This report represents the views of the independent Evaluation Mission on the performance and achievements of the EMPRES (Desert Locust Component) Central Region Programme (EMPRES/CR). The programme began its first phase in 1997; the second phase began in January 2001 and was scheduled to end in December 2003. The present evaluation focuses on this phase of the programme. The Mission took place from 24 February to 10 March 2003; three EMPRES/CR countries were visited (Egypt, Eritrea, and Sudan).
The evaluation was initiated with a view to providing donors, collaborating agencies and countries as well as FAO with an independent and objective assessment of the current status of implementation of the project, including a review of problems faced. A summary report based on the debriefing document prepared by the evaluation mission was presented to the EMPRES/CR Planning Workshop in May 2003; the present full version of the report contains extended discussions of issues and recommendations identified by the evaluation mission members.