Mainstreaming Biodiversity in Lao PDR’s Agricultural and Land Management Policies, Plans and Programmes Lao PDR GEF Agency: United Nations Development Programme Executing Partners: Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry GEF Biodiversity Focal Area GEF Project ID: 2416 UNDP PIMS: 2903; UNDP Atlas Project Number: 00075435 Mid-term Review Report July 25, 2014 Source: ABP project presentation on integrated pest management. Mainstreaming Biodiversity in Lao PDR’s Agricultural and Land Management Policies, Plans and Programmes UNDP Lao PDR Country Office Mid-term Review Josh Brann, International Consultant, [email protected] Athsaphangthong Munelith, National Consultant, [email protected] Table of Contents I. Executive Summary .................................................................................................................................................... 1 Implementation and Execution Issues ................................................................................................................. 4 Technical Focus .................................................................................................................................................... 5 II. Lao ABP Project Mid-term Review Approach ............................................................................................................ 8 A. Mid-term Review Purpose and Objectives ....................................................................................................... 8 B. Mid-term Review Scope .................................................................................................................................... 8 C. Principles for Design and Execution of the Review ......................................................................................... 10 D. Review Approach and Data Collection Methods ............................................................................................ 10 E. Limitations to the Review ............................................................................................................................... 11 III. Project Overview .................................................................................................................................................... 11 A. ABP Project Development Context ................................................................................................................. 11 B. ABP Project Concept Background ................................................................................................................... 13 C. Problems the Project Seeks to Address .......................................................................................................... 14 D. Project Description and Strategy .................................................................................................................... 14 E. Implementation Approach and Key Stakeholders .......................................................................................... 17 i. Implementation Arrangements ................................................................................................................... 17 ii. Key Stakeholders ........................................................................................................................................ 18 F. ABP Project Key Milestone Dates .................................................................................................................... 20 IV. Relevance ............................................................................................................................................................... 23 A. Relevance of the Project Objective ................................................................................................................. 23 i. Relevance to National and Local Policies and Strategic Priorities ............................................................... 23 ii. Relevance to UNDP Country Priorities ....................................................................................................... 24 iii. Relevance to GEF Strategic Objectives ...................................................................................................... 24 iv. Relevance to Multilateral Environmental Agreements ............................................................................. 25 B. Relevance of the Project Approach, Strategy and Design .............................................................................. 26 V. Project Management and Cost-effectiveness (Efficiency) ....................................................................................... 30 A. Quality of Implementation, Including UNDP Oversight .................................................................................. 31 B. Quality of Execution and Project Management .............................................................................................. 31 C. Partnership Approach and Stakeholder Participation .................................................................................... 33 D. Flexibility and Adaptive Management ............................................................................................................ 34 E. Financial Management .................................................................................................................................... 34 i. Financial Planning by Component and Delivery .......................................................................................... 34 ii. ABP Project Audit Findings ......................................................................................................................... 37 iii. Partner Financial Arrangements with FAO ................................................................................................ 37 F. Planned and Actual Co-financing .................................................................................................................... 39 G. Monitoring and Evaluation ............................................................................................................................. 39 i. M&E Design ................................................................................................................................................. 39 ii. M&E Implementation ................................................................................................................................. 40 H. Implementation and Execution Areas of Focus for 2nd Half of Implementation ........................................... 41 VI. Effectiveness and Results: Progress Toward the Objective and Outcomes ........................................................... 43 A. Outcome 1: National policy and institutional frameworks for sustainable use and in-situ conservation of biodiversity in agro-ecosystems ............................................................................................................................. 45 B. Outcome 2: Capacities and incentives to mainstream biodiversity, especially agro-biodiversity, at the provincial, district and community levels ............................................................................................................... 48 C. Impacts and Global Environmental Benefits ................................................................................................... 51 D. Strategic and Technical Focus for the 2nd Half of Implementation ............................................................... 52 VII. Key GEF Performance Parameters ........................................................................................................................ 54 A. Sustainability ................................................................................................................................................... 54 i. Financial Risks .............................................................................................................................................. 55 ii. Socio-political Risks .................................................................................................................................... 56 iii. Institutional and Governance Risks ........................................................................................................... 56 II Mainstreaming Biodiversity in Lao PDR’s Agricultural and Land Management Policies, Plans and Programmes UNDP Lao PDR Country Office Mid-term Review iv. Environmental Risks .................................................................................................................................. 56 B. Catalytic Role: Replication and Up-scaling ...................................................................................................... 56 VIII. Main Lessons Learned and Recommendations .................................................................................................... 57 A. Lessons from the Experience of the Lao PDR ABP Project .............................................................................. 57 B. Mid-term Recommendations for the Lao PDR ABP Project ............................................................................ 58 i. Implementation and Execution Issues ........................................................................................................ 58 ii. Technical Focus ........................................................................................................................................... 60