In the GEF5 SLM Project, an enabling environment for SLM will help land users at landscape level to reduce the threat of land degradation and improve the adoption and implementation of SLM measures over time.
Measurement with progress and inputs towards the “Enabling Environment” is therefore just as important as measuring biophysical indicators such as level or severity of land degradation.
When considering the outcomes and outputs for the GEF 5 SLM project, it is evident that the project design is based around the following outcomes, which were incorporated in the SLM PC
Address the problem of land degradation
Improve the adoption of SLM best practices
Improve the willingness of farmers to participate and share knowledge and information with regard to LD and SLM
Improve the capacity and skills of farmers, land users, the project team and other stakeholders to achieve the points listed above.
Access to and the successful implementation of financial and governance structures to support farmers towards achieving SLM
The tool is an adaptation of WOCAT QM
This tool is evidence based and based on the principle of consensus mapping. All scores need to be substantiated by real evidence and scores need to reflect the consensus among project staff and beneficiaries on the actual situation on the ground at time of the assessment.
It is strongly recommended to involve the whole project team and a good representation of the project beneficiaries in the assessment to reach consensus on the scores for the different variables in small focus groups.
Lastly, through learning and reflection, it is hoped that the tool can be used to provide feedback into activities for strategic adaptive management to achieve project outcomes.
•This will be determined by your project implementation plan and the level of intervention in the landscape. For commercial farmers, it could be individual farms, for communal farmers, it could be individual villages or wards.
•For certain aspects, the unit for assessment could be bigger if activities or interventions were collectively at higher level, for example governance structures
•For each mapping unit, a whole assessment need to be completed, all 8 variables of the SLM PC. Therefor, the more assessment units, the more data, the more accurate your reflection of progress with SLM in the landscape
At a minimum, this exercise need to be completed once a year for the duration of the project.
Consider the possible learning opportunity of using the SLM PC, opportunity for timeous adaptive management, the ideal would be to do an assessment every 6 months. It is however important to notice that the context differ in each project landscape. In some landscapes, progress towards SLM are slow and takes time. These aspects need to be considered determining how regular one need to do an assessment.
Assign responsibilities and timelines and communicate well in advance to members of the Participatory Assessment Workshop dates and venues for this assessment, reflection and learning exercise.
The monitoring protocol need to be properly documented as part of the landscape’s PMERL strategy.
Agree on venue, date and time for assessment
Make sure that project staff and key stakeholders involved and impacted by the project are represented
Ensure roles and responsibilities for the assessment – facilitator, timekeeper and scribe
It will be good to have a map (satellite image or aerial photograph) of the assessment area and the assessment units. For example, in Macubeni, a map of the area clearly indicating the villages RU is working with. For Karoo Landscape, all the project nodes EWT is working with in Greater Nama Karoo.
Use the map as reference and assess the assessment units in a systematic way
Document scores in a Excel Spreadsheet or ODK Collect Application (under development). Note reference to evidence provided, could also be pictures from transect walk/drive through landscape. Remember, scores can improve, decline or remain the same. Use these trends as basis for discussions by asking “why?”
The first assessment, and that could be in retrospect for the ‘start of the project scenario’, forms the baseline for the SLM PC for your specific landscape or assessment unit
During the assessment the three ‘building blocks’ of sustainability need to be constantly in the back of your mind and should form the basis for assessment, being Environmental, Economic and Social considerations.
Consider both qualitative and quantitative criteria
Capture lessons learned and way forward with regard to adaptive management
Facilitator need to ensure participation by all participants, agreement on scores through consensus and based on evidence provided and set the pace of the assessment to ensure efficient use of time and resources.
Share assessment results and summary of lessons learned within project structures and with PMU at UNDP
Assessment results need to be shared with key project stakeholders or actors. Allow for feedback and inputs from different project stakeholders
Use results and evidence as basis for future planning, prioritization of activities and basis for communication, monitoring and evaluation.
As Responsible Parties, your feedback on the use of the SLM PC and recommendations for the improvement thereof, would be most appreciated.