MID-TERM EVALUATION OF THE UNDP-GEF PROJECT STRENGTHENING SEYCHELLES PROTECTED AREA SYSTEM THROUGH NGO MANAGEMENT MODALITIES

The Government of Seychelles (GOS), in partnership with the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is currently implementing a programme of Strengthening Seychelles’ protected area system through NGO management modalities.  Seychelles has a system of 21 formal protected areas covering a total area of 54,813ha, of which 24,978 ha (~5.5% of the total landmass) is terrestrial and 29,836 ha (<0.001% of the Economic Exclusion Zone EEZ) is marine. The marine and terrestrial protected areas (and other conservation areas) are under the administration of a number of different government institutions, parastatals and NGOs, including the Ministry of Environment and Energy (MEE), Seychelles National Park Authority (SNPA), Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA), Seychelles Islands Foundation (SIF), Island Conservation Society (ICS) and Nature Seychelles (NS). With limited resources, and geographical isolation from global centers of excellence, it is imperative that these diverse government and non-government partners in Seychelles work more closely together in partnerships to augment their individual capacities, knowledge and skills in the planning and management of a more representative system of protected areas. This project aims to create an enabling environment for optimizing the synergies between current government conservation efforts, and those of non-government partners (private sector, NGOs and resource users). At a local level, it will support the development of models that demonstrate the cost-effectiveness of involving NGOs in the planning and management of protected areas. The project’s development goal is to ‘Facilitate working partnerships between diverse government and non-government partners in the planning and management of the protected area system in Seychelles’. The project’s objective is to ‘Demonstrate effective models for protected area management by non-governmental organizations in the Seychelles, and enable their inclusion into a strengthened protected area system’. The project has two components – along with their associated outcomes, outputs and activities - which will contribute towards achieving the project objective. These are: Component 1- Strengthened management framework for protected areas in Seychelles; and Component 2- Expanded and strengthened management of protected areas in Seychelles. At the systemic level (i.e. creating the enabling conditions) project outputs include: Define spatial targets and priorities for the expansion of the protected area system Improve the policy, legislative and governance framework for collaborative management between state and non-state partners in the management of this representative system of protected areas Support the establishment of an information management system to improve decision-making in the PA system. At the institutional and individual level (i.e. strengthening capacity) project outputs are to improve NGO capacity in: Assessing the environmental, social and economic feasibility of designating privately owned islands, and adjacent marine habitats, as formal PAs Undertaking cost-benefit analyses of options for administering larger protected areas that may incorporate both marine and terrestrial habitats Consultation, cooperation and collaboration with other state and non-state partners (including SNPA, other NGOs, private sector and natural resource user groups) in PA/conservation area establishment and management processes Evaluating the efficacy of different approaches to marine and terrestrial ecosystem restoration and testing a range of co-management models for protected/conservation areas under different ownership, management and financing arrangements. The project will also invest resources in improving the capacities of the relevant government institutions - SFA, SNPA and the DOE – to: Constructively support the establishment processes for newly designated PAs Implement an oversight role for the entire protected area system Participate in negotiating and implementing co-management agreements with NGOs, resource users and the private sector Maintain consultative forums involving all state and non-state partners.  Objective and scope: Project monitoring and evaluation will be conducted in accordance with the guidance, rules and procedures established by UNDP/GEF. The Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) policy at the project level in UNDP/GEF has four objectives: To monitor and evaluate results and impacts To provide a basis for decision making on necessary amendments and improvements To promote accountability for resource use To document, provide feedback on, and disseminate lessons learned. A mix of tools is used to ensure effective project M & E. These might be applied continuously throughout the lifetime of the project – e.g. periodic monitoring of indicators, or as specific time-bound exercises such as mid-term reviews, audit reports and independent evaluations. MTEs are beneficial for project implementation as they provide an independent in-depth review of implementation progress, thus being responsive to GEF Council decisions on transparency and better access of information during implementation. MTEs are intended to identify potential project design problems, assess progress towards achievement of objectives, identify and document lessons learned (including lessons that might improve design and implementation of other UNDP/GEF projects), and to make recommendations regarding specific actions that might be taken to improve the project. It is expected to serve as a means of validating of filling the gaps in the initial assessment of relevance, effectiveness and efficiency obtained from monitoring. The mid-term evaluation provides the opportunity to assess early signs of project success or failure and prompt necessary adjustments. This evaluation is being initiated by the Government of Seychelles/UNDP-GEF Programme Coordination Unit (PCU), through its executing agency the Department of Environment (DoE), Ministry of Environment and Energy. The specific objectives of the MTE are to:  Identify potential project design problems Assess progress being made toward the achievement of outcomes and identify course correction if needed. Identify and document lessons learned (including lessons that might improve design and implementation of other UNDP/GEF projects) Make recommendations for enhanced implementation during the remainder of the project Analyze project performance up to the time of the MTE in the context of institutional and policy frameworks in the Seychelles. The overall objective of the evaluation is to identify strengths and weaknesses of the project implementation process, progress towards targeted outcomes and to reinforce what works well and make corrections to weaknesses. The evaluation will therefore focus, among other areas, on the following: Project progress made towards meeting set targets and indicators Effectiveness, efficiency and timeliness of project implementation Highlighting of issues requiring decisions and actions will be highlighted, and presenting of initial lessons learned about project design, implementation and management Review institutional and management arrangements of the project Undertake a stakeholder analysis, with a view to recommend appropriate strategies for engagement Assess the monitoring capacity of DOE, PCU and UNDP Country Office (CO) Recommend measures for improving project implementation and achieving project objectives. Outline any lessons already learnt.  Evaluation criteria & ratings: An assessment of project performance will be carried out, based against expectations set out in the Project Logical Framework/Results Framework, which provides performance and impact indicators for project implementation along with their corresponding means of verification. The evaluation will at a minimum cover the criteria of: relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability and impact. Ratings must be provided according to the obligatory rating scales included in the detailed TORs. Methodology: The evaluation methodology guidelines are provided below. Any changes to the methodology should be in conformity with international criteria and professional norms and standards (as adopted by the UN Evaluation Group 7). They must also be cleared by UNDP before being applied by the evaluation team. The evaluation must provide evidence-based information that is credible, reliable and useful. It must be easily understood by project partners and applicable to the remaining period of project duration. The evaluation should provide as much gender disaggregated data as possible. The evaluation will be carried out by the team through: Documentation review (desk study): The list of documentation to be reviewed is included in Section IV of the detailed TORs. These documents will be availed by PCU and/or UNDP, including the Regional Coordination Unit. Interviews: The evaluator will consult and gather information locally through meetings with the various stakeholders (MHET, PCU, UNDP, NGOs and private sector representatives). Field visits should be made to the various demonstration sites or proposed demonstration sites in the vicinity of the main granitic islands of Mahe and Praslin.

Duties and Responsibilities

An Inception Report (within 5 working days of signing the contract), this should provide details of the methodological approach to be used by the evaluator to undertake the study and include an evaluation matrix. A Mid-Term Evaluation Report of approximately 40-50 pages, excluding annexes, according to the attached detailed breakdown (Annex 1). The report will be in English and will be prepared and submitted in MS Word, with tables in Excel where necessary. A PowerPoint presentation (20–30 slides) covering the key points of the MTE with the main findings and recommendations will also be provided. [Depending upon the complexity of the evaluation findings, the UNDP Office in Mauritius may consider organizing a stakeholders’ meeting (e.g. an extraordinary project steering committee meeting) at which to make a presentation of preliminary findings to the partners and stakeholders. A draft of the Mid-Term Evaluation Report and the PowerPoint presentation should be submitted within one week of the end of data collection and meetings. The final copy will be submitted within a week of receiving written comments on the drafts from GOS/UNDP/GEF and partners.

Competencies

Knowledge of result-based management evaluation methodologies; Familiarity in applying UNDP’s results-based evaluation policies and procedures; Competence and good understanding in protected area management; Demonstrable good analytical and communication skills Demonstrable ability to maintain effective communications with different stakeholders; Strong written and presentation skills; Fully Computer literate; Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards; Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP; Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability Treats all people fairly without favoritism;Fulfills all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

Required Skills and Experience

Education: PhD or MSc degree. Experience: At least 10 years experience in natural resources management, biodiversity and protected areas management, climate change adaptation/ mitigation, socio-economic development or related fields; Experience in applying SMART indicators and reconstructing or validating baseline scenarios; Knowledge with the GEF Monitoring and Evaluation Policy; Experience with multilateral or bilateral conservation projects, including experience in SIDS and preferably in the Indian Ocean region; Familiarity with local protected areas system and legal framework for marine reserves;  Prior UNDP/GEF project experience, and knowledge of UNDP and GEF procedures and guidelines, is an advantage. Language: Fluency in English is required.

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

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