UNEP – GEF PROJECT GP/CUB/05/001 “GENERATION AND DELIVERY OF RENEWABLE ENERGY BASED MODERN ENERGY SERVICES IN CUBA: THE CASE OF ISLA DE LA JUVENTUD” MID-TERM EVALUATION REPORT BY MANUEL BLASCO HARRIE KNOEF Havana, June 2010 Page 1 of 156 DISCLAIMER While this document is believed to contain correct information, neither the participating organizations nor the financial supporters, makes any warranty, express or implicit, or assumes any legal responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of any information disclosed. All the views and opinions expressed are the sole responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of any of the involved organizations Page 2 of 156 TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY............................................................................................................................. 8 1. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND............................................................................................. 12 1.1. Project overview.................................................................................................................... 12 1.1.1. Project objectives .......................................................................................................... 12 1.1.2. Status of activities ......................................................................................................... 12 1.1.3. Methodology applied .................................................................................................... 17 1.2. Scope, objective and methods .............................................................................................. 17 2. PROJECT PERFORMANCE AND IMPACT......................................................................................... 19 2.1. Attainment of objectives and planned results ...................................................................... 20 2.1.1. Effectiveness.................................................................................................................. 20 2.1.2. Relevance ...................................................................................................................... 24 2.1.3. Efficiency ....................................................................................................................... 24 2.2. Sustainability ......................................................................................................................... 25 2.2.1. Financial resources ........................................................................................................ 25 2.2.2. Socio-political ................................................................................................................ 26 2.2.3. Institutional framework and governance...................................................................... 26 2.2.4. Environmental ............................................................................................................... 27 2.3. Catalytic role and replication ................................................................................................ 27 2.3.1. Incentives....................................................................................................................... 27 2.3.2. Institutional change....................................................................................................... 28 2.3.3. Policy change................................................................................................................. 28 2.3.4. Catalytic financing ......................................................................................................... 28 2.3.5. Project champions......................................................................................................... 29 2.3.6. Replication..................................................................................................................... 29 2.4. Stakeholder participation and public awareness.................................................................. 29 2.5. Country ownership/driven-ness............................................................................................ 30 2.6. Achievement of outputs and activities.................................................................................. 31 2.7. Preparation and readiness .................................................................................................... 34 2.8. Assessment monitoring and evaluation system.................................................................... 35 2.8.1. M&E design ................................................................................................................... 35 Page 3 of 156 2.8.2. M&E plan implementation ............................................................................................ 36 2.8.3. Budgeting and Funding for M&E activities.................................................................... 37 2.9. Implementation approach..................................................................................................... 37 2.9.1. Project implementation mechanisms ........................................................................... 37 2.9.2. Effectiveness, efficiency and adaptability of project management.............................. 38 2.9.3. Administrative, operational and/or technical problems and constraints..................... 39 2.9.4. M&E during project implementation ............................................................................ 39 2.10. Financial planning.............................................................................................................. 39 2.10.1. Assessment of financial controls................................................................................... 40 2.10.2. Co - financing................................................................................................................. 40 2.10.3. Diligence ........................................................................................................................ 41 2.10.4. Actual costs and co - financing ...................................................................................... 41 2.11. UNEP supervision and backstopping................................................................................. 41 2.12. Complementarities with UNEP Medium Term Strategy and Programme of Work........... 42 2.12.1. Climate change .............................................................................................................. 42 2.12.2. Disasters and conflicts................................................................................................... 43 2.12.3. Ecosystem management ............................................................................................... 43 2.12.4. Environmental governance ........................................................................................... 43 2.12.5. Harmful substances and hazardous waste.................................................................... 43 2.12.6. Resource efficiency – sustainable consumption and production ................................. 43 3. CONCLUSIONS AND RATING.......................................................................................................... 44 4. LESSONS LEARNED......................................................................................................................... 45 5. RECOMMENDATIONS.................................................................................................................... 46 5.1. General recommendations.................................................................................................... 46 5.2. Recommendations for concrete activities ............................................................................ 47 5.2.1. Cocodrilo power plant................................................................................................... 47 5.2.2. La Melvis power plant ................................................................................................... 49 5.2.3. Biomass supply .............................................................................................................. 50 5.2.4. Dairy and meat complexes ............................................................................................ 52 5.2.5. Others............................................................................................................................ 53 6. ANNEXES........................................................................................................................................ 55 6.1. Annex 1:Evaluation Terms of Reference ............................................................................... 56 6.2. Annex 2: List of interviewees .............................................................................................. 111 6.3. Annex 3: List of consulted documents ................................................................................ 113 Page 4 of 156 6.4. Annex 4: Summary of co-finance information (project expenditure by activity) ............... 115 6.5. Annex 5: Details of the project “impact pathways” and ROtI analysis ............................... 119 6.6. Annex 6: Remarks from stakeholders ................................................................................. 122 6.7. Annex 7: Evaluation team ................................................................................................... 129 Page 5 of 156 LIST OF ACRONYMS