Name of Client:
United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Philippines
Country:
Philippines
Length of Consultancy Assignment:
Start Date: 23 July 2018
Completion Date: January 2019
Detailed Narrative Description of Project:
B+WISER is a program funded by USAID and implemented by DENR, which aimed to conserve the biodiversity in forest areas and reduce forest degradation in seven priority protected areas (PAs)/watersheds in the Philippines. The five-year program aimed to improve natural resource and environmental management by: (i) conserving biodiversity in forest areas; (ii) reducing forest degradation in targeted priority watersheds; (iii) building capacity to conserve biodiversity, managing forests, and supporting low emissions development; and (iv) contributing to disaster risk reduction (DRR) at the subnational level. The Final Performance Evaluation (FPE) of B+WISER had two main objectives. First, it assessed the performance of the B+WISER project in terms of: (i) expected outputs (deliverables) and outcomes (key results), as defined in the activity Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Plan; and (ii) factors that enhanced or diminished the achievement of the outputs and outcomes. Second, the evaluation verified the lessons reported by B+WISER by providing a third party, independent assessment of the findings from a learning review conducted by the B+WISER Implementing Partner (IP).
PRIMEX provided the services of a Team Leader, a Senior Evaluation Specialist, a Terrestrial Biodiversity Specialist, a Statistician, and a Junior Evaluation Specialist. The Team Leader: (i) provided overall direction of the Consultant Team’s activities; (ii) ensured the effective and efficient conduct of the FPE in close coordination with USAID/P and the IP; (iii) supervised field teams and conducted textual analysis and direct observation in assigned area; and (iv) led the preparation of the required reports and the conduct of briefings of USAID/P and other key stakeholders. The Senior Evaluation Specialist: (i) developed the tools, consolidated and synthesized data from the field, analyzed data, and reported on the findings; (ii) oriented/trained KII and FGD field teams; (iii) supervised field teams and conducted textual analysis and direct observation in the assigned area; and (iv) assisted the Team Leader in writing the Draft Final Report and Final Report and in conducting briefings of USAID/P and other key stakeholders. The Statistician: (i) developed the tools, gathered and analyzed the collected data, and reported on the findings; (ii) recruited, oriented, and trained KII and FGD field teams; (iii) supervised the pre-testing of data gathering instruments; and (iv) supervised field teams and conducted textual analysis and direct observation in the assigned area. The Terrestrial Biodiversity Specialist: (i) assisted the Team Leader in assessing the performance of B+WISER in terms of its success in achieving its goals of conserving biodiversity in forest areas, reduction of forest degradation and deforestation in targeted priority watersheds and building capacity on biodiversity conservation and forest management; (ii) assisted in the assessment of the success of BWISER+ in delivering results in terms of improvements in the management and governance of identified KBAs, PAs, and associated watersheds based on the results of ecological surveys; formulation and initiation of the implementation of forest restoration plans; and stimulation of incentives and private sector investments for biodiversity conservation and sustainable forest management; (iii) supervised field teams and conducted textual analysis and direct observation in the assigned area; and (iv) prepared reports on his findings from the above assessments for incorporation in the Evaluation Team’s reports to USAID/P. The Junior Evaluation Specialist: (i) assisted the Senior Evaluation Specialist in gathering, organizing, and analyzing data from direct observation, KII, FGD, and textual analysis; (ii) assisted in organizing and training the KII/FGD Field Teams; (iii) assisted in supervising the field teams; and (iv) assisted in the preparation of the required FPE reports, particularly the publishable FPE Report and the organization and conduct of briefing workshops for USAID and other key stakeholders.