Final Performance Evaluation (FPE) of the Biodiversity and Watersheds Improved for Stonger Economy and Ecosystems Resilience (B+WISER) Program
Sector: Environment and Climate Change
Country: Philippines
The FPE was conducted at national, regional, and project site level and verified the performance, results, and lessons of B+WISER Program from 23 July–22 December 2018 in three regions (Cordillera Administrative Region [CAR]; Western Visayas (Region VI); and Davao Region (Region XI), two project sites (Upper Marikina River Basin Protected Landscape/Kaliwa Watershed Forest Reserve and Mount Kitanglad Range Natural Park). PRIMEX fielded a Team Leader, a Senior Evaluation Specialist, a Terrestrial Biodiversity Specialist, a Statistician, and a Junior Evaluation Specialist to conduct the FPE. The Team (i) assessed program performance in terms of: (i) expected outputs (deliverables) and outcomes (key results), as defined in the Program Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Plan; and (b) factors that enhanced or diminished the achievement of the outputs and outcomes; and (ii) verified the lessons reported by B+WISER by providing a third party, independent assessment of the findings from a learning review conducted by B+WISER IP. The FPE Team employed a mix of qualitative and quantitative research methods, including desk review of relevant Program documents and secondary data (e.g. program documents, especially Annual Work Plans and Progress Reports, including special and technical reports and forest patrol data), focus group discussions (FGDs), key informant interviews (KIIs), and structured direct observations (DOs). Ten FGD sessions were completed and attended by 69 representatives from Bantay Gubat (Forest Patrol) groups, women, indigenous peoples, farmer groups, and Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) members at the evaluation sites. KIIs were conducted with 46 key informants familiar with, or involved in, B+WISER Program implementation. DOs, including photo documentation of relevant B+WISER Program activities in the selected regions/sites, supplemented the FGDs and KIIs to gather evidence from the field. Case studies captured the good practices and/or lessons learned, as shared by the community stakeholder groups during FGDs, and reflected the data/information gathered from KIIs and program documents/reports.