TERMINAL EVALUATION OF THE PROJECT Mainstreaming Coastal and Marine Biodiversity Conservation into Production Sectors in the Sindhudurg Coast, Maharashtra, India UNDP Project ID: 00072738 GEF Project ID: PIMS 4242 Date of Submission of TE Report: Draft Submitted 12/15/17; Final on ___ GEF Focal Area: Biodiversity GEF Implementing Agency: UNDP Project Implementing Agency: Government of Maharashtra Evaluation Team: Ms. Virginia Ravndal, International Consultant & Team Leader Dr. Ravishankar Thupalli, National Consultant Terminal Evaluation of UNDP GEF Sindhudurg Project, India 1 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The evaluators thank all those who patiently took part in interviews and generously took time out of their busy days to share their perspectives and information crucial to the conduct of this evaluation. We are especially appreciative of all the members of the Project Management Unit (PMU), Mr. N. Vasudevan, Head, Mangrove Cell and Project Nodal Officer, Dr. Subir Ghosh, Project Coordinator, the excellent Project field staff at Malvan, the very capable UNVs, the excellent logistical support provided by the PMU, Ms. Lianchawii Chhakchhuak, Programme Analyst, UNDP/India, Government officials of the Forest Department and Fisheries Department, the District Collector and CEO of Sindhudurg District, the project’s technical partners, and local stakeholders for their valuable contributions to the TET. Terminal Evaluation of UNDP GEF Sindhudurg Project, India 2 ACRONYMS AWP Annual Work Plan BMC Biodiversity Management Committee CBD Convention on Biological Diversity CEO Chief Executive Officer CIBA Central Institute for Brackish Water Aquaculture CIFT Central Institute for Fisheries Technology CMFRI Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute EC Executive Committee GEF Global Environment Facility GOI Government of India GOM Government of Maharashtra IGCMP India GEF Coastal Marine Programme IISDA Institute of Scuba Diving and Aquatic Sports KCRT Konkan Cetacean Research Team LLPMU Landscape Level Project Management Unit LP Landscape level zoning plan MoEF&CC Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change MMFRA Maharashtra Marine Fisheries Regulation Act MPEDA Marine Products Export Development Authority MSFD Maharashtra State Forest Department MMS Malvan Marine Sanctuary MTR Mid Term Review NCSCM National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management NGO Non-Government Organization NIO National Institute of Oceanography NPD National Project Director NPMU National Project Management Unit NPSC National Project Steering Committee PIF Project Identification Form Terminal Evaluation of UNDP GEF Sindhudurg Project, India 3 PIR Project Implementation Review PMU used to refer collectively to the project’s management units at national, state and landscape level PRA Participatory Rural Appraisal QWP Quarterly Work Plan Rampini A traditional form of sea fishing practiced in western India RGCA Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Aquaculture SACON Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History SCME Sindhudurg coastal and marine ecosystem SHG Self Help Group SMART Specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-bound – criteria for identifying appropriate indicators SPD State Project Director SPMU State Project Management Unit SPSC State Project Steering Committee SRI System of Rice Intensification Taluka A subdivision of a District consisting of a group of several villages organized for revenue purposes TE Terminal Evaluation TET Terminal Evaluation Team ToR Terms of Reference UC Utilization Certificate UNDP United Nations Development Programme UNV United Nations Volunteer Terminal Evaluation of UNDP GEF Sindhudurg Project, India 4 CONTENTS ACRONYMS .................................................................................................................................... 3 CONTENTS ..................................................................................................................................... 5 Table 1. Project Summary Table ............................................................................................. 8 1.0 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................. 15 1.1 Purpose of this Evaluation .................................................................................................. 15 1.2 Scope and Methodology of the Evaluation .......................................................................... 15 1.3 Structure of this Report....................................................................................................... 16 1.4 Code of Conduct adhered to by the TET ............................................................................... 16 2. PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND DEVELOPMENT CONTEXT .............................................................. 16 2.1 Ecological & Development Context ..................................................................................... 16 2.2 Project Start and Duration .................................................................................................. 18 2.3 Problems the Project Sought to Address .............................................................................. 18 2.4 Immediate and Development Objectives of the Project ....................................................... 19 2.5 Project Description and Strategy ......................................................................................... 19 2.6 The Main Stakeholders ....................................................................................................... 19 2.7 Expected Results ................................................................................................................. 21 3. FINDINGS ................................................................................................................................ 23 3.1.1 Analysis of Project Logical/Results Framework ................................................................. 23 3.1.2 Analysis of Assumptions and Risks ................................................................................... 24 3.1.3 Lessons from Relevant Initiatives Incorporated ................................................................ 24 3.1.4 Planned Stakeholder Participation .................................................................................. 25 3.1.5 Replication Approach ...................................................................................................... 25 3.1.6 UNDP Comparative Advantage ........................................................................................ 25 3.1.7 Linkages with Other Interventions in the Sector (in the country) ....................................... 25 3.1.8 Project Management Arrangements ................................................................................ 27 3.2 Project Implementation ..................................................................................................... 29 3.2.1 Adaptive Management .................................................................................................... 30 3.2.2 Partnership Arrangements ............................................................................................... 31 3.2.3 Project Finance ................................................................................................................ 31 Terminal Evaluation of UNDP GEF Sindhudurg Project, India 5 3.2.6 UNDP and Implementing Partners Implementation/Execution*, Coordination and Operational Issues .................................................................................................................... 37 3.3 Project Results .................................................................................................................... 38 3.3.1 Overall Results* (attainment of project objectives) (MS) .................................................. 38 3.3.2 Relevance* (R) ................................................................................................................. 38 3.3.3 Effectiveness & Efficiency * (MS) ..................................................................................... 39 3.3.4 Country Ownership .......................................................................................................... 40 3.3.5 Mainstreaming Gender .................................................................................................... 40 3.3.7 Impact ............................................................................................................................. 41 3.3.7 Sustainability* (L) ............................................................................................................ 41 4. CONCLUSIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS & LESSONS ..................................................................... 43 4.1 Conclusions & Lessons ........................................................................................................ 43 4.2 Recommendations .............................................................................................................. 46 ANNEXES ..................................................................................................................................... 48 Annex I: Ratings ........................................................................................................................... 48 Annex II: Terms of Reference for Terminal Evaluation .................................................................. 49 ANNEX A: PROJECT LOGICALFRAMEWORK ................................................................................