The mid-term evaluation will comprise an evaluation of The Strategy (the overall framework and scope) as well as an evaluation of its building blocks (evaluation of progress made in implementing The Strategy; evaluation of the performance and effectiveness of the CRIC; evaluation of the performance review and assessment of implementation system (PRAIS); and review of the Regional Coordination Mechanism arrangements). Additionally, the mid-term evaluation will include an evaluation of the performance and effectiveness of the CST in fulfilling operational objective 3 on how best to measure progress on strategic objectives 1, 2 and 3 of The Strategy.

 

At COP 10 in 2011, Parties adopted the terms of reference for the mid-term evaluation. They decided to establish an ad hoc Intersessional Working Group (IWG), subject to available funding, to prepare recommendations on the mid-term evaluation under the direction of the Bureau of the COP. The IWG has been in place since early March 2012, and it consists of 14 members, comprising the President of the COP, the Chairperson of the CRIC, the Chairperson of the CST, two members from each of the five regional groups, and one representative from civil society organizations accredited to the COP.

 

The IWG operates primarily by electronic means. It will convene up to four meetings during the biennium 2012-2013, taking advantage of the meetings of the COP Bureau, the sessions of the CRIC and the CST and/or other suitable occasions, when possible. The secretariat of the Convention facilitates the work of the IWG, supported by the Global Mechanism where relevant and in accordance with its mandate.

The first meeting of the IWG was held on 26-27 March 2012 in Bonn. At the beginning of this meeting, the IWG appointed Mr. Chencho Norbu from Bhutan as the Chair of the group.  The IWG also appointed Ms. Barbara De Rosa-Joynt from USA as the Vice-Chair of the group.

The focus of the first meeting was on organisational matters: the main outputs to be produced, the organisation of work in producing the outputs, and the related schedule and facilities. The IWG agreed that first documents to be prepared would be those concerning the evaluation of the Strategy and the review of the regional coordination mechanisms. The outlines of the other documents would be prepared next, but the completion of these documents would wait until the key information concerning the 2012-2013 reporting and review process becomes available. The final report of the IWG would be prepared by June 2013.

The second meeting of the IWG was held  from 31 October to 3 November in Bonn. The group considered the methodology of the evaluation and the documentation for each of the six evaluation components, and produced an inventory of the most essential data to be used for the analysis for each component. The IWG also considered the schedule for the next steps, including the organisation of a participatory consultative process for acquiring feedback from Parties and other stakeholders. In December 2012 -January 2013, the IWG will conduct a survey for acquiring further data, to be followed by the preparation of the first draft conclusions for each component.

Third IWG meeting will be held after CRIC 11 in April 2013.