Mid-term evaluation of the biodiversity support program [BSP] of the conservation of biological diversity project (936-5554)

The project is a joint venture among the World Wildlife Fund, the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), and The Nature Conservancy. The evaluation covers the period 9/88-10/91. The BSP has been extraordinarily successful, ranking among the highest of all A.I.D. projects for the rate of buy-ins from Bureaus and Missions. It has been very successful in reaching beyond the immediate members of the joint venture to the broader conservation and development community. More than 50 separate institutions have been involved as direct participants in roughly 100 activities, plus 45 individuals in small grant research activities. More than 60 countries have participated. The project has undertaken a broad range of activities, which have been completed in a timely fashion and have been of high quality. On the other hand, there has not been a strategic focus to the individual components, nor have the linkages between components and activities been articulated. The project design was deliberately vague. A.I.D. in effect placed its faith in the members of the joint ventures to build an appropriate program. This resulted in a flexible program and committed staff. However, the project could have been even more effective and more self-adjusting if strategic planning had become part of regular operating procedures. Also, disseminating the lessons learned from BSP could place the program at the forefront of biodiversity conservation efforts worldwide, particularly with regard to topics such as buffer zone management or integrated conservation and development projects. (Author abstract, modified)