Darwin Initiative: 5th Report
Chapter 2
Darwin Monitoring and Evaluation
The objectives of the monitoring and evaluation contract with ECTF are to:
- assess whether the Darwin Initiative is achieving its objectives,
represents value for money and is having an impact within each host
country, in particular:
- evaluating whether the objectives (or principles) of Darwin, as set out in the guidelines, are being achieved through its activities and outputs;
- evaluate the lasting impact of the programme;
- ensure that the Department is kept fully informed of progress on each project and identifying any problems early enough to safeguard value for money
- establish and maintain a Darwin Initiative Website.
ECTF have synthesised the results of the monitoring and evaluation of current and recently completed projects between January and December 2001. Based on this information, they have provided comments and recommendations to Defra on the management and implementation of the programme. These are contained in Chapter 5.
A number of new developments and changes to the process of monitoring and evaluating Darwin projects have been introduced as a result of these recommendations, including ways of building on the success of the Initiative. The focus has been on strengthening and developing structures already in place, rather than any significant changes prior to the launch of Phase II of the Darwin Initiative at the World Summit on Sustainable Development later this year. Their recommendations are also being fed into the launch of this new Darwin phase.
Methods
ECTF provides constructive reviews of all annual and final reports and examines all half-year reports. Reviews are conducted in order to assess progress and achievements of projects, and also to contribute to improving the quality of projects. Reviewers' comments are forwarded to project leaders. Project leaders' feedback on these comments will either be directly to ECTF or, where action is taken at project level as a result of reviewers' comments, in the following year's annual report.
The objectives of the monitoring and evaluation contract are addressed by:
- Encouraging project reporting of all the necessary information required to measure progress and achievements against objectives.
- Ensuring that only qualified specialists conduct reviews according to their country and subject expertise.
- Providing feedback to project leaders on all annual and final reports in order to highlight strengths and weaknesses, to provide advice, and encourage improvements in the projects.
- Conducting a small number of 'mid-term' reviews as a cost-effective method of assessing projects. Unlike an evaluation of a completed project, this can foster changes in methods of operation whilst a project is still running.
- More effective use of information generated by Darwin projects by identifying material that would be of interest to the public or scientific community such as references to publications, resources, eco-tourism, new partnerships.
- Increasing the contribution of the Darwin Initiative to the UK's implementation of the CBD by raising awareness of Darwin projects, by linking the Darwin website to enhance information exchange, and by generally stressing the importance of biodiversity.
Achievements
Reviews of project reports
A total of 73 annual and final reports were received during 2001, on which 64 reviews were carried out. This work was conducted by 29 specialists drawn from the five ECTF member organisations and two consultancy groups. ECTF also received and examined 41 half-year reports received during the year and have been involved in correspondence with project staff in search of information, matters relating to reporting, or project difficulties.
Darwin Monitoring Database
The monitoring database is becoming an effective management tool. It contains information on all current and recently completed projects, including details of project's outputs, their contribution to the various CBD Articles, summaries of completed projects with comments on impact and sustainability, data from the Darwin Initiative Evaluation and information concerning the report review process.
Darwin Monitoring Website
The Darwin website www.nbu.ac.uk/darwin has been running for over a year and has proved to be an effective means of providing information to project staff and the general public. Summary information on current and recently completed projects is provided, together with news items, details of reporting requirements for project leaders and downloadable reports (such as the Darwin Initiative Evaluation). The Publications Database and Darwin Clubroom should provide useful project information in the coming year, and we also expect to provide more news items and links to other relevant biodiversity sites. Any comments or suggestions for improvement are welcome to the Project Manager at R.Clarkson@ed.ac.uk
Darwin Clubroom
The Darwin Clubroom was launched on the website in December 2001 as a forum for discussion and exchange of information on Darwin Initiative and conservation issues. It can be accessed by Darwin project staff and partners using a password 2. The Clubroom has attracted little attention to date but we hope that, as more people become aware of the site, the months leading up to WSSD and the Phase II launch will trigger some lively debate.
Publications Database
The Darwin Publications Database is now accessible on the website. Darwin project outputs include a huge amount of high quality scientific and educational information relating to the conservation of biological diversity including published papers, training manuals, CDs, Databases, and posters. Although access to published papers is generally good, there is more limited public awareness of other Darwin outputs and where they can be obtained, particularly among the poorer countries that may find these materials particularly useful.
The Darwin website provides an excellent platform for the Darwin Publications Database and a means of strengthening a Darwin Identity. This facility forms the first reference index of Darwin project outputs in a conveniently searchable form and, by providing details on where to access these outputs, it will give added value to projects. The Database took longer than expected to develop as, until recently, projects were asked only to list publications, and important details relating to accessibility and cost were generally omitted. The database now holds a modest amount of information and will be further updated with new information as it becomes available.
Future plans
Mid-term evaluations are carried out on selected projects, and involve a reviewer visiting the project. The mid-term evaluations planned for 2001 were not achieved. Travel problems and the limited availability of some project staff have delayed these evaluations, but they are a priority for 2002. Three of the five reviews will require overseas visits, the other two will involve visits to UK institutions that are conducting UK based training of host country partners. Projects selected will be representative of the range of project themes and sizes, and reviews will take place around 12 months before the end of three year projects, whilst there is still time to improve project performance.
2 Passwords were provided to project leaders during the Darwin Evaluation (Rio+10) exercise. If you are involved in a Darwin project and cannot access the Clubroom please contact Sylvia.Smith@defra.gsi.gov.uk
Page last modified 10 August, 2002