Results-based management (RBM) provides a framework for linking GEF investments to measurable outcomes and informing accountability, learning, and decision making.

As part of the Sixth Comprehensive Evaluation (OPS6), the Independent Evaluation Office reviewed RBM performance from 2014 to 2018 through document and data analysis, including the Project Management Information System (PMIS), and interviews with staff from the Secretariat, Agencies, and conventions.

The evaluation finds that RBM has strengthened accountability and improved corporate reporting to the Council and conventions, but its contribution to adaptive management and evidence-based decision making remains limited.

The absence of a clear theory of change and defined timeframes weakens the link between project results and broader environmental impacts. Tools were streamlined in GEF-6, yet the system continues to track an excessive number of indicators, while data quality and availability remain uneven. The PMIS has not kept pace with the operational needs of the Partnership, reducing its utility for management.

The report recommends updating the RBM framework, upgrading the PMIS to support more effective reporting, and improving the design and use of focal area tracking tools.