Evaluation of Closed Darwin Initiative Projects in Madagascar August 2009 Final Report The Darwin Initiative The Darwin Initiative is a UK Government small grants programme whic was launched at the Rio Earth Summit in 1992. It aims to assist countries rich in biodiversity but constrained by financial resources to implement the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The Initiative is funded and managed by the UK Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). This is the UK Government’s main support to other countries (including the UK’s Overseas Territories) in their implementation of the CBD, and more recently the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) and the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), through the funding of collaborative projects which draw on UK biodiversity expertise. Monitoring and Evaluation The Darwin Initiative has a comprehensive Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) programme in place which is central to informing on the progress of the Darwin Initiative against its goal – ‘to support countries that are rich in resources but poor in financial resources to meet their commitments under one or more of the major biodiversity conventions: the Convention on Biological Diversity; the Convention on Migratory Species; and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species’. The M&E programme is used in a number of ways to help inform on best practice, to support ongoing projects in their delivery, to strengthen the Darwin Initiative itself, and to demonstrate the gains Darwin Initiative projects have made in conserving biodiversity through partnerships between the UK and developing countries. The Darwin Initiative M&E programme is essentially centred on performance monitoring and impact evaluation. The M&E programme assesses legacy and impact at different levels with lessons drawn out from each level: • At the project level – in terms of host country institutions and local partners and beneficiaries, and in terms of conservation achievements; • At the national and ecoregion level – in terms of host country policies and programmes, and, if relevant, at a cross-boundary and eco-region level; • At the international level – in terms of emerging best practices, and the conventions themselves; • At the UK level – in terms of legacy and impact within UK institutions. Cover Photo: Scotophilus Tandrefana - a new species of bat collected during project 10-024/EIDPO010 and formally identified in 2005. Photo credit: Richard Jenkins This report was undertaken by Andrew & Blaise Cooke on behalf of the Darwin Initiative. For more information about this review, please contact: Darwin Projects, c/o LTS International Ltd, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik EH26 0PL tel: +44-(0)131-440-5181 fax: +44-(0)131-440-5501 e-mail: [email protected] Websites: http://darwin.defra.gov.uk and www.ltsi.co.uk Registered in Scotland Number 100833 VAT registration Number 267 7637 12 Table of Contents Executive summary ............................................................................................... I Innovations, lessons learned & best practices...............................................................II Recommendations ...................................................................................................... III 1 Introduction to DI projects ............................................................................ 1 2 Overview of Madagascar ............................................................................... 3 3 DI projects in Madagascar............................................................................. 5 3.1 Description of projects ....................................................................................5 3.1.1 Collective context of the DI Madagascar projects.....................................................6 3.1.2 Methodology...........................................................................................................7 4 Project evaluations........................................................................................ 8 4.1 Project 4-104 - Biodiversity Management Training............................................8 4.1.1 Project implementation ...........................................................................................8 4.1.2 Project Delivery .......................................................................................................8 4.1.3 Project impact & legacy ...........................................................................................8 4.2 Project 5-174 - Chameleons, Conservation & Local Communities in Madagascar................................................................................................................10 4.2.1 Project implementation .........................................................................................10 4.2.2 Project Delivery .....................................................................................................10 4.2.3 Project impact & legacy .........................................................................................10 4.3 Project 7-027 - The role of fruit bats in maintaining biodiversity in Madagascar................................................................................................................12 4.3.1 Project implementation .........................................................................................12 4.3.2 Project Delivery .....................................................................................................13 4.3.3 Project impact & legacy .........................................................................................13 4.3.4 Discussion ............................................................................................................14 4.4 Project 7-113 - Darwin Madagascar Wetlands Project......................................15 4.4.1 Project implementation .........................................................................................15 4.4.2 Project Delivery .....................................................................................................15 4.4.3 Project impact & legacy .........................................................................................16 4.5 Project 9-006 - Towards sustainable development of Southeastern Madagascar’s biologically unique littoral forests ........................................................17 4.5.1 Project implementation .........................................................................................17 4.5.2 Project delivery .....................................................................................................18 4.5.3 Project impact & legacy .........................................................................................18 4.5.4 Discussion ............................................................................................................18 4.6 Project 10-021 - Madagascar Marine Biodiversity Training Project ..................20 4.6.1 Project implementation .........................................................................................20 4.6.2 Project Delivery .....................................................................................................20 4.6.3 Project impact & legacy .........................................................................................21 4.6.4 Discussion ............................................................................................................21 4.7 Project 10-024 - Conservation and Management of Malagasy Microchiroptera..........................................................................................................22 4.7.1 Project Implementation .........................................................................................22 4.7.2 Project Delivery .....................................................................................................22 4.7.3 Project impact & legacy .........................................................................................23 4.7.4 Discussion ............................................................................................................23 4.8 Project EIDPO010 - Bat conservation in Madagascar .......................................25 4.8.1 Project implementation .........................................................................................25 4.8.2 Project Delivery .....................................................................................................25 4.8.3 Discussion ............................................................................................................26 5 General Assessment.................................................................................... 28 5.1 Conclusions & recommendations ...................................................................28 5.1.1 Partnerships..........................................................................................................28 5.1.2 Relevance..............................................................................................................28 5.1.3 Efficiency ..............................................................................................................28 5.1.4 Effectiveness .........................................................................................................29 5.1.5 Impact ..................................................................................................................29