MID-TERM REVIEW REPORT IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NAGOYA PROTOCOL ON ACCESS TO GENETIC RESOURCES AND BENEFIT SHARING IN BHUTAN UNDP PIMS: 5239 AND GEF PROJECT ID: 5448 DATE OF REPORT: 23 NOVEMBER 2016 - 31 JANUARY 2017 GEF OPERATIONAL FOCAL AREA/PROGRAM: BIODIVERSITY EXECUTING AGENCY/IMPLEMENTING AGENCY PARTNER/AND OTHER PROJECT PARTNER NATIONAL BIODIVERSITY CENTRE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FORESTS MENJONG SORIG PHARMACEUTICALS DEPARTMENT OF TRADITIONAL MEDICINE SERVICES MINISTRY OF HEALTH BIO-BHUTAN PRIVATE LIMITED MTR Consultant Mani Ram Moktan PhD, Green Growth Consultancy Private Limited, Babesa Expressway, Thimphu, Bhutan. E-mail: [email protected] -i- Acknowledgements Many people contributed their ideas and knowledge in bringing out this report. I am grateful to Ms Niamh Collier-Smith, Deputy Resident Representative for giving this opportunity. Special thanks to Mr Jigme Dorji, Portfolio Manager, Economic Innovation & Integration for his assistance, review, comments and suggestions and Mr Wangchen Norbu for providing the Combined Delivery Report by Activity on financial expenditures. Special thanks to NBC and its project implementing partners. Dr Tashi Yangzome Dorji, Project Director, Mr Chencho Dorji, Project Manager, Mr Mani Prasad Nirola, Senior Biodiversity Officer, Ms Tashi Pelyang, Project Assistant for their ideas, knowledge, information and assistance in the office and field missions, comments and suggestions to finalize the report. Mr Kuenga Tshering, Director General, Mr Sherub Tenzin, Head, MSP/PSC Member and Mr Samten, Research Officer, MSP, DTMS, Ministry of Health provided valuable ideas, knowledge and information on their project activities. Mr Ugyen, General Manager/Project Manager for the Project and Mr Nobin Gurung, Account Officer, Bio-Bhutan provided valuable ideas, knowledge and information on their project activities. The Project Steering Committee Members; Dr Tashi Yangzome Dorji, Member Secretary, Ms Kezang Tshomo, Member/ Coordinator of the National Organic Programme, Ministry of Agriculture and Forests and Mr Ugyen, Member, Bio-Bhutan provided valuable input on decision-making by PSC. My sincere thanks go to the interviewed community executive members of the Dzedokha Phachaing Detshen in Lokchina Gewog under Chukka Dzongkhag, Namther Throgmen Tshogpa in Langthel Gewog under Trongsa Dzongkhag and DzomDagam Ngomen Tshogpa in Dagala Gewog under Thimphu Dzongkhag for sharing their time, valuable ideas, knowledge and logistics despite their busy schedules. Lastly, thanks for the support of my colleague, Ms Jaya Sunwar for her assistance in conducting interviews, data entry and analysis. -ii- Contents Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................................................... ii Abbreviations /Acronyms ................................................................................................................................ iv EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.............................................................................................................................. vi 1.INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Project background ................................................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Purpose of MTR and Objectives ............................................................................................................. 2 1.3 MTR Scope and Methodology ................................................................................................................ 2 1.3.1 Approach and Methodology ................................................................................................................. 2 1.3.1.1 Review of secondary information ...................................................................................................... 2 1.3.1.2 Primary data collection ..................................................................................................................... 3 1.3.1.3 Participatory Rural Appraisal ............................................................................................................ 3 1.3.2 Data analysis ....................................................................................................................................... 4 1.3.3 MTR limitations .................................................................................................................................. 4 1.3.4 MTR Report Structure ......................................................................................................................... 4 2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND BACKGROUND CONTEXT .................................................................... 4 2.1 Development context .............................................................................................................................. 4 2.2 Project Description and Strategy ............................................................................................................. 7 2.3 Project Implementation Arrangement ...................................................................................................... 8 2.4 Project timing and milestones ............................................................................................................... 11 2.5 Project stakeholders .............................................................................................................................. 12 3 FINDINGS .................................................................................................................................................. 14 3.1 Project Strategy and Design .................................................................................................................. 14 3.1.1 Problems that project addresses: threats and barriers targeted.............................................................. 14 3.1.2 Relevance and Country-Ownership .................................................................................................... 16 3.1.3 UNDP Programming Priorities ........................................................................................................... 17 3.1.4 Synergy with other GEF initiatives..................................................................................................... 17 3.1.5 Stakeholder Participation and Gender consideration ........................................................................... 18 3.1.6 Examination of project and social and environmental risks ................................................................. 19 3.2 Progress Towards Results ..................................................................................................................... 23 3.3 Progress Towards Outcome Analysis .................................................................................................... 30 3.4 Project implementation issues and adaptive management ...................................................................... 36 3.5 Project success and expansion of benefits .............................................................................................. 36 4 PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION AND ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT ....................................................... 39 4.1 Management Arrangements .................................................................................................................. 39 4.2 Work Planning ..................................................................................................................................... 40 4.3 Finance and Co-finance ........................................................................................................................ 41 4.4 Project Level Monitoring and Evaluation .............................................................................................. 43 4.5 Stakeholders’ engagement .................................................................................................................... 44 4.6 Reporting ............................................................................................................................................. 46 4.7 Communication .................................................................................................................................... 47 4.8 Contribution to SDG Goals ................................................................................................................... 49 5. SUSTAINABILITY ................................................................................................................................... 50 5.1 Financial risks to sustainability ............................................................................................................. 50 5.2 Socioeconomic risks to sustainability .................................................................................................... 51 5.3 Institutional Framework and Governance risks to sustainability ............................................................. 52 5.4 Environmental risks to sustainability ..................................................................................................... 52 6. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION............................................................................................ 54 6.1 Conclusion ..........................................................................................................................................