This document discusses the monitoring and evaluation of a project aimed at protecting the Mediterranean Sea from land-based pollution. The project has numerous participating countries and agencies. It is implementing National Action Plans and pre-investment studies using a country-driven approach. Monitoring includes country reporting, site visits, and evaluations of outputs. Lessons learned include that the existing management structure limited oversight and countries would benefit from more administrative support to speed implementation.

1. PARTNERSHIP FOR MEDITERRANEAN SUSTAINABILITY
GEF MEDITERRANEAN SAP MED PROJECT
PROTECTION OF THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA AGAINST POLLUTION FROM LAND-BASED SOURCES
AND ACTIVITIES – MONITORING AND EVALUATION
GEF IW Conference, Salvador, Brazil, 20-25 June 2005

2. SPECIFICITIES OF THE PROJECT:
 NUMEROUS SPECIFIC ACTIONS (8 FIELDS, MORE THAN 40
ACTIONS)
 NUMEROUS EXECUTIVE AGENCIES (UMBRELLA PROJECT + FOUR
SUB-PROJECTS)
 NUMEROUS PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES (12+8)
 IMPLEMENTATION THROUGH THE EXISTING MAP STRUCTURE
(UNEP/MAP SECRETARIAT, RACs)
 SMALL PROJECT MANAGEMENT TEAM (MANAGER, 1
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT, 1 SECRETARY)
 COUNTRY DRIVEN APPROACH (NAPs, PRE-INVESTMENT STUDIES)
 EXTERNAL EVALUATION (METAP – PRE-INVESTMENT STUDIES;
REGIONAL CONSULTANT - NAPs)

4. MONITORING AND EVALUATION OF PROJECT’S ACTIVITIES
1. National Action Plans (NAP)
• country driven approach
• development in three steps:
 National Diagnostic Analysis (NDA) & BB
 Sectorial Plans
 Integrated NAP

5. Preparatory phase for NDA and BB
• Development of guidelines
• Sub-regional training courses in local languages
Preparation of NDA and BB
• Monitoring of development by reporting
• Visiting countries and providing technical
assistance
• Evaluation of outputs by a regional consultant
• Meetings of IMC

6. Preparatory phase for SPs and NAP
• Development of technical supporting documents
• Regional training courses in English and French
Preparation of SPA and NAP
• Monitoring of development by reporting
• Visiting countries and providing technical assistance
• Evaluation of outputs by a regional consultant
• Regional evaluation meeting
• Meetings of IMC
• Stakeholders meetings
• Public participation

7. 2. Pre-investment studies
• Country driven approach
• Development in three/four steps
Preparatory phase (implemented by the Project
Management)
• Preparation of generic ToRs
• Expert mission in order to:
 select the site;
 prepare ToRs for a consultant
 select the implementing agency

8. Implementation (implemented by the national
Implementing Agency
• Ad hoc national committee
• Tendering procedure
• No objection on the procedure and selected
consultant by the Project Manager
• Preparation of the study in three phases; approval of
outputs of previous phase, pre-condition for the next
phase;
• Monitoring of activities and evaluation of outputs by
the ad hoc committee, WB/METAP consultant, and the
Project Manager

9. LESSONS LEARNED
• The Project implementation by the existing structure,
without additional staff, limits the management power of
the Project Manager, which brings its role to a low-key
coordinator rather than a manager.
• The number of MAP staff members, who were executing
the activities was insufficient, particularly taking into
account their commitments with other MAP activities, which
caused delays.
• The traditionally established two-year period of decision
taking within the MAP has affected the project’s timetable.
• National Coordinators, in most cases, had difficulties in
organizing activities at a country level. In addition, they are
in charge of some other activities, which prevent them to be
fully devoted to the project.

10. • Administrative support provided to the National
Coordinators speeds up responses from the countries.
• A country driven approach may be implemented after an
in-depth country profile for each of the countries,
particularly in terms of political systems, political
determination to combat the pollution, economic
capabilities for a follow-up investment, and the
availability of human resources to implement the action is
elaborated.

11. Contact address:
Mr. Ante Baric Ph.D., GEF Project Manager
UNEP/MAP
Vas. Konstantinou 48
11635 Athens, Greece
Tel: + 30 210 7273102; Fax: + 30 210 7253196/7
E-mail: abaric@unepmap.gr