As the Pacific islands confront rising climate threats and biodiversity pressures with limited resources, the Vanuatu and Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) country portfolio evaluation tests whether GEF support has been effective in strengthening resilience and delivering global environmental benefits in small island developing states.

Covering 1991 to 2012, the assessment draws on interviews, portfolio analysis, and field reviews to show that enabling activities built essential national plans and frameworks, raised awareness, and supported international commitments, though sustaining these gains remains difficult.

Community-based approaches delivered positive outcomes at the local level but struggled to expand nationally due to limited capacity and funding. Climate change initiatives built on national committees embedded in government frameworks, while other focal areas lost capacity and ownership once external funding ended. Efficiency was hampered by long project preparation times, and lessons from monitoring were not consistently applied.

The report recommends aligning action plans more closely with national priorities, mainstreaming coordination mechanisms, reducing approval delays, strengthening knowledge sharing, and enhancing SPREP’s technical support role.