Effective knowledge management is critical for GEF to convert project experience into broader environmental impact, yet persistent gaps constrain how knowledge is captured, shared, and used across the partnership.

The IEO reviewed knowledge management from 2005 to 2016 through a meta-analysis of 26 country evaluations, benchmarking against peer organizations, surveys, and interviews.

Findings show that GEF projects generate substantial knowledge influencing national policies and academic research, but documentation is uneven and rarely integrated into central systems, leaving access inconsistent across agencies and countries.

As a result, GEF operates more as a provider of lessons outward than as a broker that organizes and connects knowledge within the partnership.

Compared with peers, GEF lacks a coherent strategy, standardized practices, and reliable repositories to ensure evidence consistently informs decisions.

The report recommends strengthening documentation, upgrading the information platform, and establishing a partnership-wide plan to link agency systems, produce cross-cutting knowledge, and expand opportunities for joint learning.