Summary of Terminal Evaluation survey results
1. Summary of the projectCountry：Republic of Indonesia

Title of the Project ： The Project on Mangrove
Ecosystem Conservation and Sustainable Use in the
ASEAN Region (MECS)
Issue/Sector：Nature Conservation
Cooperation Scheme：Technical Cooperation
Division in Charge ： Forestry and Nature Total Cost (as of 5 June, 2014)：2.19 million Yen
Conservation Division 1, Forestry and Nature
Conservation Group, Global Environment
Dept.
(R/D)：26 June, 2011-25 June, Partner Country’s Implementing Organization ：Period of2014
Directorate of Land and Forest Rehabilitation (BRHL),
Cooperation
Directorate General of Watershed Management andSocial Forestry Development(BPDAS-PS), Ministryof Forestry(MoF), Mangrove Management Centers 1& 2 (MMCs), administrative agencies of ASEAN
member countries responsible for mangroves(Extension)：None
Supporting Organization in Japan：Forestry Agency(F/U)：None
Other Cooperation Organization：
Background and overview of the cooperation
Mangroves are the general term for a group of plants growing in the intertidal zones of tropicaland subtropical coastal regions, in particular brackish water areas where seawater and freshwater are
mixed. Mangrove ecosystems consisting of interrelationships between mangrove forests withorganisms above ground, in water, and in soils therein, and abiotic environments occur uniquely only
in limited areas, which are one of the valuable ecosystems that support the biodiversity. Mangrove
ecosystems also attract attention from a viewpoint of both mitigation measures and adaptation
measures against climate changes, given the fact that while they are also significant as sinks andstorage locations of CO2 with fast growing trees and in deposited mud, they are simultaneously the
ecosystems most affected by the sea-level rise due to global warming.
Moreover, mangrove forests represent essential natural resources that support livelihoods ofcoastal people including the value as a place of cultivating rich coastal aquatic resources thatmangrove ecosystems contain, tourism resources such as eco-tours, and the value of mangrove forests
as disaster-prevention forests contributing to the mitigation of damages caused by tsunami (seismic
surges) and storm surges besides providing the value as economic forests such as timber and firewood.
In addition, it can be said that mangrove ecosystems are “satoyama (rural natural areas) of the sea”
that humans have utilized and maintained, as they have strong human linkages in tropical andsubtropical regions, also emphasized as natural resources that the poverty groups left out of thedevelopment rely on especially in recent years.
On the other hand, mangrove ecosystems are disappearing at a rate of 3-5 times higher than otherforest ecosystems, because they occur on the flatland situated on the border of sea and land that is aconvenient location for human use and thus are susceptible to the pressure of development by the
agriculture, forestry and fisheries industry and other sectors such as the commerce and industry. For
1-1

－i－

this reason, there is an urgent need to make efforts for mangrove conservation in consideration of thebalance between its protection, restoration, and sustainable use.
Under these circumstances, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has provided
assistance to the Republic of Indonesia (hereinafter referred to as "Indonesia") as the supported party
and as the country holding the largest mangrove forests in the world, constituting about 21 % of theworldwide mangrove forest areas [approximately 15.24 million ha, Earthscan (2010)], for mangrove
conservation since 1992. Among other things, the fact that the Mangrove Management Centers(MMCs) in Bali and Medan became the formal administrative organization under the jurisdiction of
MoF in February 2007 is one of the notable achievements of the JICA cooperation. On the other hand,Indonesia places the conservation of mangrove ecosystems as a national agenda, by which MoF
formulated the "National Strategy for Mangrove Ecosystem Management in Indonesia” as its own
initiative in 1997. Furthermore, a national strategy was issued by the Presidential Decree in 2012.
In this manner, Indonesia has consolidated a certain system to promote the conservation ofmangrove ecosystems within the country, but there are still many regions that require administrative
support for conserving mangrove ecosystems in Indonesia having long coastlines. Likewise, urgent
needs of conserving mangrove ecosystems are common to Association of Southeast Asian Nations(ASEAN) countries, not only to Indonesia. Under these circumstances, MoF encompassing the two
MMCs to which JICA has provided assistance has been accumulating knowledge and know-how forconserving mangrove ecosystems, expected to play a central role for promoting the conservation ofmangrove ecosystems in ASEAN countries including within Indonesia in terms of facilitating theSouth-South Cooperation.
1-2

Content of cooperation
In order to facilitate the sharing of good practices and lessons of conservation and sustainable useof mangrove ecosystems within the ASEAN region among related organizations and communities, thisproject aims to: strengthen the capacities of MoF of the Republic of Indonesia for shared learning andfacilitation; propose a framework of cooperation required for self-reliant evolution of sharing goodpractices and lessons learned among related organizations and communities in the ASEAN region; anddevelop a system of cooperation around MoF of the Republic of Indonesia to contribute to thepromotion of conservation and sustainable use of mangrove ecosystems in the ASEAN region.
(1) Overall Goal
Cooperating mechanism to share the good practices and lessons learned regarding themangrove ecosystem conservation and sustainable use in the ASEAN region is enhanced.
(2) Project Purpose
The cooperating mechanism to share the good practices and lessons learned regarding themangrove ecosystem conservation and sustainable use in the ASEAN region is developed with
MoF of Indonesia becoming the focal point.
(3) Outputs
1) Output 1
Capacities of Mangrove Management Centre Region I and II (“MMCs”) are enhanced－ ii －

topromote the shared-learning of the good practices and lessons learned regarding themangrove ecosystem conservation and sustainable use (“the Practices and Lessons”) among
the related organizations and communities (“the Stakeholders”) in Indonesia.
2) Output 2
Directorate General of Watershed Management and Social Forestry Development(“WMDSF”) and MMCs become capable to promote the shared-learning of the Practices
and Lessons among some of the Stakeholders in the ASEAN region.
3) Output 3
The cooperating mechanism is proposed to the appropriate authorities of the ASEAN toshare the Practices and Lessons among the Stakeholders in the ASEAN region.
(4) Inputs (As of 5 June, 2014)
1) Japanese Side: Total amount of financial input 2.19 million Yena) Dispatch of Long-term Experts
3 personsb) Dispatch of Short-term Expert
0 personc) Acceptance of trainees in Japan
8 personsd) Provision of equipment (total amount of equipment in the list)
Rp.148,685,600 (1,319,287Yen)
Source of exchange rate: JICA’s official rate for May 2014 (Rp.1=¥0.008873)e) Coverage of local costs (total amount of local operating expenses)
Rp.11,393,634,528.1 (101,095,719Yen) (as of 26/May/2014)
Source of exchange rate: JICA’s official rate for May 2014 (Rp.1=¥0.008873)
f) Others
Rp.0 (0Yen)
2) Indonesian Side:a) Assignment of counterparts (C/Ps): 14 personsb) Purchase of equipment
Rp.0c) Coverage of local costs
Rp.2,366,389,645d) Provision of land and facilities:
MMC-1 (Bali): Main Project Office; Headquarters of MoF in Jakarta: Sub-Office;
MMC2 (Medan): Sub-Officee) Others: None especially.
2. Outline of the Evaluation Team
Name
MissionmemberDuty

Mr. JINNAI Kei

Leader/
Head

Ms.TANAKA
SatomiPlanning/
Evaluation

Position / Organization
Director, Forestry and Nature Conservation
Division 1, Forestry and Nature Conservation
Group, Global Environment Dept., JICA
Technical Adviser, Forestry and Nature
Conservation Division 1, Forestry and Nature－ iii －

Analysis

Conservation Group, Global Environment
Dept., JICA
Type of Evaluation: Terminal Evaluation

Period of 1-6 June, 2014
Evaluation
3. Results of Evaluation
3-1 Verification of Accomplishments
3-1-1 Accomplishments of the Project Purpose
The Project Purpose has already been accomplished.
The Indonesian Ministry of Forestry had proposed the establishment of the ASEAN
Mangrove Network (AMNET) at ASEAN Senior Officials on Forestry (ASOF) 14 and ASOF15,and the proposal was endorsed at ASOF 16 in Brunei in July 2013. MoF prepared the final
version of the Terms of Reference (TOR) and the Rules of Procedure (RoP) for the AMNET
intended for the ASOF 17 during the first AMNET meeting in February 2014 in Balikpapan. In
addition, Indonesia as the AMNET Secretariat is making preparations to submit proposals andother documents to AFOF 17 which will be convened in Cambodia in June 2014.
3-1-2
Accomplishment of the Outputs(1) Accomplishment of Output 1
Output 1 has already been achieved.
The MMCs and the JICA Project team have performed field surveys, preparation andimplementation of workshops, preparation of reports, and other daily tasks together. Their
understanding of shared learning was enriched, their coordination work with local governments
has become more effective, and their reporting ability was strengthened through these tasks [Onthe Job Training (OJT)]. In addition, the Counterparts (C/Ps) and other concerned officers
participated in the trainings in Japan, acquiring technologies and knowledge of sustainable
management of mangrove ecosystems, environmental education, ecotourism, remote sensing, andso on. Moreover, they acquired know-hows and expertise concerning good practices of mangrove
ecosystem conservation, services for shared-learning workshops within the ASEAN region, andservices for collaboration with the ASEAN through 11 duty trips to ASEAN countries. Sevenshared1-learning programs in Indonesia in total were carried out between 2012 and 2014, attended
by a total of 337 persons and 92% of the participants in the shared learning workshop weresatisfied with the contents of its program. Besides, a guideline for shared-learning programs has
been prepared and published through reviewing shared-learning workshops, both in English andBahasa Indonesia. Regarding Symposium, "The ASEAN Symposium on Mangrove Ecosystem
Management in Southeast Asia" was held in Surabaya during 27 February – 1 March 2013.
Accomplishment of Output 2
It can be determined that Output 2 has been fully achieved, although numerical values havenot been set for its indicators in the Project Design Matrix (PDM). All of the activities have been
carried out following the Plan of Operations (PO).
Shared-learning programs for the ASEAN region were held three times, in which a total of 62(2)

1

It is referred to as mutual learning in the PDM, but it should be referred to as shared learning outside the PDM, because it has
been termed so since the initiation of the project.

－ iv －

persons participated in workshops, and 87% of the participants in shared-learning programs weresatisfied with their contents. In addition, ”The ASEAN Symposium on Mangrove Ecosystem
Management in Southeast Asia” was held in Surabaya from 27th February to 1st March 2013, in
which 59 cases were presented from 12 Southeast Asian countries with more than 200
participants on the first day, 140 participants on the second day, and 150 participants on the thirdday. The Surabaya Call for Action was adopted. The direct observation and discussion with theparticipants showed their high interest and satisfaction, since most of the participants followed
the whole program of the symposium.
(3)

Accomplishment of Output 3
Output 3 has already been achieved.
The AMNET, the cooperating mechanism for sharing the Practices and Lessons of mangrove
ecosystem conservation and sustainable use among the Stakeholders in the ASEAN region, wasapproved at ASOF 16 in Brunei in July 2013. In addition, the first AMNET meeting was held in
Balikpapan, Indonesia in Feb., 2014.

3-2 Summary of evaluation results(1) RelevanceThe project is still relevant at present.
The Overall Goal meets the needs of Indonesia and the ASEAN. The project goal meets theneeds of the executing agency and the target groups. In addition, the Overall Goal is consistent
with the policy of Indonesia and Official Development Assistance (ODA) policy of Japan.
Technical advantage of Japan was confirmed.
(2) Effectiveness
It is determined that the effectiveness of the project is high.
Some of the numerical indicators were not in the PDM, so that the qualitative evaluation was
conducted in not all the activities.
Putting all the results together, it is concluded that all the Outputs have already been achieved.
In addition, the Project Purpose has already been achieved. Important assumptions have been
fulfilled so far.
(3) Efficiency
The efficiency of the project is determined to be moderate.
Inputs were mostly appropriate in timing, quality, quantity, but after the first Chief Adviser
and Project Coordinator returned to Japan in two years, there was no longer the input of theirsuccessors. Consequently, the expert on participatory ecosystem conservation also served
concurrently as the Chief and the Coordinator, which is believed to have imposed a considerable
amount of burdens on his multiple services. Outputs 1 to 3 have been already achieved.
(4) Impact
The Overall Goal has already been partly achieved. On the other hand, several positive
impacts were identified.

－v－

With regard to the prospect of achieving the Overall Goal, it was partly achieved as theestablishment of the AMNET was approved by the ASOF. The future prospect of achievementof the Overall Goal depends on the sustainability of AMNET. Important assumptions have been
fulfilled so far.
Regarding other impacts, some positive impacts (a new unit for mangroves within the
Department of Agriculture has established in Surabaya City, the target site for field visit ofworkshop in Surabaya City became the tourist destination for mangrove forests and the road was
paved, Balikpapan City as a host for the workshops and the AMNET meeting, was deepening its
linkage with the headquarters of MoF, resulting in an increased momentum for mangrove
conservation in Balikpapan, etc.) were identified. Negative impacts were not identified.
(5) Sustainability
Sustainability of the project activities would be secured in certain activities, such as
implementing shared-learning programs. Other activities, such as AMNET, may face somedifficulties depending upon the potential donors and other surrounding conditions. Strong
commitment from the Ministry is eagerly expected.
Organizational and institutional aspects: It appears that the policy support for conservation andsustainable use of mangrove ecosystems will be continued in the future. Post-project strategy was
the development and management of database, implementation of “Surabaya Call for Action”.
C/Ps and AMNET Secretariat staff will continue their duty in the future. In addition, theDirectorate of Land and Forest Rehabilitation (BRHL), the Directorate General of Watershed
Management and Social Forestry Development (BPDAS-PS), and MMCs are believed to haveadequate capabilities for operation and management.
Financial aspects: The Indonesian MoF needs to secure a sufficient budget (annual budget,
overhead cost and activity cost) for managing shared-learning programs, the AMNET and
AMNET Secretariat. Rp.149,200,000 has been secured for the AMNET Secretariat for this year
(June-Dec., 2014).
Technical aspects: BRHL, BPDAS-PS, and MMCs have so far carried out the planning,
implementation, report writing, and other daily tasks jointly with project experts forshared-learning workshops, regional symposiums, and AMNET management, and it is thoughtthat they already have adequate techniques and knowledge through practical work. It is uncertain
whether or not the knowledge and skills that have been transferred to BRHL, BPDAS-PS, andMMCs will be utilized after the end of the project, because a budget required for a sufficientnumber of shared-learning workshops is not yet secured. As for AMNET management,
furthermore, Indonesia has taken the leadership in preparing the TOR, the RoP and the proposal
for ASOF 17, but its sustainability is uncertain as the coverage of its activity costs has not yet
been ensured.
The deliverables such as the guideline for shared-learning workshops and workshop reports
will be utilized, as resource books and references for future activities.

－ vi －

3-3 Factors that have contributed to the emergence of effects(1) Issues concerning the planning
Each activity implies the activity that is required to accomplish each Output, and each Output
is the Output required to accomplish the Project Purpose “The Cooperating Mechanism isdeveloped through the initiatives of Ministry of Forestry, Indonesia (MoF).”(2) Issues concerning the implementation process BRHL, BPDAS-PS, and MMCs have so far carried out the planning, implementation, reportwriting, and other daily tasks jointly with project experts for shared-learning workshops,
regional symposiums, and AMNET management, and it is believed that they have adequate
techniques and knowledge through practical work.
 Field surveys in ASEAN region have been conducted 11 times, and thus it is believed that the
C/Ps’ and stakeholders’ knowledge and capacities for conservation of mangrove ecosystems
were strengthened.
3-4 Problem areas and factors causing them
(1) Issues concerning the planning
Although there were some portions in which numerical values were not set definitely for the
PDM indicators, it is thought that there will be no specific problems because project activities
have been managed through the revision of the PO, and almost all activities have been carriedout.
(2) Issues concerning the implementation process
The PO has been revised several times, but most of the activities have been in progress asplanned, expected to be completed by the end of the project. However, Activity 1-9: National
Symposium was cancelled with the intention on the side of the "The National Mangrove Working
Group" and MoF.
3-5 Conclusions
The project is still relevant to this day. It is determined that the effectiveness of the project is high,and that its efficiency is moderate. As for its impact, the Overall Goal has partly already beenaccomplished, while several positive impacts were identified. It is judged that its sustainability could
be conceivable, if costs can be covered securely for managing AMNET and shared-learning
workshops.
3-6 Recommendations (concrete measures, suggestions, advice relating to the project)
3-6-1 Secure a budget
The Indonesian Ministry of Forestry shall allocate the operational budget for AMNET
Secretariat, and necessary to find donors for financial support AMNET activities.
3-6-2 Database Development(1) Regarding documentation of case studies, good practices and lessons learned, some kinds of－ vii －

measures should be adopted to accumulate data and information at MMCs and BRHL
effectively and efficiently. Reports of surveys and business trips have been submitted, andmaximum use of these reports should be explored.2(2) In order to facilitate data collection and accumulation, format of the report of surveys /business trips may need to be revised to make it easy to extract data fitting into the database.
A nice design and format of the report may be developed, which encourages the officers toprovide all the valuable information they have / discover, to improve their skills in reportwriting, and to manage the quality of the reports.3(3) Other issues to consider would include; How to share and useinformation in the database, and
who are allowed to access the database. Rules and Regulations should be developed on the
management and utilization of the database.4
In addition, it is necessary to consider how to publish such database information on thewebsite of MoF while limiting users that can access them and determine persons responsible
for the database management, if possible.
3-6-3 A Guideline for Shared-Learning Workshops(1) The Shared-Learning Workshops, that MECS Project has been organizing, are costly fororganizer to bear expenditure of participants' flights and accommodations, transport for fieldvisits, venues, etc. Shared-Learning, however, is not necessarily done in a form of workshop,
but can be applied in daily activities. Depending on the budget and other resources available,
the ideas in the guideline can be applied flexibly to any forms of activities. Further
discussions and follow-ups may be required to fully explore the potential of the guideline.5(2) The guideline does not discuss logistic and administrative aspects of Shared-Learning
Workshops. These aspects may vary widely based on conditions and environment,
particularly in the times of rapid inflation and a transition period of de-centralization. The
officers therefore need to arrange logistic and administrative issues according to the working
conditions and environment. Such flexibility would be another issue for the management of
the Shared-Learning programs in the future.6
3-6-4 AMNET(1) In some ASEAN countries, governmental organization in charge of mangrove is different
from that in charge of ASOF, which requires careful coordination and arrangements ininvitation protocol and other administrative arrangements for AMNET-related activities. Even
if National Coordinators/ Coordinating Units, who are supposed to be the focal point, aredeveloped in respective countries, AMNET activities should be reported to ASOF in every
country. Some kinds of measure/ system to secure such domestic coordination should be
discussed and adopted.7(2) AMNET would encourage data collection and database development as discussed above.
Including factsheet development, how to collect information, what information to collect,
2

Ministry of Forestry Indonesia and Japan International Cooperation Agency (2014). Final report of the MECS Project.
Ministry of Forestry Indonesia and Japan International Cooperation Agency (2014). Final report of the MECS Project.
4
Ministry of Forestry Indonesia and Japan International Cooperation Agency (2014). Final report of the MECS Project.
5
Ministry of Forestry Indonesia and Japan International Cooperation Agency (2014). Final report of the MECS Project.
6
Ministry of Forestry Indonesia and Japan International Cooperation Agency (2014). Final report of the MECS Project.
7
Ministry of Forestry Indonesia and Japan International Cooperation Agency (2014). Final report of the MECS Project.
3－ viii －who can access such information, and who and how to manage the database may need to be
discussed further. AMNET Secretariat would be expected to take initiatives for compiling anddrafting the idea and coordinating with the members.8(3) ASEC's support would be very helpful to smoothly operate and manage AMNET. Good
coordination and close communication between ASEC and AMNET Secretariat should bemaintained and further strengthened.9
3-6-5

Surabaya Call for Action"Surabaya Call for Action on Mainstreaming Mangrove Ecosystem Management inSoutheast Asia" was developed in ASEAN Regional Symposium in March 2013. This is anachievement of the Symposium, and putting it into practice across the Southeast Asian
Nations should be pursued. AMNET need to discuss its application to their concrete
activities.10

3-7 Lessons Learned (matters that will be helpful for exploring, formulating, implementing, andadministering other similar projects, derived from this project)
3-7-1 Collaboration and partnership with ASEAN modality
This Japan/Indonesia bilateral project has successfully contributed to the proposal andestablishment of AMNET as an ASEAN knowledge network modality. In the course of the process,
JICA, as an agency of non-ASEAN Members States, took cautious and indirect approach todiscussions among ASEAN Members States (AMS) on the matter in respecting guidance of ASEAN
Secretariat (ASEC) and intention of Indonesia. Such a protocol is a lesson learned by JICA, and is
to be fed to future planning and management of project for support of ASEAN modality, whose
ownership and responsibility is solely under AMS.
3-7-2 Shared-learning workshop(1) A total of eight shared-learning workshops were held, for which the C/Ps carried out thecoordination, workshop preparations and implementation, and report writing together withproject experts and staff. It is judged that the C/Ps acquired the knowledge and techniques onshared-learning workshops sufficiently through a series of these kinds of collaborative work.
It is believed that this type of participatory activity implementation can be applied to otherprojects.
(2) Involvement of the host sites, particularly local governments, in preparation is crucial forgood coordination, effective implementation, and functional follow-up and monitoring of
Shared-Learning Workshops. Prior discussion on role sharing would facilitate thepost-workshop activities effectively.
3-8

8
9
10

Follow-up situations
None.

Ministry of Forestry Indonesia, and Japan International Cooperation Agency (2014). Final report of the MECS Project.
Ministry of Forestry Indonesia and Japan International Cooperation Agency (2014). Final report of the MECS Project.
Ministry of Forestry Indonesia and Japan International Cooperation Agency (2014). Final report of the MECS Project.

－ ix －