Evaluation Report   TRILATERAL WADDEN SEA COOPERATION EXTERNAL EVALUATION   The Trilateral Wadden Sea Cooperation has been subject to an external evaluation by Dr. Mike Moser and Dr. Andy Brown. Dr. Moser is former director, Wetlands International and former chair of English Nature. Dr. Brown is former Chief Executive of English Nature. The Evaluation Report was submitted to the Trilateral Cooperation in June 2007 and disseminated to all participants of the Cooperation, to those who completed the Questionnaire or participated in interviews and through the website of the secretariat with an invitation for any reactions to the report and its recommendations. On the basis of the reactions and further discussions at a meeting of the Senior Officials in September 2007 it was agreed to task Dr. Moser and Dr. Brown with a follow-up assignment. The Evaluation Report specifies the following central recommendations essential for the strategic development of the Wadden Sea Cooperation: 1.    A refreshed Foundation Agreement for the Cooperation should be adopted, which is fit for purpose, forward-looking and provides for strong governance. 2.    A new governing body for the Cooperation, the “Trilateral Wadden Sea Board”, should be established (replacing SO, HOD and TWG levels) with full responsibility for determining strategy, policy coordination, supervising the operational bodies and assessing delivery. TOR and Rules of Procedure should be prepared for the Board and its Chair. Membership of the Board should comprise 2 governmental representatives from each country (a senior official plus a Wadden Sea expert), plus up to four independent members and an independent Chair. 3.    A Trilateral Governmental (Ministerial) Council should be established to replace the Trilateral Governmental Conference. TOR for the Council should be prepared for adoption at the first meeting. 4.     A Wadden Sea Conference should be held once every six years in rotation between countries, to review and contribute to the further development of the Wadden Sea Plan. Other themed workshops and conferences should be organised on a needs basis. 5.     The current TOR for the CWSS should be updated to address the present and future needs of the Cooperation, and the human and financial resources adjusted and allocated accordingly. 6.    A Strategic Plan should be developed to define and refresh the long-term Vision, Mission and Strategy for the Cooperation, including both programmatic and institutional development. Moser and Brown are tasked to develop these proposals and support, as appropriate, negotiations within and between the delegations, with the aim of achieving: 1.    The signature by the three ministers at a side event ceremony at the 9th Conference of Parties of the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD COP9, Bonn, 28 May 2008, of the refreshed Foundation Agreement for the Wadden Sea Cooperation within which the elaboration of the new governance mechanisms for the Cooperation to be implemented after May 2008 shall be strived for. 2.     Strategic Plan and all TOR ready for full implementation in January 2009 In accordance with the recommendations of the Evaluation Report, Moser and Brown will prepare in a participatory way the following documents and support negotiations within and between the delegations: 1.    The refreshed Foundation Agreement. 2.    The new governance mechanisms (Board, Governmental Council etc) 3.    A Strategic Plan for the Cooperation, covering the period 2009-2014, and appropriate amendments to the TOR for the CWSS and other related documentation (eg planning and reporting cycles). The Tasks will be implemented in two phases: a) up to CBD COP9 (Tasks 1 and 2); b) from June to October 2008 (majority of Task 3). Contact: Common Wadden Sea Secretariat, Wilhelmshaven     Download Evaluation Report (PDF)