Chemicals are central to modern life but their mismanagement threatens ecosystems, health, and development. GEF serves as the financial mechanism for the Stockholm and Minamata Conventions, making its role in chemicals and waste essential.
This evaluation addresses how GEF interventions remain relevant, effective, and sustainable as global priorities shift from single chemicals to sector-wide approaches.
An integrated approach to programming is essential for effective chemicals and waste management, particularly in sectors like garment and food packaging.
Evaluation overview
- Persistent barriers include limited access to finance, uneven support for national implementation plans, weak monitoring systems, and inconsistent enforcement of laws, all of which constrain long-term results.
- Successful projects align policy reform, private-sector engagement, and community participation, with evidence of scaling when innovations are paired with enabling legislation, training, and financing. Failures often stem from underused equipment, overlooked small enterprises, and insufficient local ownership.
- Recommendations focus on strengthening regulatory reforms and awareness, broadening engagement with the private sector and SMEs, ensuring full use of investments through stronger capacity building, and integrating health co-benefit indicators into project design and monitoring.
Methodology
The evaluation reviews 487 projects across GEF-5 to GEF-8, drawing on portfolio analysis, case studies in six countries, document review, and stakeholder interviews.
