Small island developing states (SIDS) face environmental and economic risks that far outweigh their size.

The Strategic Country Cluster Evaluation (SCCE) examines whether GEF support between 2006 and 2018—spanning 337 projects across 39 SIDS, including significant LDCF and SCCF investment—effectively addressed these vulnerabilities. Using a mixed-methods approach combining country visits, interviews, and project analysis, the evaluation assesses relevance, performance, and sustainability.

The evaluation traces the GEF's shift from stand-alone projects toward integrated, multifocal programming—and what that evolution has meant for national alignment and environmental outcomes.

Drawing on programs like Ridge-to-Reef, CPDP, and ISLANDS, it examines where integrated approaches have advanced conservation and climate resilience, and where institutional capacity constraints, implementation delays, and weak monitoring frameworks have held back results. It also interrogates how well the portfolio has addressed sustainability, inter-agency coordination, and cross-cutting themes including gender, private sector engagement, and South-South learning.

The evaluation recommends deepening Agency engagement in SIDS, scaling integrated and multiphase projects, fostering South-South learning and innovation, and advancing targeted solutions in renewable energy and waste management.