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.

The land degradation focal area (LDFA), established in 2002, combines the principles of a landscape approach and integrated ecosystem management to maximize the global environmental benefits of combating land degradation. The purpose of this study is to inform the GEF-7 replenishment process by evaluating the Global Environment Facility's (GEF's) LDFA based on evidence gathered. It derives lessons and insights on the relevance, efficiency, and effectiveness of the LDFA portfolio.

The study presented here covers 485 LDFA projects through an analysis of the results of completed projects, quality at entry assessments, and 20 key informant interviews. It also includes a value for money (VFM) analysis of LDFA projects to understand the efficiency of GEF investments in this focal area.