- Evaluation Plan:
- 2016-2020, China
- Evaluation Type:
- Final Project
- Planned End Date:
- 12/2020
- Completion Date:
- 12/2020
- Status:
- Completed
- Management Response:
- Yes
- Evaluation Budget(US $):
- 47,830
Final Evaluation for Yellow Sea Internationals Waters Project
| Document | Type | Language | Size | Status | Downloads |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 UNDP GEF Terminal Evaluation TOR-YSLME II_20191211_rev.docx |
tor | English | 63.68 KB | Posted | 1010 |
 YSLME PhII_TE_report_11Dec2020final.pdf |
report | English | 3768.96 KB | Posted | 1120 |
| Title | Final Evaluation for Yellow Sea Internationals Waters Project | ||||||||||||||
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| Atlas Project Number: | 74724 | ||||||||||||||
| Evaluation Plan: | 2016-2020, China | ||||||||||||||
| Evaluation Type: | Final Project | ||||||||||||||
| Status: | Completed | ||||||||||||||
| Completion Date: | 12/2020 | ||||||||||||||
| Planned End Date: | 12/2020 | ||||||||||||||
| Management Response: | Yes | ||||||||||||||
| Focus Area: |
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| Corporate Outcome and Output (UNDP Strategic Plan 2018-2021) |
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| SDG Goal |
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| SDG Target |
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| Evaluation Budget(US $): | 47,830 | ||||||||||||||
| Source of Funding: | Project budget | ||||||||||||||
| Evaluation Expenditure(US $): | 36,920 | ||||||||||||||
| Joint Programme: | No | ||||||||||||||
| Joint Evaluation: | No | ||||||||||||||
| Evaluation Team members: |
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| GEF Evaluation: | Yes
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| Key Stakeholders: | Ministry of Environment | ||||||||||||||
| Countries: | CHINA, PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC |
| Lessons | |
|---|---|
| Findings |
| Recommendations | |
|---|---|
| 1 | A sustainability plan should be prepared prior to project closure. |
| 2 | Identify YSLME champions for sustaining the Yellow Sea Partnership. |
| 3 | Building upon the existing technical cooperation structures for the YSLME regional governance mechanism is sensible. |
| 4 | A follow-up GEF project should focus more on regional issues and have a narrower scope. |
| 5 | The Joint Fisheries Committee (JFC), associated with the 2001 Fishery Agreement between ROK and China, should be engaged in the ecosystem-based management of the YSLME. |
| 6 | Regional MPA initiatives offer opportunities for further strengthening joint collaboration. |
| 7 | Broaden stakeholder engagement among the agriculture and water resources management sectors. |
| 8 | Promote development of a regional integrated coastal management strategy that consolidates or clusters local level ICM plans. |
| 9 | Strengthen regional NGO collaboration on innovative approaches, training, and public awareness |
Management Response Documents
1. Recommendation:
A sustainability plan should be prepared prior to project closure.
Management Response: [Added: 2020/12/28]
A Technical Specialist was contracted as Technical Specialist by UNOPS to prepare the sustainability plan. The draft was submitted to PRC and ROK for review by PR China and RO Korea.
Key Actions:
| Key Action | Responsible | DueDate | Status | Comments | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prepare a sustainability plan.
[Added: 2020/12/28] |
UNOPS | 2020/12 | Completed | Completed, with the sustainability plan uploaded. History |
2. Recommendation:
Identify YSLME champions for sustaining the Yellow Sea Partnership.
Management Response: [Added: 2020/12/28]
An institution to be designated by the International Cooperation Department of MNR/PRC and KOEM of MOF/ROK will review and implement the sustainability plan and to help define the details of the regional governance mechanism as agreed in the MOU to be signed between the two countries. Care will be taken as to the nature of the YSP to avoid the confusion among stakeholders of the YSP and the regional governance mechanism in the making.
Key Actions:
| Key Action | Responsible | DueDate | Status | Comments | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| To identify an institution in PR China by MNR to review and implement the sustainability plan and to help define the details of the regional governance mechanism
[Added: 2020/12/28] |
MNR/PRC and MOF/ROK | 2020/12 | Completed | North China Sea Branch of SOA of MNR has been designated as the institution to push forward the implementation of the plan |
3. Recommendation:
Building upon the existing technical cooperation structures for the YSLME regional governance mechanism is sensible.
Management Response: [Added: 2020/12/28]
Building on the existing marine scientific cooperation platform or designating new institutions by MNR/PRC and MOF/ROK will be considered for establishing the YSLME regional governance mechanism. In furtherance of the purposes of the MOU under preparation for signing on YSLME regional ocean governance mechanism, the cooperation will go beyond the scientific communities of the two countries but to engage government administration, civil society and business association with the key mandate of coordinating the implementation of YSLME SAP 2020-2030 and review progress of implementation.
Key Actions:
| Key Action | Responsible | DueDate | Status | Comments | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Build on the existing marine scientific cooperation platform or designate new institutions by MNR/PRC and MOF/ROK to establish the YSLME regional governance mechanism
[Added: 2020/12/28] [Last Updated: 2021/09/28] |
ICC | 2021/09 | Completed | This action is completed in September. History |
4. Recommendation:
A follow-up GEF project should focus more on regional issues and have a narrower scope.
Management Response: [Added: 2020/12/28]
If both countries are interested in pursuing any follow-up projects, the focus can be aligned with the objectives and targets as agreed in the YSLME SAP 2020-2030.
Key Actions:
| Key Action | Responsible | DueDate | Status | Comments | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Expression of interest of pursing another phase by UNDP, PR China and RO Korea
[Added: 2020/12/28] |
ICC, UNDP | 2020/06 | Completed | While UNDP expressed support to a third phase, consensus between PRC and ROK has not yet been achieved. | |
| Consult on the scope of the project.
[Added: 2020/12/28] |
ICC, UNDP | 2020/12 | Completed |
5. Recommendation:
The Joint Fisheries Committee (JFC), associated with the 2001 Fishery Agreement between ROK and China, should be engaged in the ecosystem-based management of the YSLME.
Management Response: [Added: 2020/12/28]
At the ICC meetings and on other occasions of YSLME Phase II Project, MOA and subsequent MARA of PRC made it clear that JFC is a separate issue with YSLME and the current competent authority on fisheries management does not wish to combine the two mechanisms into one which will create institutional complexity at a time when the YSLME regional governance mechanism is still at the design stage.
Key Actions:
6. Recommendation:
Regional MPA initiatives offer opportunities for further strengthening joint collaboration.
Management Response: [Added: 2020/12/28]
As an initial step, the two countries and partners can build on the results of studies and assessment of the YSLME Phase II Project and focus on review and endorsement of the YSLME Biodiversity Conservation Plan 2020-2030, and Spotted Seal Management Plan, and rolling out of the YSLME MPA Network. Bridging the spatial conservation gaps identified by the FIO, NMEMC, IGSNRR, and partners in ROK in application for UNESCO WHS inscription for five sites of the eastern YS, for marine mammals and migratory birds may also be considered as a part of the implementation of the YSLME SAP 2020-2030.
Key Actions:
| Key Action | Responsible | DueDate | Status | Comments | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Submit for inscription of the five sites of tidal flat in ROK as UNESCO World Heritage Site
[Added: 2020/12/28] [Last Updated: 2021/08/09] |
ICC | 2021/06 | Completed | The key action is well completed as confirmed by relevant programme colleagues. History | |
| Endorse the YSLME Biodiversity Conservation Plan
[Added: 2020/12/28] [Last Updated: 2021/12/22] |
ICC | 2021/12 | Completed | This action is duly completed. History |
7. Recommendation:
Broaden stakeholder engagement among the agriculture and water resources management sectors.
Management Response: [Added: 2020/12/28]
In the 3rd YSLME Science Conference, experts on agriculture runoff were invited to share experiences in reducing nutrients from fertilizers and livestock. Current partners such as FIO have strong team working on the interrelationships of seasonal water flow with estuarine biodiversity and fisheries spawning due to hydrological modification. Watershed modeling has also been used in ROK to address nutrient loading issues under the YSLME II. In this future, engagement of agriculture and water resource sectors can continuously be pursued through symposium, workshops and seminars for exchanges of information and good practices. The capacity of regional mechanism in coordinating the participation of water resources and agriculture sector should also be considered.
Key Actions:
| Key Action | Responsible | DueDate | Status | Comments | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Organize workshops to include water resources and agriculture under future Science Conference
[Added: 2020/12/28] |
ICC | 2022/12 | Initiated |
8. Recommendation:
Promote development of a regional integrated coastal management strategy that consolidates or clusters local level ICM plans.
Management Response: [Added: 2020/12/28]
Partially agree. ICM is defined by boundaries and currently is proactively advocated at national and subnational level through development and implementation of ICM programs facilitated by PEMSEA, an IGO in the East and Southeast Asia both countries have joined. A regional strategy – Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia (SDS-SEA) is in place and therefore ensuring good coordination between the two countries under this framework facilitated by PEMSEA will be an option the countries may wish to consider. Limited by ICM boundaries, feasibility of conducting joint early warning systems for ecosystem changes should be further assessed. Sharing of experiences among and beyond YSLME community will provide good opportunity for national and local governments of both countries and the East Asian region to improve the sustainable coastal development through planning and implementation of ICM programs. The responsible parties to promote the implementation of the management measures will be the institution to be designated by the MNR/PRC and KOEM of MOF/ROK in collaboration with regional working groups of the regional governance mechanism to be reset up
Key Actions:
| Key Action | Responsible | DueDate | Status | Comments | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| YSLME coordinates with PEMSEA on the development of the regional ICM strategy for YSLME
[Added: 2020/12/28] [Last Updated: 2021/12/22] |
ICC | 2021/12 | No Longer Applicable |
[Justification: After checking with the project colleagues, this item is no longer applicable.] History |
9. Recommendation:
Strengthen regional NGO collaboration on innovative approaches, training, and public awareness
Management Response: [Added: 2020/12/28]
Agree. After the adoption of the YSLME SAP 2020-2030, a mapping of activities, plans and programs of YSLME stakeholders including NGOs that will contribute to achievement of the objectives and targets of the YSLME SAP 2020-2030 was suggested by the PMO at the ICC-5.
Key Actions:
| Key Action | Responsible | DueDate | Status | Comments | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conduct stakeholder mapping
[Added: 2020/12/28] [Last Updated: 2021/08/09] |
ICC | 2021/06 | Completed | The key action is well completed as confirmed by relevant programme colleagues. History |