Marking the start of systematic portfolio review, the 1996 PPR assessed 70 active projects to establish early lessons for GEF operations.

The 1996 Project Performance Report (PPR) reviews 70 projects active for at least one year as of June 1996, marking the first time GEF activities could be assessed across their full cycle from initiation through completion.

The review draws on the annual Project Implementation Review within UNDP’s monitoring and evaluation framework, complemented by continuous reporting from project managers, government partners, UNDP country offices, and UNDP-GEF headquarters. UNDP, as the main Implementing Agency involved, consolidated findings and began broader dissemination of lessons to regional bureaux and country offices, while noting that many insights are also relevant to UNEP and the World Bank.

The report emphasizes that education, institutional strengthening, capacity building, and training are central to embedding global environmental objectives in national strategies, but that clear indicators to measure human and institutional capacity are urgently needed. It also highlights recurring challenges in project design and implementation, including underestimated resource needs, weak risk management, and unclear responsibilities.

The report recommends that the Council develop standardized capacity indicators, improve design and cofinancing practices, strengthen government and civil society participation, and expand knowledge-sharing systems to improve sustainability and impact.