As GEF support matures in diverse political and ecological contexts, evaluations in countries like Cameroon, Egypt, and Syria test whether early investments have translated into sustained environmental and institutional gains.

This report synthesizes findings from evaluations in these three countries to examine results at the global environmental level, alignment with national priorities, and efficiency of implementation processes.

The evaluation finds that GEF support has generated notable global environmental benefits, particularly in biodiversity conservation and sustainable use, and has introduced climate change mitigation measures, including energy efficiency initiatives. In other focal areas, results have been largely limited to establishing policy frameworks, action plans, and national capacity, while sustaining achievements over time remains a challenge.

Country ownership varies, with many project ideas shaped by GEF Agencies and external drivers, particularly for regional and global projects, and the effectiveness of the focal point mechanism is closely tied to portfolio size.

To strengthen effectiveness, the evaluation recommends addressing resource gaps for land degradation, improving support for countries with limited access to financial institutions, and enhancing monitoring systems. The Council endorsed follow-up on these recommendations.