EVALUATION

4.2 CONCLUSIONS
Overall, ECOFISH Project is on track to achieving its six targeted key results, and
producing required information to measure its results indicators and answer the 12
evaluation questions by end of implementation. Specific concluding statements are
presented below according to the three evaluation objectives.
Objective A: Evaluability of the 12 Evaluation
Six (50 percent) of the 12 evaluation questions are evaluable or can be measured at midterm,
and the other six (6) questions may be answered by end of the project life in consideration of
the current measures and processes being implemented to collect the required information.
The evaluability of these latter six evaluation questions depend on certain conditions as briefly
discussed below.
Evaluation Question 1: Achievement of this evaluation question requires the project to focus
on the primary drivers that will lead to better employment. “Better employment” or “new
employment” can be achieved through establishment of operational and profitable enterprises
or shifting to jobs that are not depleting fish resources (e.g., ecotourism and SMEs in growth
centers near MKBAs).
Evaluation Questions 4, 5 and 6: These questions relating to achieving Key Result B (i.e., 10
percent increase in the number of people gaining new or better employment from sustainable
fisheries management) are the most challenging concerns because the project is required to
establish and demonstrate profitable social enterprises that could be effectively and sustainably
managed by local fisher groups or community partners within their capacities to generate
household income, reduce household fishing effort and contribute to EAFM outcomes.
Evaluation Question 10: In theory, right sizing of fishing effort addresses the ideal carrying
capacity of a fishing ground. With the current project interventions, the MPE team is confident
that this is achievable by EOP, but there should be presence of other economic and social
enterprises that fishing households and communities can earn a living to reduce pressures on
fisheries. Right sizing of fishing effort is best done when LGUs have reached EAFM Level 2
status, where revenue-generating measures are expected to be effectively implemented and
enforced by LGUs, and successful coastal environment-friendly enterprises are expanded by
community partners under the guidance of the project or its strategic partners.
Evaluation Question 11: The social capital and leadership formation initiatives by the project
are the major drivers for good governance and management of MKBAs and their networks of
MPAs. The continued operation and expansion of inter-LGU collaborations is the key to the
success of such initiatives due to their political mandates, financial resources and institutional
contacts in the project sites as demonstrated in SN and VIP MKBAs.
In addition, the quantitative analysis being done by ECOFISH Project using fish visual census and
catch data will provide information to validate increases in fish stocks vis-à-vis fishing pressure
reduction, and substantiate the answer to Evaluation Question 2. The MPE team agrees with
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