Balancing global environmental goals with local needs remains one of the toughest challenges in sustainable development. 

This study examines how local benefits contribute to achieving and sustaining global environmental gains in the GEF portfolio, drawing on 132 projects, including 18 field case studies, complemented by document reviews and stakeholder interviews. It finds that in many focal areas, local and global benefits are strongly interlinked, particularly where long-term changes in human behavior are required. Successful projects align local incentives with global objectives through policy reform, capacity building, and livelihood support.

The study also finds that insufficient social analysis, weak attention to trade-offs, and overreliance on income-generating activities such as ecotourism often limited results. “Win-win” outcomes proved difficult to achieve universally, as environmental protection frequently imposed costs on local communities unless offset by adequate compensation or alternatives. More recent projects show stronger integration of local benefits, pointing to improved practice over time.

The evaluation recommends more systematic incorporation of local incentives into project design, greater use of social and institutional expertise, and clearer mechanisms to manage trade-offs between local and global benefits.

This report was presented during: GEF Council Meeting 27