Mainstreaming gender is essential for linking environmental sustainability with equitable outcomes, yet until recently the GEF lacked a coherent framework to ensure consistent practice across its portfolio.

To address this gap, the Policy on Gender Mainstreaming was adopted in 2011 and operationalized through the Gender Equality Action Plan (GEAP) in 2014. This OPS6 sub-study covers the period from 2011 to 2017, drawing on a quality-at-entry review of projects, reassessment of OPS5 baselines, meta-analysis of agency policies, field visits in three countries, and interviews with stakeholders.

The evaluation finds that gender-blind projects have declined dramatically, but improvements in projects rated gender sensitive or gender mainstreamed remain limited.

Projects that conducted gender analyses performed better, yet fewer than 16 percent did so before approval. While the policy has raised attention to gender, its provisions are inconsistently interpreted, data collection is uneven, and institutional capacity remains insufficient. The GEAP and the GEF Gender Partnership have provided useful frameworks, but further progress is needed. The report recommends revising the policy to align with international standards, developing a robust action plan for GEF-7, and strengthening institutional capacity with adequate resources.