Monitoring and evaluation
![Kagera river](/typo3temp/pics/f5f67c7b59.jpg)
The monitoring and evaluation plan for the Kagera TAMP will serve two functions: first, periodic assessment of project implementation and performance of activities and, second, evaluation of their results in terms of relevance, effectiveness and impact in promoting the adoption of sustainable land and agro-ecosystem management (SLAM). The monitoring system should be developed in close consultation with the various levels of stakeholders to enable them to provide feedback and observations. There are three components to the M&E process:
- Project Execution. Monitoring focuses on the management and supervision of project activities, seeking to improve efficiency and overall effectiveness of project implementation. It is a continuous process to collect information on actual implementation of project activities compared to those scheduled in the annual work plans, including the delivery of quality outputs in a timely manner, to identify problems and constraints (technical, human resource, and financial), to make clear recommendations for corrective actions, and identify lessons learned and best practices for scaling up, etc.
- Project Performance. Performance evaluation will assess the project’s success in achieving its objectives (above). The project will be monitored closely by FAO (LTU and GEF Unit) and by the Project Steering Committees through semi-annual reports, quarterly implementation reviews, technical reports, and regular technical supervision missions fielded as required to enhance success.
- Project impact.Evaluation of the project’s success in achieving its outcomes will be monitored continuously throughout the project. The key indicators can be found in the logical framework (Annex 2 of prodoc). The indicators should be further reviewed/refined at the inception workshops, and tools and methods and indicators for measuring impact should be determined and agreed to ensure that a standardized framework is shared by the four participating countries.
- Project achievements will be evaluated after two years of project execution (mid-term) and at the end of the project (final) through an independent evaluation that will also give attention to sustainability.
The Project Logical Framework provides performance and impact indicators for project implementation along with the corresponding means of verification. Indicators of project impact will be applied at project, community, district and national levels, reflecting inter alia:
- status of land, natural resources and ecosystems, their conservation and capacity for production of goods and services;
- evidence of positive changes in the management and use of biodiversity and natural resources,
- improvements in productivity, livelihoods and reduction of poverty;
- strengthening of capacities at different levels.
A basin-wide information centre will be established to monitor change in the status of natural resources, agro-ecosystems and impact on livelihoods and, once operational, will contribute to the M&E process. The baseline is being provided through the land use systems (LUS) mapping and LD and SLM assessment and mapping across the basin (using LADA-WOCAT tools). Day-to-day monitoring of implementation progress will be the responsibility of the Regional Project Coordinator and the National Project Managers, based on the project’s annual Work Plan and its indicators.
Specific technical guidance
will be developed to support project implementation and monitoring:
- Sustainable land and agro-ecosystem management guides/manuals for farmer field schools, selected micro-catchments and landscapes
- Community planning guide for SLaM - development, implementation and monitoring of community action plans including land tenure and access to resources
- Incentives and policy for SLaM - including agricultural, environmental and land tenure issues
- SLM baseline studies, indicators & methods for monitoring by FFS, communities & districts
Four processes and tools
There are four processes and tools that can be considered in refining the M&E framework:
- M&E of the overall TerrAfrica programme for SLM in sub-Saharan Africa (Kagera TAMP is one of the component projects) – UNEP is executing a project to provide such service support to TerrAfrica.
- The review of UNCCD impact indictors that was conducted by CST-S2 and CRIC meetings conducted in Bonn in February 2011. This builds on two GEF supported projects:
- Global Land Degradation Assessment in Drylands (LADA) project (FAO/UNEP) which developed indicators, methods and tools for assessment at global, (sub) national and local levels;
- KM land project on Dryland Biodiversity Indicators (UNEP/UNU-INWEH) that aimed to i) develop global and project-level indicators that demonstrate global environmental and livelihoods-related impacts derived from actions on combating LD; ii) develop a framework for knowledge management and capacity building for SLM (KM:Land Learning Network) and iii) define a process for establishing a M&E system that supports results-based management for SLM projects.