EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Brief description of the project

The project entitled "Reducing vulnerability to coastal flooding through Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EBA) in the south of Artemisa and Mayabeque provinces", better known as Manglar Vivo (Living Mangrove), aimed to increase the resilience of coastal communities of six municipalities in the south of these two provinces to coastal erosion, flooding and marine intrusion caused by climate change primarily through the recovery and restoration of mangroves. The project was financed by the Adaptation Fund (AF), with an AF budget of USD 6,067,320. It was implemented by UNDP Cuba and executed by the country's Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment (CITMA by its initials in Spanish) and Ministry of Agriculture (MINAG by its initials in Spanish) for a period of 6 years, from 1 October 2014 to 30 September 2020 (the project, initially lasting 5 years, was extended by one year). 

Objectives and scope of the evaluation

The objective of this consultancy is to carry out the final evaluation of Manglar Vivo. This evaluation analyses the relevance, design, effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability and impact of the project. It also identifies lessons learned and provides recommendations. The conclusions of the document are based on the review of relevant documentation and interviews with key stakeholders. The evaluation team consists of three evaluators. Only one of them was able to make field visits, and these were limited due to the pandemic caused by COVID-19. The evaluation team has triangulated the data collected to answer the evaluation questions.  

Overall Project Rating

The evaluation concludes that Manglar Vivo was relevant, very effective and efficient. Monitoring and evaluation was moderately satisfactory. Implementation by the implementing agency was very satisfactory, while the performance of the executing agency was satisfactory. Sustainability is likely in financial, socio-political, institutional and political terms, and moderately likely from an environmental point of view.