The Country Support Program (CSP) is GEF’s primary channel for strengthening country ownership and access to resources.

Since 1999, it has provided direct support through national dialogues, constituency workshops, and related events that connect stakeholders with GEF policies and priorities.

Yet despite its central role, the program lacks a clear strategy and consistent approach to planning and inclusion. This evaluation reviews CSP performance under GEF-6 and GEF-7 and provides lessons for the upcoming replenishment.

Evaluation overview

• The program faces persistent challenges in aligning timing and content of dialogues with country needs, in extending inclusiveness beyond events, and in operating without a clear strategy or theory of change.
• CSP activities build capacity, strengthen ownership, and facilitate dialogue that links national priorities to GEF strategies, but the benefits are uneven across countries, with limited follow-through in some low-capacity contexts.
• The report recommends developing a clear strategy with appropriate resources, strengthening technical expertise and monitoring systems, revisiting timing of dialogues, enhancing inclusiveness beyond events, and applying a more customized approach to capacity building.

Methodology

Evidence comes from portfolio review, survey and interview data, and case studies.