Mid-term evaluation of the Forest Management Control (CAF) project Gabon

Context of the service

With more than 23 million hectares of forest cover in 2015, Gabon holds about 18% of the Congo basins forests. Forests occupy 88% of the country and the wood processing industry accounts for 4 to 5% of its GDP. At the end of 2017, there were between 16 and 17 million hectares of forest concessions in Gabon.

The €12 million Forest Management Control (CAF) project aims to strengthen the capacity of the Ministry of Water and Forests in charge of the Environment and Sustainable Development (MEFEDD) to improve monitoring and control of forestry. This support includes strengthening material resources (infrastructure, equipment), technical capacities (control tools and training), and external audits.

The objective of this mission was twofold: to evaluate the project's results and impact at mid-term, and to ensure accountability for the actions carried out.

Services provided

The mid-term evaluation took place at the end of 2019. It consisted of a field mission of about two weeks, preceded by a preparation phase and followed by a drafting phase.

The analyses were based on the OECD's "standard" assessment criteria: relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact and sustainability. Some actions focused in-depth analysis, e.g. application of project's manual of procedures, impact of control and forest police missions, etc.

The evaluation made it possible to produce a critical analysis of the project's progress and results, and to formulate recommendations for the continued actions and the achievements' sustainability.

Summary of the service

Mid-term evaluation of the €12 million Forest Management Control (CAF) project funded by the France-Gabon debt swap agreement: Critical analysis of the project's progress; Evaluation of the first results (application of the project's manual of procedures, impact of monitoring and forest police missions, etc.) carried out according to the criteria of the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) of the OECD; Operational recommendations for the future.