: The head of GIAF is included as Editor of the Cuban Journal Science and Techniques in Agriculture; 2001: GIAF began collaborations with the International Center of Theoretical Physics (ICTP) having now two of its members associated to the Center. Two projects have been send to GIAF to be evaluated; 2002: GIAF obtained a grant from the InterAmerican Institute for Global Changes Research (IAI); 2002: GIAF organized in Cuba for the first time the VI Latin American School of Soil Physics with funding of IAI and ICTP; 2002: The head of GIAF is proposed and approved as Member of the National Jury of Agricultural Engineering in charge of evaluating Ph.D. thesis related to this subject in Cuba;  2003: GIAF got a contract in a National Project; 2004: GIAF obtained a grant from the International Foundation of Science in Sweden.	
Status within the university	GIAF is an excellence research group belonging to the Faculty of Mechanization (very soon Faculty of Agricultural Engineering). GIAF is also a scientific and research unit recognized as such at the country level.	
Academic Personnel (2004, number, status, level of education)	Academic staff: 1 full professor (Ph.D. in Agricultural Sciences), 4 researchers (they all have a B.Sc. (licentiate – 4 years study) in Nuclear Physics; two of them have an additional M.Sc. in Physics Applied to Agriculture), 1 associated member (Ph.D. and  specialist in soils and land management). Administrative and technical staff: 2
M.Sc. thesis students in Agricultural Engineering (intended to work on soil erosion in case the project would be approved): 4. 
More than 30 associated members from UNAH, Irrigation and Drainage Research Institute (IIRD), Sugar Cane Research Institute (INICA), Institute of Soils, Center of Hydrology and Water Quality and other Cuban institutions.	
Overall budget (2004 or most recent year). Institutional budget and other sources of income including donor funding.	38760 Cuban pesos = 1517 € (institutional budget to cover salary of member and associated of GIAF). There is no yearly donation. The sources of income in US$ are only the international grants that GIAF could get under a very competitive procedure. In 2004 a young member of GIAF has got a grant of 11200 US$ = 9205 € from the International Foundation of Science in Sweden. 	
Links to other national and international collaborating institutes (name, nature) and the society at large (government, NGOs, etc.) 	National collaborating institutes and Institutions: Center of Hydrology and Water Quality (CENHICA); Institute of Soils (IS); Institute of Irrigation and Drainage Research; Cuban Society of Physics; Cuban Society of Soil Sciences; Cuban Agency of Environment; Wageningen University, the Netherlands; Ghent University, Belgium; Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), France; University of Lund, Sweden; Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Spain; University of Florida, USA; University of West Indies, Jamaica; University of Cuenca, Ecuador; Universidad Autónoma de México (UNAM); International Center of Theoretical Physics (ICTP), Trieste Italy; Inter-American Institute for Global Changes Research (IAI)	
Indications on long term development plan of the unit.	Being a major partner in agrophysical research and education related mainly to transport of water in the soil and soil-plant-water relationships, GIAF is a nationally well recognized research unit. The development plan is to convert itself in CIAF (Center of Research in Agrophysics), independent of the Faculty of Mechanization. In order to do so, expertise on soil erosion and soil and water conservation, including use of modern technology and mathematical models, is a necessity. This needs to be done via an integrated approach establishing close relationships at a national level with institutions like the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources, the Center of Hydrology and Water Quality and the University of Pinar del Río. Together with UNAH, the latter is the only Agricultural University in the western part of Cuba. In addition, the results of this project will contribute to establish closer relationships with the National Program of Soil Care, the National Council of Watershed Management, the Agency of Environment, the Institute of Soils and the Ministry of Science and Technology. Finally, it is a main objective of GIAF to maintain the fruitful and close relationships with the Department of Soil Management and Soil Care, Ghent University, that have played an important role in GIAF’s scientific and technical development. 	
Ongoing academic activities (teaching, research etc.) relevant to the project	The GIAF members are responsible for a list of graduate and post-graduate courses, including a Masters Course in Agrophysics organized by GIAF: Master in Sciences Course on Agrophysics; Diploma Course on Agricultural Geoinformatics; Diploma Course on Agricultural Agrohydrology; other ongoing academic activities: Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) project on effects of El Niño; Science and Technology National Agency (Cuba) project on integrated sustainable technologies for sugar-cane production in Vertisols; National Institute of Water Resources project on determining hydrological variables in the Havana province; International Foundation of Science in Sweden grant to create pedotransfer functions for determining soil hydraulic properties in Ferralsols.	
Most important challenges/limitations the unit is facing	In order to become a Center of Research in Agrophysics, the proposed project needs to be approved. If not, it will be impossible for the unit to develop expertise at a high academic level. 	

Local promoter (Name, position and relevant qualification and publications – max. 5):
Prof. Dr. Maria Elena Ruiz, Head of GIAF, has been the leading promoter of two international project funded by the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research with Ecuador and Jamaica and another one devoted to organizing the VI Latin American School of Soil Physics in Cuba. Additionally she is promoter of several research projects ascribed into the National Cuban Research Programs. She has gained substantial expertise in modeling of the soil-water-plant-atmosphere continuum and characterizing the spatial and temporal variability of soil properties and watershed water level. Her five most relevant publications are:
•	Utset, A, M.E. Ruiz, J. Herrera, D.P. de Leon. 1998. A geostatistical method for soil salinity sample site spacing. Geoderma 86, 143-151. ISI Web of Science.
•	Ruiz, M.E., A. Utset. 1999. Uso del modelo SWACROP para determinar las necesidades hídricas de la papa.III. Absoción de agua por las raíces. Ciencias Tec. Agrop. 8, 67-70.
•	Utset, A, M.E. Ruiz, J. Garcia, and R.A. Feddes. 2000. A SWACROP-based potato root water-uptake function as determined under tropical conditions. Potato Research 44: 19-29. ISI Web of Science.
•	Ruiz, M.E., A. Utset, J. Ruiz, A. del Valle, H. Medina, M. Ferrer,  E. Garea, E. Fleitas. 2001. Sistema para estimar la afectación en los rendimientos de la caña de azúcar por clima y suelos. Proceedings del XV Congreso Latinoamericano de la Ciencia del Suelo.
•	Medina, H., M. Tarawally,  A. del Valle and M.E. Ruiz. 2002. Estimating soil water retention curve in rhodic ferralsols from basic soil data. Geoderma 108(3-4): 277-285. ISI Web of Science.

1.2.2. Flemish institute (unit with which will be directly collaborated)

Table 2: Summary presentation Flemish unit (add tables in case of several Flemish units involved)

Year of establishment, and major milestones in terms of its further development.	Ghent University was founded in 1817. It has 11 faculties, several spin off research centres and about 25,000 students. The unit is integrated in the Faculty of Bioscience Engineering (formerly Faculty of Agricultural and Applied Biological Sciences) and was founded by Em. Prof. Dr. ir. Marcel De Boodt in 1969. In 1988, the International Centre for Eremology was founded which a.o. organized a VLIR-funded M.Sc. course in Eremology (now joined with the M.Sc. in Soil Science organized by the International Training Centre, ITC, UGent, to the M.Sc. in Physical Land Resources). 	
Status within the university	The Faculty of Bioscience Engineering consists of 14 departments. The unit belongs to the Department of Soil Management and Soil Care, and is having headship over the International Centre for Eremology.	
Academic Personnel (2004, number, status, level of education)	Academic staff at Dept.: 5 full professor (Ph.D. in Agricultural Sciences/Applied Biological Sciences), 2 doctor-assistants (Ph.D. in Applied Biological Sciences), 5 assistants, 25 researchers/Ph.D. students 
Administrative and technical staff: 13	
Overall budget (2004 or most recent year). Institutional budget and donor funding	About 2 million € from university, national and international organisms and industrial funding. 	
Links to relevant other national and international collaborating institutes (name, nature, max. 10). 	The most relevant links are those with: Universidad Central de Venezuela, Instituto de Edafología, Venezuela; Centro para el Agua para Zones Aridas y semi-aridas en America Latina y el Caribe, La Serena (CAZALAC), Chile; Purdue University,  USDA-ARS-National Soil Erosion Research Laboratory, USA; KULeuven, Laboratory of Experimental Geomorphology, Belgium; Abdus Salam International Center for Theoretical Physics, Trieste, Italy; Wageningen University, Erosion and Soil & Water Conservation Group, the Netherlands; Flemish Institute for Technology Research, Integral Environmental Studies (VITO), Belgium; Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Soils and Fertilizer Institute, China; Institute of Agrophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Lublin, Poland; Institut des Regions Arides, Médenine, Tunisia	
Elaboration on how this proposal fits into the long term development plan of the unit.	The unit has a long tradition in coordinating and participating in educational and research projects related to development cooperation, and aims at sustaining this position. It is also co-organizer of the VLIR-funded ICP Physical Land Resources, and as such, the additional knowledge and experience gained by the staff members, will flow back to the program. Development cooperation is one of the priorities of the unit and the approval of projects is indispensable to guarantee continuity in development-related training and research given and conducted by a new generation of assistants. The unit further aims at maintaining the fruitful collaboration with UNAH.	
Ongoing academic activities (teaching, research etc.) relevant to the project	Staff members of the unit are currently teaching in many programs related to soil physics, soil hydrology, and soil erosion in Europe and developing countries (and to students living in developing countries). The main teaching and research activities are related to following programs and projects: DGOS-funded program on “Integrated Water Management”; Escuela Latino-Americano de Fisica de Suelos (since 1986) – co-director; College on Soil Physics, Institute of Abdus Salam International Center for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), Trieste, Italy – co-director; Programa para el Manejo y Conservacion del Agua y del Suelo, Cuenca, Ecuador; VLIR-funded M.Sc. in Physical Land Resources - co-director; VLIR-funded M.Sc. in Environmental Sanitation; VLIR-IUS project Mekelle University, Ethiopia, on farm mechanisation; VLIR-IUS project Can Tho University, Vietnam, on soil physics and land evaluation; VLIR-OI project Alemaya University, Ethiopia, on soil physics and soil and water conservation; VLIR-OI project Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China, on soil and water conservation and on controlling nutrient loss from erosion; VLIR-OI project Anton de Kom University, Paramaribo, Suriname, on soil physics and land evaluation; Ministry of Foreign Policy project with CAZALAC, Chile, on water management; EU – Bulgaria project on economical impact of soil degradation; Aminal Land: several projects on development of erosion-control plan for different communities in Flanders, Belgium; Aminal Water: project on sediment transport of the watershed of the Demer; Aminal Water: project on determining RUSLE C factor for Flanders; IWT project on minimal an conservation tillage in Flanders; Apart from above projects, several Ph.D. studies on soil hydrology, soil degradation and sediment transport (students from Ecuador, Syria, Mexico, Morocco, Tunisia, Iran) 	

Flemish promoter 

•	Position, qualification, most relevant experience and publications (max. 5)
Prof. Dr. ir. Donald Gabriels, Department of Soil Management and Soil Care, and International Centre for Eremology, is professor at the Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, UGent. He is further guest professor at the Hogeschool voor Wetenschap en Kunst, St.-Lucas, at the Institute of Abdus Salam International Center for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), Trieste, Italy and at the Programa para el Manejo y Conservacion del Agua y del Suelo, Cuenca, Ecuador. He is teaching courses on “Soil Erosion and Conservation”, “Soil Technology” and “Soil degradation”. He is the scientific contact person between UNESCO (Flemish Trust Fund) and Centro para el Agua para Zones Aridas y semi-aridas en America Latina y el Caribe, La Serena (CAZALAC), Chile. He has a great expertise and experience in soil physics, soil erosion, and soil and water conservation, and was involved in many related scientific missions and projects in all five continents. His five most relevant recent peer-reviewed publications are:
•	Gabriels D, Ghekiere G, Schiettecatte W, et al.. Assessment of USLE cover-management C-factors for 40 crop rotation systems on arable farms in the Kemmelbeek watershed, Belgium. Soil Tillage Res. 74: 47-53, 2003
•	Erpul G, Norton LD, Gabriels D. Sediment transport from interrill areas under wind-driven rain. J. Hydrol. 276: 184-197, 2003
•	Mannaerts CM, Gabriels D. Rainfall erosivity in Cape Verde. Soil Tillage Res. 55: 207-212, 2000
•	Mannaerts CM, Gabriels D. A probabilistic approach for predicting rainfall soil erosion losses in semiarid areas. Catena 40: 403-420, 2000
•	Biesemans J, Van Meirvenne M, Gabriels D. Extending the RUSLE with the Monte Carlo error propagation technique to predict long term average off-site sediment accumulation. J. Soil Water Cons. 55: 35-42, 2000

•	List of other VLIR funded activities that you have been (are) involved in
•	“Strengthening of the soil and water conservation research at the Soil and Fertilizer Institute (CAAS, China)”, 1998-2003: short scientific missions in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003.
•	“Improving the capacity of the Soil and Fertilizer Institute (CAAS, China) for controlling nutrient losses by erosion and optimizing nutrient use efficiency in the loess belt of Northern China, 2003-2005: short scientific mission in 2004.
•	Professor and member of steering committee of ICP M.Sc. in “Physical Land Resources”.

•	Please elaborate regarding your motivation and interest (personal, academic, institutional etc.) in this project
As scientific contact person between the Flemish Government and the UNESCO (Flemish Trust Fund) project CAZALAC (Centro para el Agua para Zonas Arides y semi-aridas en Americana Latina y el Caribe) in Chile, the Flemish promoter is involved in the establishment of the map delineating different arid and semiarid zones, in the assessment of rain erosivity and in the assessment of sediment transport in large watersheds, all in the different countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. The experience previously gained in similar studies on assessment of erosion risks and on soil and water conservation scenarios in watersheds and in regions and countries worldwide will be used. The Rio Cuyaguateje watershed, with an interesting pluviometric and hydrometric data base is an excellent choice to apply the knowledge and the experience in Cuba, a Caribbean country. The intermediate results of the project will be transferred and extrapolated to other countries in Latin America. This will be facilitated by the fact that the promoter is co-directing ELAFIS (Escuela LatinoAmericana de Fisica de Suelos) organized on a regular basis in different countries in Latin America.

1.3. Description of the present situation 

General

•	presentation of the sector, its importance (reference to indicators and data) and problems
In Cuba 4.9 million ha of land is affected by erosion due to natural or anthropogenic processes, particularly in the Pinar del Rio province where 48.6% of the agricultural land (279,084 ha) is affected. Although there exists in Cuba some awareness of the problem of soil erosion and soil degradation in general, and a governmental policy is established about the environment conservation and protection, very little attention has been given to an academic approach of the problem. However, given the disasters as mudflows and flooding, more and more people are becoming aware of the importance of soil and water conservation. Today, it was Haiti that was experiencing mudflows, tomorrow, it can be Cuba.
The little work that has been done up to now to prevent soil erosion and degradation is very traditional and executed by individual researchers. No integrated approach has been applied and mathematical soil erosion and sediment transport models have not been used. This illustrates the deficiency in scientific knowledge and skills at universities and other entities on modern technologies for soil erosion and soil and water conservation research. The results obtained in this project will have great importance as new technologies, practices and knowledge will be introduced to Cuba, first to be applied in the study area, later to be used in other watersheds in the country.

•	brief description of the (government) policy in that sector
There is a well-defined government policy related to soil erosion and soil conservation through the Law of Environment 181. In its chapter V related with soils it is demanded “to take all the procedures necessaries to avoid and amend soil erosion”, and in article 106, “to make all the practices for soil conservation and rehabilitation according the soil types”. On the other hand, decree 179, article 2 requests “to establish the control under the protection, use, conservation, amend and rehabilitation of soils”. In relation with waters there is the decree 199 devoted to take care about the efficient use of water and its quality control. The former policy ensures the attention that will be given to the results of the present project and its importance in executing these laws by the different organizations in charge. 

•	list of major initiatives taken in the same domain by other organisations (local, regional etc.)
In Cuba, the Agency of Environment (AMA) belonging to the Ministry of Science and Technology, was created to take care of the control of the natural resources. This agency has dependencies in each province that takes care of natural resources at the province level. There is a strategy according to the Agenda 21 for the Province of Pinar del Rio. There is also a “Program for soil care and protection” at a national level and the National Council for Watershed Management that also has subcommissions at the province level. The National Council brings together all the institutions and organizations that have some relation with soils and watersheds. In addition, there are institutions like the Center of Hydrology and Water Quality, the Institute of Soils, and the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources, that conduct research in particular subjects.

Specific

•	description of the problem(s) this project will address (academic and developmental) – please refer to problem tree 
Soil erosion is a central developmental problem in the rio Cuyaguateje watershed, which is mainly caused by anthropogenic actions. In a preliminary survey made in 1999 in the rio Cuyaguateje watershed, the following problems were recognized: soil degradation due to soil erosion, deforestation in the hydro-regulating zone, cropping at the river borders, increase of sediment and contaminants in rivers and a reduction in biodiversity. However, due to lack of expertise and underestimation of the problem causes, there is no strategy to eliminate most of these problems at present. Serious soil erosion results in a reduction of the water quality of the rio Cuyaguateje, which is used for drinking and irrigation water, due to the abundance of sediments and coated contaminants. It further results in serious flooding hazards and silting up of water reservoirs. The rio Cuyaguateje is the main river in the province and its watershed is considered one of the eight most important ones in the country.
According to the problem-tree analysis established during the PCM workshop in 2004, following main reasons for the increased soil erosion and runoff were distinguished: typical high-intensity rainstorms; the topography favorable for soil erosion; the changes in land use and in particular deforestation in favor of tobacco monocultures; inappropriate land preparation and harvest operations leading to increased soil erosion on particular agricultural fields, especially in the tobacco monoculture; and the capacity to develop an erosion-control program and strategy being not available. This project will contribute in addressing the latter two reasons. The lack of capacity to develop an erosion-control program is a serious academic problem which will be given major attention. Deforestation will not be addressed within this project. However, it can not continue at the current rate and should be seriously reduced in the mid to long run, particularly in the high erosion-risk zones. Topography and climate are out of the control of the project. However, it can be expected that in the near future, the rainfall events will be more extreme as has been already observed in the last years and as is predicted by climatic models that take global climatic changes into consideration. This means that if the other problems are not addressed, soil erosion and its related problems will become much worse than is the case now. 
The lack of capacity can be attributed to the lack of expertise at UNAH, CENHICA and other related institutes. The project will in the short term provide this capacity to both the university and the institute directly. In the long run, however, UNAH will, being a centre of education and research, transfer knowledge and provide expertise to institutes such as CENHICA through its M.Sc. and Diploma courses. This lack of capacity is due to a current lack of knowledge and expertise on the one hand, and on the other hand due to the river Cuyaguateje stations and laboratories being insufficiently equipped to register and evaluate variables like sediment concentration, rainfall amount and intensity. In addition, the stations are not operational since 2000 due to problems with the recording system of the pluviograph, broken parts in the instrument for depth measurements of sediment concentration, and nonfunctioning of the generator needed to provide electricity for illumination which is required for measuring sediment transport at night. Furthermore, transport is lacking due a car being not available and lack of funds for buying gasoline. Only once UNAH and CENHICA have developed capacity to conduct erosion studies and produce erosion-control programs, CENHICA can act as a extension service to increase the awareness of farmers and their representatives, and hence implement proper land-preparation practices, harvest operations and erosion-control measures.

•	other information relevant to the specific project context
The land in the rio Cuyaguateje watershed is mainly under tobacco, beans, maize, pasture and Pinus forests. The tobacco grown in this region is considered as one of the best worldwide and plays a great role in the economy of the region and the country. The problem with tobacco is that it is cultivated under a monoculture. Its growing season lasts from November till April, which coincides with the dry season. During the rainy season, which is characterized by extremely intensive rainstorms and hurricanes, the soils are left bare and are hence very sensitive to erosion. 
The water of the rio Cuyaguateje is further used by the water and soft drink factory Ciego Montero located in the watershed, which is responsible for 95% of the water and soft drink production in Cuba. Although agricultural activities are forbidden in the vicinity of the factory, the quality of the water the factory uses remains poor.  

•	stakeholder analysis results (direct and indirect beneficiaries and other stakeholders) – their involvement in the preparation, interest and intended participation during project implementation
In the preparation of the project great interest and collaboration have been observed in all the stakeholders contacted. Several meetings were organized in which many stakeholders have actively participated, including the promoters, the rector and two vice-rectors of UNAH, the Dean of Faculty of Mechanization of UNAH, staff and students of GIAF (UNAH), the Director and technical vice-director of CENHICA, staff and technicians of CENHICA, the Dean of Faculty Agronomy and Forestry of the University of Pinar del Rio, the Technical Vice Delegate for Hydraulic Resources of Provincia Pinar del Río, hydrologists from the Enterprise for Research and Hydraulic Project, a hydrogeologist from the Ciego Montera water and soft drink factory, and farmers with lands close to the stations. All stakeholders contacted can be considered as direct stakeholders that are involved in the execution of the project. The farmers, however, can also be seen as the main indirect beneficiaries, since the project will improve their living conditions. The project will indirectly also benefice all people living in the rio Cuyaguateje watershed, and in the long run the whole Cuban population (through similar programs in other watersheds).  Technicians and farmers were also, apart from the PCM workshops during the formulation mission, contacted during the visits to the stations. Specific practical problems at the stations regarding to the monitoring equipment became apparent and the representatives of the farmers in the subwatershed councils agreed on using their fields for rainfall simulation experiments.
UNAH designated Prof. Maria Elena Ruiz as co-ordinator in charge of the project. UNAH made the agreement to fully cooperate in the project and fulfill all commitments as described in the “Cooperation Agreement”, which was signed by the rector of UNAH. UNAH further will explore the possibilities of buying a car (type pick-up) with trailer and water tank in Cuba and will make an agreement with local petroleum stations to buy fuel at a reduced price for the duration of the project. They will provide offices and other logistic facilities to experts and students during their stay in Havana. Prof. Ruiz will be promoter of several M.Sc. thesis and co-promoter of one Ph.D. thesis. She will be in charge of the overall coordination of the project within Cuba. The GIAF staff members will actively participate in all steps of the project to achieve all intermediate results, together with the permanent expert, and Latin American and Flemish students.
CENHICA designated Dr. Herrera to supervise the activities and training of his staff. He, together with his staff, will also actively take part in achieving all intermediate results. CENHICA will further take care of the technical aspects of the project and will construct and install the necessary equipment together with the permanent expert, as they are responsible for the stations in the watershed. Laboratories and stations of CENHICA can be used within the project. Staff members of CENHICA that are stationed in Pinar del Rio will take care of all practical arrangements within the study area.
The University of Pinar del Rio (UPR) will look for appropriate housing for the permanent expert, who will be stationed in Pinar del Rio. This major town is located in the near vicinity of the rio Cuyaguajete watershed. The university has a guest house with restaurant for visiting students. UPR will assist in the construction of the rainfall simulator and trailer for the water tank. It further offers the use of its laboratories for analysing the sediment samples. Finally, students of UPR will assist in the project in the frame of their M.Sc. thesis under supervision of UPR professors.
The hydraulic enterprise of Pinar del Rio offers to provide assistance in the execution of the project and to make use of their facilities.

•	list of documents available and consulted (max. 15 references)
Catalogo de Cuencas Hidrográficas (Río Cuyaguateje), Instituto Nacional De Recursos Hidráulicos, Dirección De Protección De Cuencas Y Calidad De Las Aguas, 2000

2.  Description of the project (max. 5 pages consistent with Annex 2, 3 and 4)

2.1. Description of the overall objectives to which the project wants to contribute (explains why this project is important – Column B of Annex 3). 

If necessary different types of overall objectives can be taken into account:

•	academic overall objective (related to the capacity building of the university)
UNAH serves as a centre of excellence on soil erosion and soil conservation. CENHICA is a management actor in working out erosion-control and soil and water conservation programs in Cuba.

•	developmental overall objective (benefits for the society – if applicable)
Soil erosion and associated agricultural and environmental problems are reduced in the Rio Cuyaguateje watershed, Cuba

2.2. Description of the specific objectives (explains what will be achieved)

•	a description of the specific objective(s) that will contribute to the overall objectives (max. 1 academic objective – only add a developmental  specific objective when this meets the reality  and extension is part of the project) 
UNAH and CENHICA have the capacity and expertise to produce erosion-risk maps, propose scenarios and work out erosion-control programs.

•	a detailed justification why this (these) specific objective(s) was (were) selected with reference to the description of the present situation, the analysis of alternatives and a description of the selection criteria
The central problem is soil erosion and runoff from fields, which is associated with the specific climatic and topographic conditions in the study area, the land changes, and more particularly the clearing of the natural forest in favor of tobacco monocultures, the inappropriate agricultural practices and the lack of capacity to counteract the problems by developing soil and water conservation programs (see problem-tree analysis). The climatic and topographic conditions are out of the control of the project. This is also true for the land use changes, which is regulated at a higher political level. Given the expertise of the Flemish promoter and the possibilities of the Cuban partner, developing the capacity of UNAH and CENHICA in view of a soil and water conservation program is highly feasible and realistic. It is further of uttermost importance that such capacity exists within a region that is subjected to serious soil degradation problems. Without the appropriate expertise and equipment developed within the region affected, a sustainable soil and water conservation program can never be successful. 
Only once such program has been developed, measures can be taken to implement scenarios as worked out in the program, and control erosion and runoff on agricultural fields. It is therefore very important that a completed soil and water conservation program has been developed within the duration of the project, as part of the capacity building process at UNAH and CENHICA, and to make a start of its practical execution on field plots. 

•	a description and motivation of the indicators and targets proposed at the level of the specific objective(s)  
Soil degradation problems in Cuba are not restricted to the rio Cuayaguateje watershed only. It is expected that political decision makers are inclined to translate the soil and water conservation laws and decrees into actions by establishing and implementing erosion-control programs. Provided that governmental and non-governmental organizations do have the expenses to assign research, it is to be expected that UNAH and/or CENHICA will be selected. 

2.3. Description of the intermediate results (IR)(max. 9) (explains what services will be produced), and main activities (explains what will be done – Column B of Annex 3))

•	a description of the intermediate results necessary to reach the specific objective(s)
•	the relation between the proposed results and the problem analysis 
•	detailed description of the major activities that have to be executed in order to obtain the results
•	in case of integrated projects (with research, capacity building and extension) the IRs can be grouped accordingly. Such a grouping will among others allow for a better assessment of the proposed research methodology and process. Please note that integrated projects are not obligatory, therefore depending on the nature of your project (see H on  page 1) you may need to delete any of the subtitles (1), (2) or (3)

(1) Intermediate results related to RESEARCH (if not applicable please delete):

Intermediate results 1: Historical and regional analysis of erosion and related problems has been carried out in the rio Cuyaguateje watershed
This intermediate result directly aims at a full understanding of the problems related to soil degradation in the study area. It indirectly aims at capacity building of UNAH and CENHICA, and extension to farmers by creating awareness of the erosion issue based on historical and regional data.

Activity 1.1. Collection and analysis of background data related to the historical erosion
Documents and reports related to
•	meteorological data (temperature, rainfall, evapotranspiration, …), 
•	land use,
•	river discharge and sediment concentration in rivers,
are collected from agricultural stations, research institutes, ministry of agriculture, meteorological stations, hydrological and water quality stations, universities.
Aerial photographs are collected over the past 20 years to study changes in land use.
A questionnaire amongst the farmers and their subwatershed representatives, at research institutes and universities, and at the ministry of agriculture will be carried out to collect local knowledge indicating specific erosion problems. 
Runoff and sediment concentration in rivers will be correlated with changes in land use, taking climatic data into consideration.

Activity 1.2. Collection and analysis of regional data related to actual erosion
Maps and databases related to
•	topography,
•	soil characteristics (texture, permeability, soil depth, …),
•	actual land use,
•	agricultural practices,
are collected from agricultural stations, research institutes, ministry of agriculture, meteorological stations, hydrological and water quality stations, universities.
As part of the regional analysis, new equipment (see 6.1.) needs to be installed to allow further monitoring of the sediment concentration in three stations within the rio Cuyaguateje watershed, being V Aniversario, La Guira and Portales II. This monitoring needs to continue after the project has ended and will contribute to its sustainability. The equipment that has been used previously is not operational anymore or needs to be updated to allow easier and more accurate measurements. This will also be part of the capacity building in order to extend further erosion research (e.g. in other watersheds or subwatersheds).

Intermediate results 2: Erosion factors are fully described for the rio Cuyaguateje watershed
This intermediate result directly aims at obtaining the data required to elaborate an erosion-risk map. It indirectly aims at capacity building of UNAH and CENHICA.

Activity 2.1. Assessment of rainfall erosivity
Based on the rainfall data collected from 27 stations, the rainfall erosivity and its spatial and temporal distribution will be computed for the whole watershed. This involves:
•	Homogeneity tests of rainfall,
•	Frequency analysis of rainfall,
•	Determination of Modified Fournier Index and other rainfall related indices,
•	Calculation of EI30 as rainfall erosivity parameter, using available data and applicable equations ,
•	Mapping erosivity using adequate interpolation techniques (e.g. Thiessen polygons, kriging, …).

Activity 2.2. Assessment of soil erodibility
Based on the soil maps and quantitative soil data, a soil erodibility map will be computed for the whole watershed. This involves:
•	Calculation of the erodibility using an applicable model (e.g. (R)USLE, Morgan Morgan & Finney, …), if possible adapted to the local conditions.
•	If necessary, an additional soil survey and sampling campaign will be conducted to fill up data gaps.
•	Mapping of the erodibility using adequate interpolation techniques (e.g. Thiessen polygons, kriging, …).

Activity 2.3. Assessment of topography factor
Based on the topography maps, the following will be determined:
•	flow paths of runoff,
•	slope length and slope steepness.
These maps will be needed as model input in order to assess the erosion risk in the watershed.

Activity 2.4. Assessment of land use factor
Based on remote sensing data and available land use maps, the different land use types will be mapped. For every land use type an assessment will be made of its impact on erosion, using e.g. the C factor of the RUSLE model. Site specific crop data about development (growth, cover, …) and tillage are collected from agricultural stations, research institutes and universities.

Intermediate results 3: A soil erosion risk map is made for the entire rio Cuyaguateje watershed and key zones are identified within the pilot subwatershed of V Aniversario
This intermediate result will form the basis for the elaboration of the erosion-control program. It further directly aims at increasing the awareness of the soil degradation problem by the stakeholders. It allows selection of field plots that can provide the data required for extension purposes of CENHICA. It indirectly aims at capacity building of UNAH and CENHICA.

Activity 3.1. Assessment of erosion risk
Based on the assessment of the different erosion factors (activities 2.1. to 2.4.), an erosion risk map will be made for the entire rio Cuyaguateje watershed using an applicable model (e.g. (R)USLE, Morgan Morgan and Finney, SWAT, …). 

Activity 3.2. Identification of key zones
The soil erosion risk map will be used to indicate actual and potential erosion problem areas. Combined with information from the historical and regional analysis of the erosion problems (intermediate result 1), key zones will be identified. These key zones can be considered as high priority areas in erosion control.

Intermediate results 4: The effect of management practices on infiltration, runoff and sediment transport are assessed in the identified key zones within the pilot subwatershed of V Aniversario
This intermediate result provides demonstration plots required for extension purposes by CENHICA to the farmers and their representatives in the subwatershed councils. Furthermore the research results are needed to calibrate models and assess the impact of erosion control measures. It also indirectly aims at capacity building of UNAH and CENHICA. 

Activity 4.1. Selection of rainfall simulation plots (temporal field plots)
In the pilot subwatershed of V Aniversario, field plots will be selected which are situated in the identified key zones and which are representative for the area regarding texture, slope and management (i.e. crop and tillage). 
In addition to the field plots under “conventional” management (i.e. without erosion control measures), plots will be selected to examine the effect of different control measures (minimum tillage, crop residues, vegetative buffer strips, …). 

Activity 4.2. Physical characterization of the rainfall simulation plots
On the field plots, soil samples will be taken to determine texture, bulk density and water-retention curve. Crop cover will be estimated and slope steepness will be measured. The hydraulic conductivity will be determined in the field using a Guelph permeameter (and from rainfall simulations, see Activity 4.3.).

Activity 4.3. Rainfall simulation tests on the field plots
Rainfall simulation experiments will be conducted allowing the study of infiltration, runoff and erosion processes under controlled conditions. During the experiments, rainfall intensity, runoff discharge and velocity, and sediment concentration are measured. These measurements will allow determining hydraulic conductivity and sediment transport functions of the different plots. They will provide the data about the effect of management practices needed in the erosion models.

Intermediate results 5: A soil erosion control program is made
This intermediate result will provide solutions to counteract the soil erosion and related problems by elaborating an erosion-control program and is the start for implementing the erosion-control practices. It indirectly aims at capacity building of UNAH and CENHICA.

Activity 5.1. Incorporation of rainfall experiment results in an “applicable” model
The results of the rainfall experiments will be used to calibrate erosion models (including erosion control measures).

Activity 5.2. Assessment of demands and concerns of farmers within pilot subwatershed
Based on the questionnaire conducted under Activity 1.1., the specific demands and concerns of the farmers living in the pilot subwatershed will be assessed, in order to avoid a top-down approach.

Activity 5.3. Scenario analysis of erosion control practices 
The calibrated model will be used to examine the effect of different erosion control scenarios on the erosion rate within the rio Cuyaguateje watershed. The results of this scenario analysis will form the framework of the erosion control program to be implemented in the watershed, taking into consideration the demands and concerns of the farmers.

Activity 5.4. Upscaling to entire rio Cuyaguateje watershed
The erosion-control program elaborated for the pilot subwatershed V Aniversario will be upscaled to the subwatershed of La Guira, to the subwatershed of Los Portales II and finally to the entire rio Cuyaguateje watershed using all data collected during the previous activities. The data collected under activities 2.1. to 2.4. are refined and actualized based on new data collected.

(2) Intermediate results related to CAPACITY BUILDING (if not applicable please delete):

Intermediate results 6: Staff members of UNAH and CENHICA are well trained in measuring and monitoring soil erosion with field and lab equipment
This intermediate result aims directly at providing CENHICA with appropriate equipment for monitoring weather, river discharges and river sediment concentrations. This will help developing their capacity. It will further provide both UNAH and CENHICA with expertise on how to assess the required model parameters in the field and to assess the effects of different management practices needed to elaborate erosion-control programs. Indirectly, this IR aims at providing CENHICA with necessary data for extension purposes and at developing the erosion-control program as such.

Activity 6.1. Reinstallation of three hydrometric stations
The hydrometric stations of V Aniversario, La Guira and Los Portales II were operational until 2000. Although these stations, which have been running for more than 30 years, were maintained as good as possible, most of the equipment is at present not functioning optimally due to broken parts that can not be replaced and because of lack of financial means for proper maintenance. The reinstallation will at each station include the installation of:
•	a tipping-bucket pluviometer, that allows recording total amount of precipitation and rainfall intensity,
•	a limnigraph to record the water level of the river and discharge,
•	a datalogger for the pluviometer and limnigraph,
•	a generator to provide illumination for night-time sediment sampling in the river.
The equipment to take sediment samples will be repaired with spare parts.
The installation will be carried out by the permanent expert together with staff from CENHICA and UNAH, and will be part of their training.

Activity 6.2. Training on using field equipment
Staff of CENHICA and UNAH will be trained on (Activity 4.2. and 4.3.)
•	taking correct samples for soil-physical analysis, 
•	use of Guelph permeameter,
•	application of the field rainfall simulator, 
•	measuring rainfall intensity, runoff discharge and velocity, and sediment concentration during rainfall simulation experiments. 

Activity 6.3. Training on analyzing and interpreting results from monitoring and field experiments
“Practical exercises” sessions will be given by the permanent expert to CENHICA and UNAH staff. Computations will be carried out and graphs will be produced and interpreted.

Intermediate results 7: Staff members of UNAH and CENHICA have state-of-the-art knowledge on modeling soil erosion and producing soil-erosion control scenarios
This intermediate result aims directly at providing UNAH and CENHICA with expertise on soil erosion and soil conservation and how to counteract it in practice. 

Activity 7.1. Long-term training on soil erosion risk and control planning in Cuba
The permanent expert will give training sessions to UNAH and CENHICA staff in Cuba. 

Activity 7.2. Short-term training on soil erosion risk and control planning in Cuba
Short-term training to UNAH and CENHICA staff will be given by Flemish experts during short visits after the permanent expert has left Cuba. 

Activity 7.3. Short-term training on soil erosion risk and control planning in Belgium
Two training sessions of 1 month each at UGent in year 3 and 4 (after permanent expert left Cuba).

Activity 7.4. Long-term training on soil erosion risk and control planning in Belgium
One training session of 3 months at UGent in second half of year 2 (after permanent expert left Cuba).

Activity 7.5. Execution of IR1 to IR5
The execution of IR1 to IR5 by staff of UNAH and CENHICA, and students, assisted by the permanent expert and by visiting experts and under supervision of the promoters, is an important aspect of the training of local staff.

 Activity 7.6. Presentation of results in national and international peer-reviewed journals and workshops and/or symposia.
The permanent expert, the local staff and the promoters will be involved in the presentation of the research results in journals and on workshops.

(3) Intermediate results related to EXTENSION (if not applicable please delete):

Intermediate results 8: Research results are successfully disseminated to representatives of local farmers
This intermediate result aims at implementing the erosion-control practices proposed in the erosion-control program on the field by the farmers, i.e. at adopting appropriate land preparation, harvest operations and cultural practices. It will indirectly enhance the role of CENHICA as a management actor and extension service. Involvement and participation of farmers and their representatives is crucial in order to avoid a top-down approach and to guarantee the success of the project.

Activity 8.1. Organisation of regional meetings
Regional meetings with all involved stakeholders will be yearly organized. At first, the meetings will be organized in the pilot subwatershed only. Later, they will take place at different locations within the entire rio Cuyaguateje watershed. Problems will be discussed and results will be shown. 

Activity 8.2. Field demonstrations with rainfall simulator
Farmers and their representatives in the subwatershed council will be invited to attend field demonstrations showing (1) the positive effects of erosion-control towards runoff and soil loss, and (2) how to implement them on their fields. 

Activity 8.3. Guidelines for farmers are written
Guidelines containing (1) general information on types of erosion, causes and effects, and (2) practical information on cultivation and erosion control practices, its effect on soil erosion and its control, advantages and disadvantages of the practices, etc., will be prepared.

3. Description of the analysis of the factors influencing the feasibility and the sustainability of the project results (max. 3 pages)

3.1. Description of the assumptions (external factors that may influence the project - Column G of Annex 3)

•	for each of the assumptions: detailed information on the probability of the assumption and its potential influence on the project (now and in the future)
•	indication on how each assumption will be monitored
•	information on the present situation with regard to the preconditions

Specific Objectives: Assumptions

Assumption 1: The policy makers are inclined to translate the recommendations formulated in the erosion-control program to policy actions.
Given the laws and decrees on soil and water conservation in Cuba and the great interest shown by the representatives of the subwatershed councils in the project (which was apparent during the formulation mission), this assumption is likely to be realized. 

Intermediate Results: Assumptions

Assumption 1: All documents and records produced by local authorities are accessible to project researchers. CENHICA staff maintains monitoring equipment and takes precautions to avoid vandalism.
Given the fact that many institutes that are sources for the documents were involved in the PCM workshops and showed a high interest in the project, and that CENHICA has technicians with a very long experience on monitoring hydrological parameters, it is likely that both assumptions will be realized. Furthermore, the project budget foresees in a substantial amount for maintenance costs of the equipment, which was in the past often lacking and hence resulted in malfunctioning of many instruments.

Assumption 2: All documentation required is accessible and sufficiently accurate.
It is important that specific documentation to assess the erosion factors is available. The data should be accurate and gaps in the time series/data should be as limited as possible. Given the fact that there are 27 weather stations within the 723 km2 large study areas, the effect of possible gaps in the rainfall data will be limited. The soil map and topographic map with a 1:25.000 scale that are available for the watershed should be sufficient. It is therefore likely that rainfall erosivity, soil erodibility and slope effect can be computed. It is further likely that land use and management factors can be deduced from the aerial photographs.

Assumption 3: All data required to assess model variables was obtained.
Given the dense network of weather stations, and the scale of the maps and aerial photographs, it is likely that all data required to assess the model variables can be obtained with a sufficient spatial resolution and that an actual and potential erosion-risk map can be produced.

Assumption 4: Farmers willing to adopt control practices on selected fields are found through the subwatershed council.
The farmers are represented in the council of the subwatershed by representatives, who showed interest in the project and agreed to participate. The control practices will be implied within a relative small area, being the pilot subwatershed of V Aniversario. It is therefore likely that this assumption will be realized. 

Assumption 5: Farmers are participating in developing the erosion-control program and assure its feasibility.
As the representatives of the farmers in the subwatershed council were interested in the project and agreed to participate, and in a first step, only a small area, being the pilot subwatershed of V Aniversario, will be considered, this assumption is likely to be realised.

Assumption 6: Practical training of staff remains a priority at UNAH and CENHICA.
The motivation in both institutes to participate in the project is very high, and they both realize that practical training of staff is essential. As UNAH will in the future organize courses on soil erosion and soil conservation including practical exercises, trained staff is also crucial from that viewpoint. Given the fact that UNAH currently extended their courses on soil physics and geoinformatics with practical exercises in which equipment and software achieved in the frame of a previous VLIR-OI project is used, increases the likelihood that this assumption will be realized.

Assumption 7: All involved UNAH and CENHICA staff is highly qualified and motivated to gain new knowledge.
Cuba is well-known for its high level of academic education. Furthermore, the experiences with most of the staff involved in the project are very positive and the scientific output of both UNAH and CENHICA is very high given the very difficult conditions under which they have to work.

Assumption 8: Subwatershed council representatives of farmers are attending meetings and demonstrations.
Since the subwatershed council representatives of the farmers were already involved in the PCM workshop in which they showed interest in the project and agreed to cooperate, realizing this assumption is likely.

Pre-conditions: 
The field and lab equipment that is currently present at UNAH and that is not foreseen in the investment costs of this project is at present available and in good condition. It is agreed that this equipment will be made available for the project when needed. 

3.2. Elaboration on specific factors pertaining to project sustainability (if not already covered in 3.1.)

•	socio-political factors (e.g. government policy related to universities, needed collaboration of stakeholders etc.)
Being a state university and the main agricultural university of Cuba, UNAH is given high priority by the Cuban government in remaining a major actor on agricultural and nowadays environmental problems. Within UNAH, the rector shows a very high interest in the project proposal resulting in the agreement between UNAH and UGent. 
In order to guarantee the sustainability of the project, participation of locals is indispensable at all stages. With respect to land ownership, three levels can be distinguished: private farms, cooperatives and state farms. They are all represented by their representatives in the watershed council. These representatives participated in the PCM workshop (6-12/9/2004) held before the start of the project. Apart from their involvement as mentioned under 3.1., they will be consulted in choosing the temporal field and demonstration plots, and in implementing the recommended erosion-control measures. Particular interest will be given to young people. Care will be taken that the suggested erosion-control measures do result in keeping optimal yields.

•	organisational and institutional capacities/environment offered by the partner institution (perspectives of staff, management and maintenance of infrastructure, vision and direction, linkages)
In the frame of the VLIR-OI project “Improving soil salinity management under sugar cane using Geoinformatica” in Cuba (1999-2003) under promotership of the Dept. Soil Management and Soil Care, UGent and the project “Strengthening education in the field of land management planning using Geoinformatica” (1998, sponsored by the Department of Education, Ministry of the Flemish Community), UNAH, and GIAF in particular, has shown to have a great potential for qualified research. Most staff members at GIAF have a degree in both Nuclear Physics and Agricultural or Soil Science, resulting in a very high academic level. The major staff members further enjoyed international training (in Belgium and Italy).
The major staff members involved are faculty to UNAH and as such, they can develop an academic career at UNAH. There exists a very good working atmosphere and strong collaboration among academic, technical and administrative staff and between departments. The GIAF researchers have a real problem-solving mentality and they are ambitious in upgrading their academic level. This resulted in 9 peer-reviewed (ISI Web of Science) publications (including submitted ones) by members of the team since 1996.
As GIAF is aware of the necessity of high quality data for proper modeling, the equipment that was achieved in the aforementioned VLIR-OI project, including soil-physical lab and field equipment and computer hardware, is well maintained. The fact that GIAF was assigned as an agrophysical centre of excellence within Cuba and got national projects including one on the construction of a Cuban soil database and on developing pedotransfer functions for hydraulic properties, shows that the equipment that was obtained during a previous VLIR-OI-funded project and hence the VLIR investments that were made, were effectively used outside and after the end project.  
GIAF is in charge of the Agrophysics section at the Cuban Society of Physics. It is a non-governmental organization aimed to contribute in developing Cuban physicists and in the application of physics in Cuban economy and social life, as well as to promote contacts between Cuban and foreign physicists. The Agrophysics section of the Cuban Society of Physics is formed by more than 40 physicist and related scientist who work on the application of physics to agriculture in twelve different Cuban research centers, universities or technological units. There are further very strong links with the Irrigation and Drainage Research Institute (IIRD), the Sugar Cane Research Institute (INICA), the Institute of Soils, the Center of Hydrology and Water Quality (CENHICA) and other Cuban institutions.

•	description of the measures taken to guarantee ownership by the partner institute
During the formulation mission, a meeting was organized with a.o. the promoters, the rector of UNAH, the vice rector of UNAH for postgraduate programs and international relationships, the vice rector of UNAH for research and the dean of the Faculty of Mechanization (UNAH) to define the role and responsibilities of UNAH and its co-operation with the partner institute CENHICA and other stakeholders in the project. The ‘cooperation agreement’ form and text was used as basis for the discussions, comments and recommendations. Following decisions were made that should guarantee ownership by the partner institute:
•	UNAH designated Prof. M.E. Ruiz as Cuban coordinator in charge of the project. 
•	UNAH assures that all project equipment imported to the project will be exempted from custom duties. 
•	An agreement will be made between UNAH and local petroleum stations to buy fuel at a reduced price for the duration of the project.
•	UNAH will provide offices and other logistic facilities to experts and students during their stay in Havana.
•	Dr. Ramon Gil González, rector of UNAH, signed the ‘cooperation agreement’ 

•	financial, economic, technological, cultural, environmental and gender considerations 
Given the fact that the annual budget from national funding is very low, GIAF relies on international grants to continue their high quality education and research. Increasing the capacity of UNAH on soil erosion and soil conservation will increase their competence in achieving international projects on soil erosion after the project has ended (or during the project). Once basic equipment and transfer of knowledge, which are the main costs foreseen in the proposal, have been achieved, erosion-risk mapping and working out erosion-control programs can be executed in the future at a relatively low cost. As a result, the project provides sustainability in financial terms.
Working out erosion-control programs and their implementation in the field will in the future be beneficial at many levels of the society. The quality of drinking water will be improved, reducing health problems and associated costs to society, and reducing maintenance costs for water sanitation (by e.g. water and soft drink industry, breweries, etc.). Also irrigation water quality will increase, resulting in reduced maintenance costs for irrigation systems, and increased yields.  Inundations, which cost society a tremendous amount (destruction of infrastructure, loss of crops, spread of diseases, killing of people, ...), will be reduced. Finally, the silting up of water reservoirs used for electricity production will be reduced. At a lower level, implementing erosion-control measures will not lead to reduced yields on individual fields. On the contrary, many erosion-control practices have shown to increase crop production in many parts of the world. Since in particular the rio Cuyaguateje watershed is famous for its very high-qualified tobacco and hence makes the region economically very important, specific care will be taken to avoid conflicts with tobacco production. As such, reducing soil erosion by implementing erosion-control measures on a nation-wide scale, which is expected in the future, will be beneficial from an economic point of view and the project can hence be considered as economically sustainable.
The equipment that is foreseen in this proposal does not contain sophisticated electronics and can be easily maintained and repaired (if necessary) by locals. The partner institutes hence do not need to rely on the Flemish promoter in obtaining data from monitoring and field experiments after the permanent Flemish expert has left (i.e. after the first 18 months of the project). The erosion-control practices that will be suggested will be easily executable by locals with the agricultural tools currently used in Cuba. An important aspect for the technical sustainability of the project, is the purchase of a four-wheel track car. Since mobility is one of the major problems in Cuba and at UNAH in particular, it is indispensable that GIAF has a car at their disposal to conduct field experiments.
From the formulation mission and other previous missions to Cuba, it is clear that problems related to cultural or gender issues are not to be expected. Cubans are very open minded and man and woman have equal rights. The involvement of farmers will be regulated through the councils of the watershed (Consejo de Cuenca) in which farmers are represented. The council members (farmers) in the vicinity of the hydrometric station V Aniversario have already been contacted during the formulation mission and showed interest to participate. 
As the project aims at reducing soil erosion and consequently land degradation and hence reduces the pressure on the environment, the project can be considered sustainable from an environmental viewpoint.

3.3. Succinct overall assessment

•	Overall appreciation of nature of sustainability (capacity retention, continuation of research activities etc.) that is envisaged and considered feasible.
Based on our experience and contacts with the partner institutes, and their competence, we strongly belief that the project is highly sustainable. The fact that one of the faculty staff members will prepare a Ph.D. based on the project and will be responsible to start a new scientific domain within UNAH (at an educational, research and service level), being on soil erosion and soil conservation, opens sustainable perspectives to tackle soil erosion problems in the long run in Cuba.

•	Elaborate on most important challenges with regard to sustainability. 
It is very important, for the sustainability of the project, that the proposed erosion-control program can already be implemented within the duration of the project. If not, there is a chance that the ideas and scenarios provoked within the erosion-control program will remain a dead letter.   

4. The implementation of the project (max. 3 pages)

4.1. The proposed organisational and administrative set up of the project

•	Concrete proposal of an organisational and administrative set-up (North and South)
The project leaders are the Flemish and the Cuban promoter, being Prof. Gabriels and Prof. Ruiz respectively. They have a supervising and advising function, and will evaluate the project implementation using the logical framework and the operational plan. They will conduct a mid-term evaluation to review the progress and propose, if necessary, alterations to the project design. They will further be responsible for the final evaluation of the project. They will further supervise students in preparing their M.Sc. thesis.
The Flemish co-promoter will be involved in the mathematical modeling and de scenario analysis and will assure the elaboration of the final erosion-control program. He will guarantee the scientific output of the project in terms of promotership of bio-engineer thesises, conference contributions and peer-reviewed publications. All publications will be written in co-authorship with all researchers involved in the individual studies. During short visits he will also assist in training of staff. He further has an advisory role, and will assist the promoter in the follow-up and evaluation of the project.
The Flemish permanent experienced expert will be given high responsibilities and can work relatively autonomous. However, he/she should always consult the promoters when taking the different project steps foreseen during his/her stay in Cuba. He/she will be assisted by staff of UNAH (GIAF) and CENHICA, and as such the whole process of achieving the intermediate results will be a major part of their training. Notwithstanding the expertise of the permanent expert, he/she should always consider the opinion of all local stakeholders. The expert is necessary during the installation part of the project, and for application of new techniques, data analysis and training of staff. As such he will launch the project in practice.
UNAH staff has experience in executing several international projects, particularly a VLIR-OI funded project with the Department of Soil Management and Soil Care, UGent. Due to this project, all necessary procedures for importing, buying and administer the resources belonging to the project are well known, and will be done at UNAH.
The administration of the project will be done at UGent by the Flemish promoter, co-promoter and the secretary of the unit, and at UNAH by the Cuban promoter and the GIAF secretary. The final administration will be done at UGent. 

•	Core responsibilities of different parties, lines of reporting and communication, financial management (North and south)
The reports that will be produced in achieving the intermediate results will be a result from collaboration between the different UNAH (GIAF), CENHICA, and UGent staff. The UNAH (GIAF) and CENHICA staff will, together with the permanent expert during the first 18 months of the project, provide the contents of the reports, which will then be written by the permanent expert. It will be send to the three promoters for revision. At a later stage, the reports need to be written by local staff and revised by the promoters. All intermediate reports and the final report will be written in both Spanish and English.
UNAH (GIAF) will have the responsibility to control the project funding in Cuba, making legal contracts and agreements with the rest of the entities participating in the project according the tasks that each entity will execute. Reports to fulfill the tasks within the time foreseen in the schedule of the project will be included as task to be executed in the contracts. Reports will be discussed in scientific councils with specialists and beneficiaries that could evaluate the results in an integrated way. UNAH (GIAF) will have then the responsibility to be the core centre in Cuba for coordinating the work of the different entities included in the project. 
UNAH (GIAF) will have the responsibility of buying goods in Cuba, to make the legal registration of the transport foreseen in the frame of the project, and to check its proper use as property of the project. 
GIAF will be in charge of making the financial reports of the funding located at UNAH under the supervision of the Economical Department at UNAH, as often as required by the funding Agency and to emit the corresponding reports to the Cuban organization (Ministry of Investment and Foreigner Collaboration, MINVEC) that in this kind of projects, makes a systematic control for the proper use of the funds located in Cuba.
UNAH (GIAF) and the University of Pinar del Rio (UPR) will propose and defend at the National Council for Agricultural Engineering the introduction of soil erosion and soil conservation courses in the study programs of under graduate and postgraduate levels. Both institutions also will guarantee that professors and students participate in the project and will support the visits of the Belgian experts and students foreseen in the project. The universities will organize the workshops with the stakeholders to evaluate results, problems, technologies, in order to correct or change whatever necessary for achieving the goals of the project. These universities will establish the necessary contacts with the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment (CITMA) at national and provincial level to obtain that the results of the project will be discussed at the councils of the Environment Agency (belonging to CITMA) for their extension to other watersheds.
CENHICA will be in charge of constructing the rainfall simulator and participate in the soil erosion experiments and modeling. This centre will check all the functioning of the equipment at the hydrometric stations at Cuyaguateje River. CENHICA will be in charge to establish the necessary contacts with the Councils of watersheds at a national and province level in order to discuss, in their meetings, the results of the project for its possible extension to other watersheds. CENHICA will also be in charge to establish the contacts and agreements with the Institute of Soils, who is in charge of the national program of soil care and conservation to introduce in this program the achievements of the project.
The Enterprise of Hydraulic Proficience in Pinar del Rio (EHP-PR) will be in charge of all the measurements at the hydrometric stations at Cuyaguateje and also to keep the proper functioning of the equipment installed at the stations under the supervision of the Delegation of Hydrology at the province (DH-PR) and CENHICA. The installation of the new equipments will be made in a joint work with the participation of EHP-PR, DH-PR, CENHICA and GIAF. 
All the entities participating in the project will make the survey of all the sediment and hydrometric data series, as well as all the information related with the project about the Cuyaguateje Watershed already obtained by other studies.
An email list with all the participants of the project will be established for a rapid communication and consultation. The project cycle management manual will be send by email to the participants before the discussion in special meetings. Intermediate results will be sent on a regular basis to all academic stakeholders. A webpage could also be established for the promotion of the results. 
All financial transactions not mentioned above will be done UGent by the secretary of the unit and the Financial Department of UGent. 

•	Decision making procedures (North and South)
All important decisions need to be communicated with the Cuban and Flemish promoter.

4.2. The proposed personnel involvement (North and South)

•	Capacities and profile of personnel and possible external experts to be involved (long term and task specific)
Prof. Dr. ir. Donald Gabriels, Department of Soil Management and Soil Care, and International Centre for Eremology, is professor at the Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, UGent. He is further guest professor at the Hogeschool voor Wetenschap en Kunst, St.-Lucas, at the Institute of Abdus Salam International Center for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), Trieste, Italy and at the Programa para el Manejo y Conservacion del Agua y del Suelo, Cuenca, Ecuador. He is teaching courses on “Soil Erosion and soil conservation”, “Soil technology” and “Soil degradation” (in Dutch, English and Spanish). He has a great expertise and experience in soil erosion and was involved in related scientific missions and projects in the five continents. He is member of the steering committee of the VLIR-funded International Cooperation Program (ICP) on “Physical Land Resources”. He has a long experience in managing and supervising several national and international projects.
Prof. Dr. Maria Elena Ruiz, Agrophysics Research Unit (GIAF), is professor at the Agricultural University of Havana (UNAH). She is teaching soil physics and soil hydrology related courses at UNAH, and organizes programmes as Master in Sciences Course on Agrophysics, Diploma Course on Agricultural Geoinformatics, Diploma Course on Agricultural Agrohydrology, followed by Cubans as well as many other Latin Americans. She is leading promoter of several national and international projects and as such, has excellent managing skills. Her expertise lies mainly in modeling of processes occuring in the soil-water-plant-atmosphere continuum and characterizing the spatial and temporal variability of soil properties and watershed water level.
Dr. ir. Wim Cornelis, doctor-assistant at the Department of Soil Management and Soil Care, and the International Centre for Eremology, is teaching at the Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, UGent. He is lecturer in “Soil Erosion and Soil Conservation”, “Soil Physics”, “Applied Soil Physics” and “Soil Water and Salinity Management” (in Dutch and English). He has a great expertise and experience in soil physics, soil hydrology and soil erosion and was involved in related scientific missions and projects in many developing countries (in Latin America, Africa and Asia). He has, inter alii, worked on fundamental processes related to soil erosion and on data collection, parameter estimation, calibration and validation of mathematical computer simulation models. He is member of the commission on programs of the VLIR-funded International Cooperation Program (ICP) on “Physical Land Resources”.
ir. Wouter Schiettecatte, assistant at the Department of Soil Management and Soil Care, and the International Centre for Eremology, is responsible for practical exercises on soil erosion, and assisting in practical exercises on soil physics, geoinformatics, soil science. He is working on a Ph.D. on modeling phosphorus losses by surface runoff in the Flemish Ardennes. He is expert in soil erosion and sediment transport modeling, and was and is involved in many projects related to establishing soil-erosion control plans in Flanders. He has conducted short visits in the frame of many projects in developing countries.
ir. Koen Verbist, assistant at the Department of Soil Management and Soil Care, and the International Centre for Eremology, is assisting in practical exercises on soil erosion, soil physics, geoinformatics, soil science. He is working on a Ph.D. on modeling sediment transport to rivers in Flanders. He is expert in soil erosion and sediment transport modeling, and was and is involved in many projects related to establishing soil-erosion control plans in Flanders. He has conducted short visits in the frame of projects in developing countries.  
MSc. Hanoi Medina, GIAF, UNAH, specialist in Soil Physics, Soil water modeling and inverse parameter estimation. He has been granted scholarships for short and long term visits to the Dep. of Soil Management and Soil Care, UGent and ICTP, Trieste, Italy.
Lic. Jorge Diaz Suárez, GIAF, UNAH, specialist in  geostatistic and GIS. He has been granted scholarships for short and long term visits to the Dep. of Soil Management and Soil Care, UGent and ICTP, Trieste, Italy.
Lic. Andrés Lau, specialist in Remote Sensing. He has been a granted scholarship for a long term visits to the Laboratory for forest, nature and landscape research, KULeuven.
Dr. Ponce de León, UNAH, specialist in land evaluation and soil fertility
Tec. Juvenal Luis, GIAF, UNAH, techinican at the soil physics laboratory
Dr. José M. Febles (Cuba), possible external expert in soil erosion in charge to evaluate the results obtained in the project.
Dr. Mario Riberol (Cuba), possible external expert in soil erosion in charge to evaluate the results obtained in the project.
Dr. Julian Herrera Puebla, agricultural engineer, Ph.D. agricultural sciences, Director of partner institute CENHICA.
Ing. Argelio Fernandez Richelme, researcher CENHICA, watershed management.
M.Sc. Joel Pacheco, Dean Faculty of Agronomy and Forest, University of Pinar del Rio.
M.Sc. Isaac Arronte Hernández, Hydrologist, Enterprise for proficiency of hydraulic resources in Pinar del Rio, Head of the Technicians in charge of the hydrometric stations at Cuyaguateje River.
Ing. Daviel Moya Socarrás, Hydrologist, Enterprise for proficiency of hydraulic resources in Pinar del Rio.
M.Sc. Matias Pérez Duarte, Hydraulic engineer, Technical Sub delegate in Pinar del Rio of the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources.
The permanent expert should have experience in measuring soil erosion, in collecting and analyzing data related to soil erosion and sediment transport, in assessing erosion factors, in elaborating erosion-risk maps and erosion-control programs. He should preferably have educational skills.
	
4.3. The proposed budget (Annex 5) 

•	List in detail the physical inputs or means that are required to carry out the activities specified by technical assistance (expertise), equipment (e.g. vehicles, furniture, computer hard/software, etc.) and funding specified by local contribution and donor support requested (input based budget). 
B.	Investment costs: 3 pluviometers, 3 divers, 3 dataloggers, 3 solar panels, 3 generators, 1 rainfall simulator, 1 pump, 1 oven, 1 balance, 1 pickup, 1 trailer, 1 watertank, laboratory glasswork, chemicals, sieves, pipettes, 1 laptop, 1 camera.
C.	Operating costs: maintenance costs, spare parts, books, small computer material, office supplies, fuel, organization of mid-term meeting including meals and transport costs, reprography, travel in Belgium and Cuba.
D.	Personnel costs: Flemish permanent expert for a period of 18 months.
E.	Scholarships: 3 travels to Belgium, 2 short-term scholarships of 1 month, 1 long-term scholarship of 3 months.
F.	International travel expenses: 15 travels to Cuba/Belgium, including expenses for short missions and expenses for the permanent expert.
G.	Board and lodging: per diem, hotel costs, representation.
H.	Shipment costs.

4.4. Highlights workplan (Consistent with Annex 4)

•	Describe the subsequent main implementation phases of the project in terms of content activities
•	Provide highlights of the most important management activities

Project content activities:
1.	Historical and regional analysis of erosion and related problems in the rio Cuyaguateje watershed: year 1; follow up of data collected using the reinstalled monitoring equipment: year 1 to year 5.
2.	Description of erosion factors in the rio Cuyaguateje watershed: year 1; data are updated in year 2 and 3.
3.	Development of erosion-risk map and identification of key zones: year 1; continues in year 2 and 3, using updated data.
4.	Assessment of effect of management practices on infiltration, runoff and sediment transport in pilot subwatersed: year 1 till year 4.
5.	Establishment of erosion-control program: mainly year 2 to year 5; part of it will be conducted in year 1, through a questionnaire with farmers.
6. Training of UNAH and CENHICA staff in measuring and monitoring soil erosion and sediment delivery to rivers: the training starts with the reinstallation of the monitoring equipment and the rainfall simulations in the field in year 1 and 2, and continues with interpretation and analysis of results from year 1 to 4.
7.	Training of UNAH and CENHICA staff in modeling soil erosion and sediment delivery to rivers: this will be achieved as much as possible during the stay of the expert in year 1 and 2. Continuation during short and long term training in Belgium and Cuba (year 1 to 5).
8.	Dissemination of research results: from year 2 to year 5, trough dissemination of preliminary and final results, field demonstrations and written guidelines.

Project management activities:
1.	Time management: the operational working plan will be used to evaluate each six months the progress of all activities leading to the intermediate results: year 1 to 5. The promoters will communicate by email.
2.	Financial reporting: yearly, financial reports will be made by both the Flemish and Cuban promoters: year 1 to 5.
3.	Communication: annual scientific reports will be sent to all involved academic stakeholders yearly by email: year 1 to 5. 
4.	Evaluation: a mid-term workshop will be organized respectively in year 3 to review the progress and propose, if necessary, alterations to the project design; a final workshop will be organized in year 5 to evaluate the project and present the results.

Annexes to the proposal

1. Annexes that need to be added to the full proposal (annex 1) (Mandatory annexes) (by the 15th of October 2004):

Annex 2: Problem analysis tree
Annex 3: Completed Logical framework matrix
Annex 4: Indicative operational plan
Annex 5: Detailed budget 
Annex 6: Check-list permanent expert (if applicable)
Annex 7: Job description of permanent expert (if applicable)
Annex 8: Signed agreement of Co-operation
Annex 9 : Narrative report of the formulation mission and the PCM-workshop (if applicable)
Annex 10 : At least 2 completed assessment forms for referees. Those documents do not form part of the fully-fledged project proposal introduced to VLIR on the 15th of October 2004 via the ICOS of the Flemish university, but are sent immediately by the referees to VLIR by the 3rd of November 2004 at the very latest.

2. Possible additional annexes (Optional annexes):

Organisational structures, lines of responsibilities
Former evaluation findings and recommendations
Maps, pictures, articles etc.