Mid-term performance evaluation of the USAID/West Africa Gambia-Senegal sustainable fisheries program : final report

The project was implemented in The Gambia and Senegal by the University of Rhode Island Coastal Resources Center (URI) and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Per the requirements of USAID, this evaluation report covers The Gambia, where the majority of the on-the-ground activities occur, but not Senegal. The evaluation was conducted during the period of November December 2012, by a team of experts assembled by Mendez, England & Associates (ME&A), located in Bethesda, Maryland. The team consisted of three international consultants: a fishery and aquaculture specialist; a natural resources specialist; and a monitoring and evaluation specialist. The core objectives of the evaluation were to: (1) assess progress towards achievement of the expected results of the Ba Nafaa project from October 2009 to December 2012; (2) assess the effectiveness of project design, implementation, and sustainability mechanisms; and (3) propose actionable lessons learned and recommendations to guide implementation for the remaining period of the project to improve performance and potentially apply lessons learned throughout the WA region. The key finding of the evaluation team is that, given the challenging environment for fisheries sector reform in The Gambia, Ba Nafaa has achieved significant results towards the goal of supporting the Government of The Gambia (GoTG) in reforming the artisanal fisheries sector in the country. This is a commendable effort, especially since the growth of the fisheries sector in The Gambia faces numerous institutional constraints that limit social and political approval for sector reforms. (Excerpt, modified)