Global environment facility : independent evaluation of the pilot phase

The Global Environment Facility (GEF), which began its three-year pilot phase in 1991, was envisioned as a collaborative international effort to identify and support innovative environmental protection activities. It has focused on protecting biodiversity, reducing global warming, protecting international waters, and decreasing ozone depletion. Participants requested an independent evaluation of the pilot phase in an effort to guide the planning of future programmes and policies for the GEF. Because of the unusual organizational structure of the GEF (three implementing agencies with a number of cross-cutting interests), the evaluation was conducted by three separate evaluation teams and the information for this report was gathered from questionnaires and meetings with participants, GEF staff, NGO representatives, agency country representatives, and recipient country officials. This report of the GEF's performance includes a profile of the GEF pilot phase including a discussion of projects chosen and funding methods and agencies, as well as assessments of the GEF's policies and performance, the strategies and projects of the GEF focal areas, the small grants programme, the work of the GEF in the context of developing countries' perspectives, project development procedures, and GEF's organization and management. Although the GEF is a promising mechanism for funding programmes relevant to the protection of the global environment, the report finds inadequacies in the basic policies and structural arrangements established in the design of the GEF pilot phase and makes several recommendations for changes.