INTRODUCTION
This is the Terms of Reference (ToR) for -the Midterm Review (MTR) of the medium-sized UNDP[1]supported GEF-financed project titled Capacity Building for Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and Unintentional Persistent Organic Pollutants (UPOPs) project, (PIMS#:5908) implemented through the UNDP/National Environment Agency, which is to be undertaken in 2019-2023 . The project started in September 2019 and is in its second year of implementation. This ToR sets out the expectations for this MTR. The MTR process must follow the guidance outlined in the document Guidance For Conducting Midterm Reviews of UNDP[1]Supported, GEF-Financed Projects (UNDP Evaluation Resource Center (ERC)
PROJECT BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The project was designed to support the Gambia with the necessary technical and financial assistance to reduce the risks posed by PCBs and uPOPs to the environment and human health. The project will include the identification and disposal of 75 t of PCB-contaminated equipment and waste, and the reduction of 35 g I-TEQ/year of uPOPs through improved waste management practices and reduction of open burning of waste. This project aims at strengthening the capacity of national stakeholders to manage PCBs and achieve PCB elimination, address contaminated sites in an environmentally sound manner, and reduce U-POPs from opening burning, as identified as national priorities in the Gambia’s National Implementation Plan for the Stockholm Convention.
The project consists of the following four components:
1. Strengthening of legal frameworks, administrative processes, and technical preparedness for the sound management of PCBs and reduction of uPOPs emissions
2. Environmentally sound management of PCBs and PCB-contaminated sites
3. Minimising releases of uPOPs from open burning of waste
4. -Monitoring, learning, adaptive feedback, outreach and awareness raising, and evaluation The Project Management Unit (PMU) is established at the Environment House which is the head office of the main Implementing Partner (NEA). The duration of the project is four years from 2019-2023.
Currently, the awareness levels in The Gambia for the public, electricity utility workers, and waste management workers on the health and environmental adverse effects associated with PCBs and uPOPs are very low and in many cases non-existent. As a result (and in addition to other challenges such as a lack of resources and technical knowledge), PCB and uPOPs/waste management best practices are lacking. This has increased the risk of exposure to PCBs and uPOPs to both humans and the environment. Therefore, practical measures that will quickly reverse this undesirable trend are urgently needed.
The total cost of the project is USD 9,998,000. This is financed through a GEF grant of USD 1,998,000 and USD 8,000,000 (cash USD 3,700,000 and in-kind USD4,300,000) in parallel co-financing. UNDP, as the GEF Implementing Agency, is responsible for the execution of the GEF resources and the cash co[1]financing transferred to UNDP bank account only, where applicable.
The project is implemented in partnership with the relevant institutional and industrial stakeholders, i.e. National Environment Agency (NEA), Ministry of Environment, Climate Change & Natural Resources (MECCNAR), National Water and Electricity Co. Ltd (NAWEC), Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC), and others. The project will ensure that an adequate level of sustained capacity for the sound management DocuSign Envelope ID: 85D152D2-38CF-43EF-831A-7A8D0E1157E7MTR ToR for GEF-Financed Projects during COVID – Standard Template for UNDP Procurement Website – June 2020 2 of PCBs and waste management/uPOPs reduction will be built for the management of any further hazardous waste identified (such as PCBs) after the project’s closure and for scaling-up improved waste management practices. The situation of COVID-19 in The Gambia since the discovery of the first case in the country in March 2020 lead to strict COVID-19 regulations imposed by the government in an effort to curb the spread of the disease. These restrictions included prohibition of public gatherings, social distancing, wearing of face masks among others. The general public is still being reminded that the they have to continue observing these regulations as COVID is still with us There have been updates of the COVID situation in the country by the Ministry of health on regular basis. The number of cases has been on the rise according to reports with some reported COVID-related deaths of over 150 currently. The impact of the COVID- 19 led to delays in project implementation because some project activities were cancelled during the government lock down. This also impacted on our collaboration with our regional partners as they could not travel to attend training programmes organized locally. Some adaptive strategies were used to offset the impact by remotely conducting activities through online tools such as zoom platforms, skype and most recently Microsoft team. Thus, the learning will be implementing the project with these constraints and having to strategies on best possible alternatives.
MTR PURPOSE
The MTR will assess progress towards the achievement of the project objectives and outcomes as specified in the Project Document, and assess early signs of project success or failure with the goal of identifying the necessary changes to be made in order to set the project on-track to achieve its intended results. The MTR will also review the project’s strategy and its risks to sustainability.
The MTR is being conducted to review and assess the project impacts and results against what was expected to be achieved. This will allow lessons to be drawn on what needs to be done to enhance the sustainability of project results. The project results will be used by the PMU of the project, the PSC and other relevant stakeholders. The results shall inform the relevant people about the achievement or failures of the project and to enable them chart a corrective course of action.
The MTR is conducted to gauge and assess how the project is progressing towards achieving its results by outcomes, project implementation and adaptive management and long term sustainability.
The scope of the MTR should cover the project strategy, the results, project implementation and adaptive management and long term sustainability. The MTR is expected to assess the timeframe for the project. The MTR will assess progress towards the achievement of the project objectives and outcomes as specified in the project document and assess early signs of project success or failure with the goal of identifying the necessary changes to be made in order to set the project on- track to achieve its intended results. The MTR will also the review the project strategy, its risk to sustainability. The MTR must address gender equality and women empowerment and other cross cutting issues within its scope.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the MTR should detail any COVID-19 project interventions in the scope of this evaluation.
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Email subject: MTR for UNDP-GEF
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