MEDICINAL AND AROMATIC PLANTS PROGRAM IN ASIA (MAPPA) IDRC Project No. 004359 MID-TERM EVALUATION REPORT Carolyn Switzer, Lead Evaluator Nirmal Bhattarai, Co-Evaluator May 2002 Lead Evaluator Carolyn Switzer, B.Sc., M.Sc. 50 Caroline St. Barrie, ON L4N 2S6 Phone: 705-730-1621 Email: [email protected] Alt. Email: [email protected] Co-evaluator Dr. Nirmal K. Bhattarai, Ph.D., D.Sc. 538/6, Ghattekulo, Dillibazar Kathmandu Phone: 977-1-436356 Fax: 977-1-473020 Email: [email protected] Acknowledgements The authors are grateful to all of the individuals and institutions interviewed in the course of this evaluation, and especially to Madhav Karki, Regional Program Coordinator, MAPPA; Elizabeth Fajber, Senior Program Officer; the Project Leaders and the Project Coordinators of MAPPA Small Grant Projects, especially those of SHER, IIFM, HFRC and SAFE Concern; and other regional coordinators, local coordinators, and local partner institutions of the MAPPA Program. While we have attempted to incorporate all relevant comments and concerns, we accept complete responsibility for any errors, omissions, and shortcomings in this report. Table of Contents ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS................................................................................................... VI EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...................................................................................................................... VII 1.0 INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................................... 1 2.0 MIDTERM EVALUATION........................................................................................................... 1 2.1 BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE ............................................................................................................. 1 2.2 EVALUATION OBJECTIVES.................................................................................................................. 2 2.3 EVALUATION METHODOLOGY ........................................................................................................... 3 2.3.1 Data Collection......................................................................................................................... 3 2.3.2 Criteria for Project Selection ................................................................................................... 4 2.4 LIMITATIONS OF THE EVALUATION .................................................................................................... 4 2.4.1 Evaluation Scope ...................................................................................................................... 4 2.4.2 Logistical Issues ....................................................................................................................... 5 2.4.3 Seasonal Limitations................................................................................................................. 5 2.4.4 Non-representative Beneficiary Input....................................................................................... 5 3.0 MAPPA PROGRAM OVERVIEW............................................................................................... 6 3.1 BACKGROUND.................................................................................................................................... 6 3.2 MAPPA OBJECTIVES......................................................................................................................... 7 3.3 MAPPA MODALITIES:....................................................................................................................... 8 3.3.1 Small Grant Program ............................................................................................................... 8 3.3.2 Networking and Productive Partnerships................................................................................. 9 3.3.3 Commissioned Studies and National Consultations ............................................................... 10 4.0 EVALUATION RESULTS........................................................................................................... 11 4.1 SMALL GRANT PROGRAM: SUMMARY OF PROJECT CONTRIBUTIONS TO MAPPA OBJECTIVES ....... 12 4.2 MAPPA OBJECTIVE #1: CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE USE .................................................. 24 4.2.1 Assessments of Species Distribution....................................................................................... 24 1.1.1 Sustainable Harvest................................................................................................................ 26 4.2.2 Conservation Assessment and Management Planning (CAMP)............................................. 27 4.2.3 Cultivation Technology........................................................................................................... 29 4.3 MAPPA OBJECTIVE #2: EQUITABLE COMMERCIALIZATION............................................................ 33 4.3.1 Improved information on Marketing, Trade and Commercialization..................................... 33 4.3.2 Biopartnerships and Buy-back mechanisms ........................................................................... 35 4.3.3 Improved Efficiency and Standardization of Post Harvest Processing Methods.................... 38 4.4 MAPPA OBJECTIVE #3: SUPPORTING THE ROLE OF MAPS IN PRIMARY HEALTH ........................... 40 4.4.1 Documenting traditional systems of medicine ........................................................................ 40 4.4.2 Supporting Traditional Service Delivery Mechanisms ........................................................... 42 4.4.3 Approaches to improve delivery of safe, effective and affordable health care ....................... 43 4.5 MAPPA OBJECTIVE #4: NETWORKING AND COMMUNICATION....................................................... 45 4.5.1 Contribution to Networking and Regional Collaboration ...................................................... 45 4.5.2 Small Grant Mechanism:........................................................................................................ 46 4.5.3 Information Sharing with Non-MAPPA Partners................................................................... 48 4.6 MAPPA OBJECTIVE #5: PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND CAPACITY BUILDING.......................... 51 4.6.1 Capacity Building of Local Community Members through Effective Local Partnerships...... 52 4.6.2 External Partnerships: ........................................................................................................... 53 4.6.3 Partnerships between MAPPA Small Grant Recipients for Institutional and Individual Capacity Building ................................................................................................................................ 55 5.0 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION .............................................................................................. 59 MAPPA Midterm Evaluation, 2002 iii 5.1 EVALUATION OBJECTIVES 1 AND 2:................................................................................................. 59 5.1.1 Contribution of MAPPA supported research towards the conservation of MAPs: ................ 59 5.1.2 MAPPA’s contribution to the sustainable and equitable commercialization of MAPs: ......... 60 5.1.3 MAPPA’s contribution to the improved role of MAPs in the provision of safe and effective health care:.......................................................................................................................................... 61 5.2 EVALUATION OBJECTIVE 3: ............................................................................................................. 62 5.2.1 Strengths of MAPPA’s Small Grant Mechanism:................................................................... 62 5.2.2 Weaknesses/Constraints of the Small Grant Mechanism: ...................................................... 63 5.3 EVALUATION OBJECTIVE 4: ............................................................................................................. 65 5.3.1 Methodological Issues:........................................................................................................... 66 5.4 CONCLUSIONS .................................................................................................................................. 68 List of Annexes 6.0 ANNEX 1 – MAPPA OBJECTIVES, PROPOSED ACTIVITIES AND EXPECTED OUTPUTS ................................................................................................................................................... 70 7.0 ANNEX 2 - CASE STUDIES........................................................................................................ 72 7.1 CASE STUDY #1: INDIAN INSTITUTE OF FOREST MANAGEMENT (IIFM) .......................................... 72 7.1.1 Summary................................................................................................................................. 72 7.1.2 Project Objectives: ................................................................................................................. 72 7.1.3 Field Observations related to Objectives ............................................................................... 73 7.1.4 Additional Project Activities................................................................................................... 77 7.1.5 Constraints and Weaknesses of the Project...........................................................................