| Commissioning Unit: | Lesotho |
|---|---|
| Evaluation Plan: | 2019-2023 |
| Evaluation Type: | Project |
| Completion Date: | 12/2021 |
| Unit Responsible for providing Management Response: | Lesotho
|
| Documents Related to overall Management Response: |
|
Key Action Update History
Exit strategy should be developed to ensure sustainability of the project Outputs and Outcomes. It should also include follow up arrangements to complete the incomplete activities of the project.
Management Response: [Added: 2021/12/12]
Recommendation accepted and already actioned. A workshop was held with Implementing partners to identify all the important gains from the project that need to be sustained and exactly how this will be achieved. The exit strategy/sustainability plan was developed as an outcome of the workshop. The strategy stipulates the actions that will be undertaken by the MFRSC, other ministries and departments and established project structures at the district level.
Key Actions:
| Key Action | Responsible | DueDate | Status | Comments | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hold a workshop was held with Implementing partners to identify all the important gains from the project that need to be sustained and exactly how this will be achieved.
[Added: 2021/12/12] |
PMU/MFRSC/UNDP | 2021/12 | Completed | The exit strategy/sustainability plan was developed as an outcome of the workshop. The strategy stipulates the actions that will be undertaken by the MFRSC, other ministries and departments and established project structures at the district level. |
|
There are several activities not completed yet. Several activities are below the target (e.g. rehabilitation target is 50,000ha but only 20,000ha is rehabilitated). More work should be done to increase accomplishment of this target. |
Management Response: [Added: 2021/12/12]
Recommendation partially accepted. Whilst we agree with the observation, it will not be possible for the project to implement further activities in the remaining time, but sustaining these interventions has been integrated into the exit/sustainability strategy.
Key Actions:
| Key Action | Responsible | DueDate | Status | Comments | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Action to be sustained through further government support
[Added: 2021/12/12] |
Ministry of Forestry | 2023/12 | Not Initiated |
Gender leadership building training should be conducted to develop women leadership in sustainable land management and decision related to these.
Management Response: [Added: 2021/12/12]
Recommendation accepted. To be integrated into the exit/ sustainability strategy building on work done towards empowering women.
Key Actions:
| Key Action | Responsible | DueDate | Status | Comments | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNDP to undertake at least 1 training as part of its gender empowerment activities
[Added: 2021/12/12] |
UNDP Gender focal point/ UNDP Environment unit | 2022/11 | Not Initiated |
The soil and water conservation policy document is in draft form. Remaining processes should be followed up for its approval.
Management Response: [Added: 2021/12/12]
Accepted. Approval process for the policy is at an advanced stage and it will be approved and launched before end of 2021
Key Actions:
| Key Action | Responsible | DueDate | Status | Comments | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undertake approval process for the policy and launched before end of 2021
[Added: 2021/12/12] |
PMU/MFRSC | 2021/12 | Completed |
Each training should be followed by the post training evaluation to assess change in level of knowledge and awareness after training. It is recommended to conduct post training evaluation. Also capacity development trainings of future project should consider to conduct post training assessment.
Management Response: [Added: 2021/12/12]
Partially accepted. Whilst we agree with the observation, it is not possible to do this at this point in the project as training opportunities have been finalised and there is no time or capacity to do post-training assessments. However, this will be considered during implementation of follow up projects.
Key Actions:
| Key Action | Responsible | DueDate | Status | Comments | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ensure all UNDP projects and programmes implement this as a standard
[Added: 2021/12/12] |
UNDP Programme | 2022/12 | Not Initiated |
The project targeted to make 7000 household to adopt climate-smart livelihood strategies but it was only able to achieve 2,380 households that were active in the activities of the project thereby adopting climate-smart livelihood strategies. It is recommended that more work needs to be done to achieve the target towards climate-smart livelihood strategies in the project communities. Considering the time limits, recommended to make follow up arrangement in exit strategy.
Management Response: [Added: 2021/12/12]
Accepted. This will be actioned under the exit/sustainability strategy. However, 5876 households (assuming each participant represented a household) participated in awareness raising meetings and workshops geared towards the promotion of sustainable land management Of that total, 2,380 households were active in land rehabilitation activitie
Key Actions:
| Key Action | Responsible | DueDate | Status | Comments | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Define follow-up actions as part of exit strategy with clear
[Added: 2021/12/12] |
PNU/MFRSC | 2021/12 | Completed |
The project has established few long-term monitoring sites but could not achieve the targeted number of 18 sites. Hence, it is recommended to continue efforts to establish more sites to meet the target. Also make arrangement in the exit strategy to follow up this activity. MFRSC could include in their regular program to continue this activity.
Management Response: [Added: 2021/12/12]
Accepted. – Efforts have been made to mainstream the long-term M&E programme developed for Land Rehabilitation Programme (LRP) in Lesotho and this will be followed up in the exit/sustainability strategy.
Key Actions:
| Key Action | Responsible | DueDate | Status | Comments | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mainstream the long-term M&E programme developed for Land Rehabilitation Programme (LRP) in Lesotho and this will be followed up in the exit/sustainability strategy.
[Added: 2021/12/12] |
PMU/MFRSC | 2022/12 | Initiated |
The project was not able to develop 6 policy briefs for integrating climate risk considerations into District and Community Councils Development Plan for each of agriculture, infrastructure and rural development. It is recommended to complete the target of 6 policy briefs.
Management Response: [Added: 2021/12/12]
Partially accepted. The project developed the following policy briefs:
- Geographic information systems (GIS):
- Development of an evidence base for land degradation through GIS mapping, development of an environmental information system and the strengthening of government capacity in GIS mapping, spatial analysis and land degradation monitoring.
- GIS supporting future Government Strategies aimed at building Resilience to Climate Change
- Climate Change Scenario Modelling & Risk Assesment
- Socio Economic Unit (SEU):
- Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA), Cost Effective Analysis (CEA) and M&E and recommendations on beneficiary and Cost-effectiveness of Interventions
- Permaculture:
- Contributing to climate change adaptation in Lesotho through policy interventions focused on scaling up permaculture principles and practice and linking with the Ecological Organic Agriculture Initiative (EOA-I)
- Guidelines for the integration of climate change in national, sectoral and local policies, strategies and development plans
- Communications:
- Development of policy briefs on communication issues for decision-making and public awareness is still in the process
It will not be possible with the time and resources left to develop further policy briefs, but this activity will be carried across into exit/sustainability strategy.
Key Actions:
| Key Action | Responsible | DueDate | Status | Comments | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NO further action taken
[Added: 2021/12/12] |
PMU/MFRSC | 2021/12 | Completed |
The project was not able to train 100 people (50% women) from local authorities, district planning units, structural engineers, urban and rural infrastructure planners, officers of the Ministry of Development Planning, Ministry of Finance and technical staff from technical colleges and vocational training institutes. It is recommended to conduct remaining training immediately before the project closes and for those that could not be completed make provision in the exit strategy through possible means.
Management Response: [Added: 2021/12/12]
Partially accepted. The project conducted a training at district level though it was not inclusive of the sectors. The plan to conduct another training did not materialise due to logistical issues. However, it is not possible with the time and resources left to conduct further training, but this activity will be carried across into the exit/sustainability strategy.
Key Actions:
| Key Action | Responsible | DueDate | Status | Comments | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Integrate such training in follow up activities
[Added: 2021/12/12] |
Environment Programme | 2023/12 | Not Initiated |
The land allocated for management by various groups that were formed by the project has not been legally allocated to them. It is that this process must be completed before the project closes.
Management Response: [Added: 2021/12/12]
Partially accepted. It was not an expected output of the project. Therefore, project performance should not be judged against it. However, the project was working with local government partners and they had already started the processes as they were aware of such requirements. Legal allocation of communal land to certain community groups is a lengthy processes that cannot be completed in a short time frame and will need to be carried across to exit/sustainability strategy.
Key Actions:
| Key Action | Responsible | DueDate | Status | Comments | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Work with local government partners and start the processes around Legal allocation of communal land to certain community groups and integrate in exit/sustainability strategy.
[Added: 2021/12/12] |
PMO/MFRC/MoLG | 2021/12 | Completed |
The government of Lesotho must take the lessons learned from this project and incorporate them into their nationwide Land Rehabilitation Programme (LRP).
Management Response: [Added: 2021/12/12]
Accepted. This is the main objective of this pilot project and therefore it will be the main focus of the exit/sustainability strategy
Key Actions:
| Key Action | Responsible | DueDate | Status | Comments | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Will be the main focus of the exit/sustainability strategy, which has been completed.
[Added: 2021/12/13] |
Government of Lesotho (MFRSC) | 2021/12 | Completed |
The notion of implementing LRP through a mixture of volunteering, cash payment and incentives should be explored vis-à-vis the current model of cash payment only.
Management Response: [Added: 2021/12/13]
Accepted. This will be a key element of the exit/sustainability strategy.
Key Actions:
| Key Action | Responsible | DueDate | Status | Comments | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| This is a key element of the exit/sustainability strategy.
[Added: 2021/12/13] |
Government of Lesotho (MFRSC) | 2021/12 | Completed |
PMU should be close to the project sites and must remain as a contiguous office so that it could share resources, ideas and be easily overseen.
Management Response: [Added: 2021/12/13]
Accepted. However, this also depends on availability of government facilities to accommodate PMU as it has to be housed by Government and as part of its co-financing contribution.
Key Actions:
| Key Action | Responsible | DueDate | Status | Comments | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| As part of ongoing project on green value chain, UNDP will continue engagement with the project sites building on RVCC lessons learnt
[Added: 2021/12/13] |
UNDP, Government | 2022/10 | Initiated |