To evaluate the Etosha National Park (ENP) Activity, Abt Associates conducted a mixed-methods, ex-post performance evaluation drawing on primary and secondary data sources and using multiple methods to address each of the evaluation questions. The evaluation team gathered and analyzed qualitative data from key informant interviews (KIIs) and focus group discussions (FGDs) to understand perceptions of important trends in metrics at ENP, as well as changes in ENP management and staffing. Abt also conducted online surveys of Namibian businesses and members of the travel trade to collect data on perceptions of the Activity and its effects. These primary sources of data were supplemented with with secondary data on Namibian tourist arrivals, ENP revenue and arrivals. Although there were limitations in the secondary data, to the extent possible the evaluation team analyzed and compared specific trends pre-Tourism Project with trends during and after the Tourism Project.
Evaluation questions for the ENP Activity included:
1. Was the ENP Activity implemented according to plan?
2. What is the current condition of Compact-supported infrastructure and what resources have been allocated to maintain it?
3. To what extent have the changes introduced by the ENP Change Management Advisor been adopted by ENP? If not, why not? How do staff perceive the usefulness of those changes? What lessons were learned that can be applied to similar institutional reform interventions in the future?
4. What has been the trend in key program outcomes, what are key stakeholders' perceptions of these trends and in what ways might the ENP Activity have played a role in those trends:
5. How sustainable are outcomes related to Compact-related ENP investments?
6. Were there any unintended consequences that stemmed from implementing the activities?