Evaluating GEF engagement in Sri Lanka highlights the challenge of turning pioneering biodiversity and energy reforms into sustainable, scalable models.

Covering 1991–2012, the evaluation reviews 23 national projects with $60 million in GEF funding within $396 million total investment, plus regional and global engagement, using portfolio analysis and interviews. Biodiversity projects align with national priorities and introduce participatory protected-area management, but progress from foundational work to investment is uneven and sustainability after closure mixed. Climate change support removes policy and financing barriers, establishes transparent tariffs, and catalyzes private mini-hydro and solar uptake, though long-term financing and biomass integration need further progress.

Learning improves in later cycles with explicit budgets for dissemination, yet approval times lengthen, monitoring is inconsistently applied, and national ownership depends on the extent of institutional engagement in project design.

The report recommends that GEF Agencies regularly transmit monitoring information to the operational focal point and stakeholders, complete and upload terminal evaluations, and use these data to inform design, strengthen lesson uptake, and scale viable models through well-scoped national projects.