A review on the status of the Wetlands Alliance Program (WAP) was
performed from 15-24 September 2008, before the formal evaluation of
the program that has been tentatively planned to be held in early 2009.
Mr. Borje Wallberg and Dr.
Jean-Lacoursiere conducted the review focusing n being able to
provide feedback to the Alliance partners on Sida’s concerns. The
reviewers found that the Alliance made significant progress since the
last review almost a year ago.
The cooperation among all partners has improved and is now guided by
established mechanisms. The progress was summed up by the reviewers in
the paragraph
“The general conclusion of this “soft review” is that, after a slow
start – which in retrospect has not been necessarily bad for the future
of the program – the Wetlands Alliance Program is now well underway.
The regional partners are now working in a true alliance. The field
work is now starting up at a larger scale.”
From AIT’s perspective, the reviewers found that the development of
the professional bachelor degree on Poverty Reduction and Agricultural
Management (PRAM) is another great step forward. PRAM is an important
initiative that will link and create more opportunities for involvement
among all the partners and stakeholders.
Moreover, Sida supported and endorsed President Said Irandoust’s
proposal to appoint Mr. Nick Innes-Taylor (WAP Field
Coordinator) to the position of Co-Director for Professional Programs.
The nomination for Mr Innes-Taylor’s appointment was considered was
unanimous as well as valuable and strategic. This move represents
future possibilities to create more value to AITs profile and niche in
the region.
The reviewers were satisfied with the findings on the Wetlands
Alliance Program, especially the increased activity over the past six
months. Although the team also acknowledged that there will now be an
increasing need to monitor the program’s progress and problems closer.
More activities are expected to emerge in this field within the next
months.
The reviewers debriefed the WAP partners on 22 September 2008 during a
whole day work shop. A summary was presented to the AIT President and
the Vice President for Research on 23 September 2008. The report was
finalized by 30 September 2008.