Performance Assessment Based on Limited Primary Data Sources UNEP/GEF project “Agricultural Biodiversity Conservation and Man and Biosphere Reserves in Cuba: Bridging Managed and Natural Landscapes” GEF 4158

According to the UNEP Evaluation Manual (2023), UNEP is held accountable for the quality and delivery of its work through evaluations and other performance assessments. An in-depth terminal evaluation of this project in Cuba (GEF5158) was attempted in 2021 and 2022; in both instances the evaluation process was aborted. As a standard terminal evaluation could not take place, the Evaluation Office conducted a performance assessment of the project, to allow for a formal completion of the project cycle. A desk-based, and primarily document-based, performance assessment of the project was been undertaken with the objective of: (a) examining project records and providing an analysis of its delivery against the approved Results Framework i.e., project performance in delivering programmed Outputs and progress in achieving the expected Outcomes and global Objective(s) (including an assessment of the associated project milestones /indicators /targets); (b) analysing supplementary data (e.g., from remote interviews, email correspondence, other) through communication with representatives from Bioversity International and UNEP who will represent the Implementing Agency and Executing Agency, respectively; (c) prescribing recommended actions and/or identifying lessons of operational relevance for future project formulation and implementation, especially for planned and/or ongoing UNEP interventions in Cuba; and (d) preparing a Performance Assessment Report that captures the findings stemming from (a) - (c) above, to satisfy the need for learning and accountability, and to the extent feasible under the present circumstances.