Abstract
In August, 2013 the Promoting Long-Term Sustainability of Parque Nacional Cordillera Azul project finishes its operations after 5 years of implementation, including its original period and two extensions1 under an award from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID.) In this period, the award adds up to almost $5 million in support to the project. USAID/Peru has commissioned this evaluation to assess the effectiveness of the Parque Nacional Cordillera Azul (PNCAZ) project in achieving its objectives over the last 5 years. USAID/Peru is also interested in learning from the process and identifying factors that may have contributed to the project’s success or failure. Thus, the evaluation responds to three main objectives: (1) to document the implementation process; (2) to learn to what extend the project’s expected results have been achieved; and (3) to identify lessons learned from this experience that may be applicable to similar parks or projects. The evaluation's statement of work (SOW) established three evaluation questions that guide the analysis presented in this report: (1) was the Parque Nacional Cordillera Azul effectively protected; (2) has the project contributed to the long-term sustainability of the Park and its management; and (3) what are the key elements of this project that can be replicated in future initiatives to preserve biodiversity and avoid CO2 emissions. (Excerpt, modified)