Darwin Initiative: 5th Report
Annex 3: Evaluation of the Darwin Initiative 1992 - 2000
ECTF was contracted by Defra to evaluate and report on the achievements of the Darwin Initiative since it started in 1992. Assessments were made of Darwin identity, leverage of additional funding, strengths of local and international partnerships, overall impact on biodiversity issues and long-term legacy of selected projects and of the Darwin Initiative as a whole. Detailed reviews were produced of 70 projects, covering almost half the total which had been completed by December 2000. These evaluations were complemented by a questionnaire survey of Project Leaders and their counterparts.
Project evaluations had been conducted by independent reviewers over a 4-year period. They were standardised and graded as High, Medium or Low, according to the above criteria. Almost 70% of projects achieved the 'high' status.
The following list of quantitative outputs were recorded:
Training: 299 people received accredited qualifications, 14,200 person training weeks were provided and 214 specific training documents were produced.
Research: at least 3626 person weeks have been spent overseas by UK staff, producing 119 management or conservation plans, 84 species identification keys, 157 databases and 365 peer-reviewed scientific papers.
Dissemination: results from Darwin projects have been presented in at least 631 conferences, 505 press releases have been produced, and at least 72 newsletters distributed.
Physical Outputs: the financial value of resources left in the host country by Darwin projects is estimated to have been around £506,000, and 439 permanent field plots have been established. Almost £2.9 million in additional research funds have been provided by participating Darwin institutes or raised from other donors following the initiation of Darwin projects.
Recommendations
Numerous recommendations were made on future conduct of the Darwin Initiative including:
- closer linkages to specific CBD Articles
- increased information exchanges with DFID and EU member state activities
- maintenance of the Darwin logo and name
- searchable list of projects and outputs on a dedicated website
- a searchable CD-ROM database of project details and highlights
- formalised status of 'Darwin Fellows'
- establishment of a Darwin Web-based Newsgroup
- increased involvement of local partners in final report writing
- greater publicity for co-funders
- pre-project and post-project funding should be explored
- DFID could consider also a Civil Society Challenge Fund 'theme' with phrasing such as 'initiatives which enhance the capacity of poor people to conserve and use their biological diversity sustainable, and to advocate changes in public policy and other incentives which safeguard these precious resources'
- NERC should be asked to collate overseas biodiversity research funding information as part of UK statement to the Rio+10 meeting
- applicants should show that they have consulted national Biodiversity Strategies, and, where appropriate DFID and GEF Country Strategy papers
- counterparts should ensure that the findings of Darwin projects are provided to National Biodiversity Offices, and incorporated, where appropriate, in revised National Biodiversity Strategies
- indicators of project impact should be developed which relate to the improved state of biodiversity conservation and capacity in host countries
- in-country or regional training of young technicians may be more appropriate than courses in the UK for a small number of high-level staff
- projects leading to the conservation of particular species or habitats should be highlighted in Darwin Initiative publicity
- DETR and the FCO should agree standard guidelines to Embassies/High Commissions on the type of assistance which can be expected by Darwin projects
- the Darwin Initiative should continue in 'responsive mode', relying on the experience and imagination of applicants, and local counterparts, to identify projects which are focused on national biodiversity priorities
- strong linkages to the NGO sector are a means of ensuring continuity, but projects should also work to strengthen government-NGO links
- unless biodiversity research is followed up with real conservation action, it is open to criticism of being elitist, and simply leading to a better understanding and documentation of species extinctions when they occur.
Overall it was found that the Darwin Initiative had been a very successful and cost-effective programme. It had catalysed significant additional funding and a large proportion of projects had delivered a significant long-term legacy. Its budget had remained static over the 9-year period, and was in need of a significant increase if the UK's continuing contribution to the CBD aims were to be achieved.
Page last modified 10 August, 2002