IEO conducts accountability and learning-focused evaluations that generate lessons learned for the GEF. The evaluations focus on results, impact and performance of the GEF, and address strategic issues of the partnership.
Overall Performance Studies (OPS) are performed every four years to provide solid evaluative evidence to donors. These evaluations provide an independent assessment of performance and results of the GEF over a GEF replenishment period. The comprehensive evaluations assess the extent to which the GEF is achieving its objectives and identify potential areas of improvement.
Impact of GEF Support on National Environmental Laws and Policies in Selected Countries 2017
This evaluation examines how GEF-funded projects in six different countries led to changes in national legislative statutes and regulations.
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Climate Change (CC) Focal Area Study 2017
The main purpose of this study was to provide insight and lessons for GEF’s climate change support moving forward, by assessing the relevance, results, effectiveness, and lessons learned through GEF support to the issues of climate change mitigation and adaptation. The findings of this study and other complementary GEF Independent Evaluation Office (IEO) evaluations will feed into the Sixth Comprehensive Evaluation of the GEF. This report specifically provides:
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Land Degradation Focal Area (LDFA) Study 2017
This comprehensive study covers GEF grant funding activities in agricultural lands, rangelands, degraded productive lands, desert lands, and combating deforestation and desertification.
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Comparative Advantage, Adequacy of Funding / Financing, Health of the Expanded GEF Partnership and Governance Structure 2017
This evaluation addressed three key components of the Sixth Comprehensive Evaluation of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) (OPS6): the comparative advantage of the GEF as a funding channel, the adequacy of donor funding/financing, and the current governance structure and health of the expanded partnership of the GEF.
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Chemicals and Waste (CW) Focal Area Study 2017
This study is the first comprehensive study of the Chemicals and Waste (CW) focal area undertaken by the Global Environment Facility’s (GEF) Independent Evaluation Office (IEO), encompassing the GEF’s grant funding for activities focused on persistent organic pollutants (POPs), ozone depleting substances (ODS), mercury, and sound chemical management more generally. The GEF serves as the Financial Mechanism for the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants and for the Minamata Convention on Mercury.
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Evaluation of the GEF-UNIDO Global Cleantech Innovation Programme 2018
The Global Environment Facility/United Nations Industrial Development Organization (GEF/UNIDO) Global Cleantech Innovation Programme (GCIP) for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) seeks to encourage cleantech entrepreneurial solutions for pressing environmental and economic challenges, particularly climate change. The purpose of this Evaluation of the GCIP is to provide stakeholders (GEF Council, GEF Secretariat, participating country Operational Focal Points, and UNIDO) with insights into the program and lessons for similar future projects/programs.
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International Waters (IW) Focal Area Study 2016
The Independent Evaluation Office recently undertook a third study of the International Waters focal area, with the previous ones completed in 2002 and 2005. The purpose of this study is to provide insights and lessons for GEF-7 based on evidence from an analysis of the IW portfolio, terminal evaluations of completed projects, interviews with stakeholders, and remote sensing analysis. English
Evaluation of the Expansion of the GEF Partnership 2016
During the GEF-5 replenishment negotiations it was agreed that, within the framework of paragraph 28 of the GEF Instrument, the GEF partnership needs to be broadened further to enhance country ownership in the GEF operation and to provide recipient countries greater choice in terms of agencies with which they work. At the request of GEF Council, GEF Independent Evaluation Office (GEF IEO) conducted a Process Evaluation of the Expansion of the GEF Partnership to assess the design, transparency and efficiency related aspects of the accreditation process.
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Evaluation of the GEF’S System for Transparent Allocation of Resources (STAR) 2017
In September 2005, the GEF Council agreed to implement a resource allocation framework for the GEF 4 replenishment period. Implementation of the resource allocation framework started in 2006 and it covered biodiversity and climate change focal areas. During its implementation, several weaknesses in its design such as group allocations for some countries, a 50 percent ceiling on resource utilization within first two years of replenishment period, and inadequacy of set-asides, became apparent.
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Formative Review of the Integrated Approach Pilot (IAP) Programs 2017
This evaluation is a formative review of the three Integrated Approach Pilots introduced in GEF-6. They were designed to implement integrated programming as a means of achieving systemic change at scale by addressing the major drivers of global environmental degradation in a holistic way. They are:
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