What We Did: As part of the project’s monitoring and evaluation plan, Interamna was engaged to conduct a Midterm Review of progress against the project’s core objectives. The MTR had two primary purposes: (i) to provide evidence of results to meet accountability requirements, and (ii) to promote learning, feedback, and knowledge sharing through results and lessons learned among UNEP, interested governments, the GEF and their partners. As part of the mandate, the evaluation used a mixed-methods approach to analyze whether project implementation was on track, to hone in on the main challenges and to provide recommendations on how to address them. It assessed the relevance, efficiency and effectiveness of the project, as well as the likelihood of it achieving its intended outcomes, impacts and sustainability of impacts. As part of the evaluation, the project’s theory of change was thoroughly revisited and reconstructed through a consultative workshop with key stakeholders and the results framework jointly assessed and recommendations made to reformulate indicators and targets where necessary. Undertaken over the span of 5 months, the MTR helped the project change course and address its main shortcomings.
Objective: The Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management is a global multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder policy framework working to promote the sound management of chemicals across their entire lifecycle and within the supply chains of the products in which they are used. The US$ 29.5M UNEP-supported, GEF-financed project “Global Best Practices on Emerging Policy Issues of Concern under SAICM” is being executed by the SAICM Secretariat and was purpose-built to accelerate and measure the adoption of national activities and value chain initiatives to addressing two SAICM EPIs, namely Lead in Paint and Chemicals in Products (specifically in the value chains of toys, electronics and building materials) which are known to generate particular environmental and health challenges. The project has a secondary goal to help chart out priorities for SAICM beyond its current mandate. The project is being implemented in over 40 countries over a 4-year period with the participation of multiple stakeholders, including Regional Organizations, Intergovernmental Organizations, Non-Governmental Organizations, National Cleaner Production Centres and Academia, as well as national governments. The project also addresses the need for stronger knowledge management, information exchange and planning to ensure concerted and coordinated action across all EPIs.