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Final evaluation of the project “Adaptive management and monitoring of the Maghreb’s oases systems”

Project code: GCP/SNE/002/GFF GEF ID: 5798

Year of publication 2020

Place of publication Rome, Italy ;

Pages 60 p.

Author FAO

Publisher FAO ;

Product type Book (series)

ISBN 978-92-5-133016-6

Series title Project Evaluation Series

Series number no. 07/2020

To cite or share https://doi.org/10.4060/ca9920en

Synopsis (short abstract) The Maghreb's oases systems provide a major contribution to the region's food security, economy and protection of natural resources and play an essential role in the settlement of populations through job creation. Despite this potential, oasis ecosystems are threatened by a range of complex factors related to the expansion of agricultural land, increasing scarcity of water resources and competition for water. The project “Adaptive management and monitoring of the Maghreb's oases systems", implemented by FAO in Tunisia, Morocco and Mauritania from May 2016 to December 2019, brought together several key stakeholders from these three oasis countries, in order to address the lack of available information on the status of oases and to advocate on factual bases shared by all stakeholders and verifiable in the field. The project, which adopted a participatory approach, achieved its results, including strengthening the institutional and technical capacities for the management of oasis production systems, and those of local stakeholders to disseminate knowledge and deliver training on good practices. In terms of concrete achievements, all project components were implemented, except for the monitoring and evaluation component, which had mixed results. In the three countries, at different levels, efforts still need to be made to finalize the introduction of data into the Geographic Information System (GIS) and to ensure the adaptive management of the oases as envisaged by the project. In view of the role of oases as a crossroads of civilisations and a fundamental model of sustainability, it is important for FAO to establish an oasis data management system within FAOSTAT.

Management response

Follow-up report

Cite this content as:

FAO. 2020. Final evaluation of the project “Adaptive management and monitoring of the Maghreb’s oases systems”. Project Evaluation Series, 07/2020. Rome.

https://doi.org/10.4060/ca9920en

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Language English

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    Au Maghreb, les oasis s’étalent sur environ 350 000 hectares et leur contribution à la sécurité alimentaire de la région, à l’économie des pays ainsi qu’à la protection des ressources naturelles constitue un atout majeur du développement et de l’équilibre de ces territoires. Malgré ce potentiel, les écosystèmes oasiens sont menacés par tout un ensemble de facteurs biophysiques et socio-économiques complexes. Devant l’ampleur et l’envergure de contraintes qui menacent leur durabilité, chaque pays du Maghreb essaie de mener des actions visant à protéger le caractère exceptionnel et universel des oasis à travers la réalisation de plusieurs projets ou à travers la coopération internationale. La FAO en Tunisie, au Maroc et en Mauritanie a mis en œuvre, de mai 2016 à novembre 2019, un projet en conformité avec les priorités nationales afin d’améliorer, d’étendre et de pérenniser la gestion adaptative et la surveillance des systèmes d'oasis du Maghreb. Le projet, qui a adopté une approche participative, est parvenu à renforcer les capacités institutionnelles et techniques pour la gestion des systèmes de production oasiens. En termes de réalisations physiques, toutes les composantes du projet ont été mises en œuvre, avec des résultats hétérogènes. Dans les trois pays, à des niveaux différents, des efforts doivent encore être faits pour finaliser l’introduction des données dans le Système d'information géographique (SIG) et pour assurer la gestion adaptative des oasis telle qu’envisagée par le projet. Au vu du rôle que jouent les oasis comme carrefour des civilisations et modèle fondamental de durabilité, il est aussi important que la FAO mette en place un système de gestion des données relatif aux oasis au sein de FAOSTAT.
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    Final evaluation of the project “Conservation of biodiversity and mitigation of land degradation through adaptive management of agricultural heritage systems
    Project code: GCP/MOR/044/GFF GEF ID: 5481
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    Morocco has a diverse and varied landscape, as part of the Mediterranean basin. Nevertheless, the country's valuable biodiversity, including the Atlas Mountains and its oasis systems, is threatened. 30 000 hectares of plant cover are thus lost each year in Morocco; this has significant consequences on the various species that depend on this cover for their protection, and creates a vicious circle. Biodiversity conservation and mitigation of land degradation through adaptive management of agricultural heritage systems are a priority for the country. To face these challenges, between April 2015 and December 2019, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) with the contribution of the Government of Morocco through its multiple Action Plans; the effective involvement of the technical units of the central, regional and provincial Directorates of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development (MAPM), and Water and Forests (MAPMDREF), have implemented a project with the participation of the populations of the various communities concerned. Project activities were carried out at five oasis sites. The contribution of the project to the current political discourse on oases and the pioneering role in the use of Globally important agricultural heritage system (GIAHS) certification are important achievements. However, although the project appears innovative and timely, its relevance could have been strengthened with a more balanced intervention logic in terms of its objectives and the duration of its implementation. The project relies on GIAHS certification to achieve its objectives, but due to delays with the project start-up, and the dispersed and isolated nature of the sites, not all of the certification processes were successful despite being initiated. This created disparities in opportunities. Beyond the labelling of crops, the project aimed to promote biodiversity integration into markets, notably through organic farming. However, several activities remain incomplete, compromising the project’s effectiveness. The project suffers from poor communication, both internally and externally. As progress on the sites is uneven, the sustainability of the project interventions is also uneven; however, the promotion of oasis cultures needs to be supported and sustained.
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