Real-Time Evaluation of Norway's International Climate and Forest Initiative

The Norwegian Government launched its International Climate and Forest Initiative in December 2007, pledging up to 3 billion Norwegian kroner per year to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries (REDD). 

In order to progressively assess the results of the Initiative with regard to its objectives and the general objectives of Norwegian development cooperation, Norad’s Evaluation Department will organise a realtime evaluation starting in early 2010. A consortium of independent consultants and experts led by LTS International has been assigned to carry out the evaluation under a framework agreement covering a four-year period (2010-2013). CMI's Johan Helland and John McNeish form part of the evaluation’s core team and play key respective roles regarding Monitoring and Evaluation and Indigenous Rights. Iselin Åsedotter Strønen will do a Global level policy study together with Johan Helland. McNeish will also be carrying out a national level study of the impact of the NCFI in Brazil this Autumn. Other consortium members come from Indufor and Ecometrica.

The real-time evaluation shall provide timely information and rapid learning opportunities about the fast-moving developments on REDD. The approach will involve a range of evaluation activities to be repeated at regular intervals during the life of the Initiative, as well as stand-alone evaluations of specific thematic or geographic areas.

Evaluation objectives
The objectives of the real-time evaluation are to assess the results of the Initiative’s support:

1. for improving the prospects of the inclusion of a REDD mechanism in a post-2012 climate regime

2. for the preparation of mechanisms and implementation of activities to attain verifiable reductions in greenhouse gas emissions

3. for the conservation of natural forests to maintain their carbon storage capacity

4. with regards to the general objectives of Norwegian development cooperation, such as those related to livelihoods, economic and social development and the environment.

Scope
The main period under study is from the start of the Initiative includingm its initial preparations until the end of 2013. The evaluation will focus primarily on the work of the major recipients of funding, and cover:

• management and administration in Norway

• multilateral, bilateral and nongovernmental agencies funded by the Initiative

•  international negotiations and related global and regional policy processes

• national REDD processes, plans and actions

The real-time evaluation is intended to serve both a documentation function and a learning function. The concerned partners will therefore be actively consulted during the evaluation process, also on issues related to the terms of reference and timing of the different evaluation activities.

Norway’s International Climate and Forest Initiative
The Norwegian Government launched its International Climate and Forest Initiative in December 2007, pledging up to 3 billion Norwegian kroner per year to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries (REDD). The objectives of the Initiative are (1) to work towards the inclusion of emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in a new international climate regime, (2) to take early action to achieve cost-effective and verifiable reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, and (3) to promote the conservation of natural forests to maintain  their carbon storage capacity. To this end, the Initiative supports the UN Collaborative Programme on Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (UN-REDD Programme) jointly managed by FAO, UNDP and UNEP, the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) managed by the World Bank, the Congo Basin Forest Fund (CBFF) managed by the African Development Bank, and the Amazon Fund managed by the Brazilian Development Bank (BNDS). Norway has also entered a bilateral agreement with Tanzania and signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Guyana. Civil society organizations are funded through a grant scheme administered by Norad.

Evaluation reports will be made available to the general public. The evaluation will apply internationally- recognised best practices to ensure objective, transparent, evidence-based and impartial assessment and learning during the course of the evaluation programme. The methods may include document review and analyses, interviews with key stakeholders, and field visits to selected countries. Validation and feedback workshops will be held during the course of the evaluation

The real-time evaluation is intended to serve both a documentation functionand a learning function. The concerned partners will therefore be actively consulted during the evaluation process, also on issues related to the terms of reference and timing of the different evaluation activities. 

Evaluation reports will be made available to the general public. The evaluation will apply internationally- recognised best practices to ensure objective, transparent, evidence-based and impartial assessment and learning during the course of the evaluation programme.

The methods may include document review and analyses, interviews with key stakeholders, and field visits to selected countries. Validation and feedback workshops will be held during the course of the evaluation.

Evaluation process and principles

Evaluation process and principles