The Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF) is the only UNFCCC fund dedicated to supporting climate adaptation in LDCs. For nearly two decades it has financed urgent priorities, from policy integration to community resilience.

This evaluation updates the 2016 review, assessing progress under the 2018–22 GEF Programming Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change.

LDCF support continues to be highly relevant to COP guidance, the GEF adaptation strategy, and countries’ development agendas.

Evaluation overview

• Outcome sustainability is often constrained by weak project design, limited resources, and scarce private sector involvement, leaving many benefits vulnerable after closure.
• Stronger results emerged where projects built institutional capacity, mainstreamed adaptation into policy, and piloted technologies that catalyzed larger initiatives. Postcompletion reviews confirmed benefits endured when stakeholder engagement and coordination were strong.
• The report recommends fully operationalizing the Gender Equality Policy, improving design and implementation measures that enhance durability, and ensuring systematic reporting on gender outcomes.

Methodology

The evaluation reviews 60 projects since 2016, drawing on portfolio analysis, terminal evaluations, and field visits to Rwanda and Samoa, complemented by interviews with agencies, governments, and civil society stakeholders.