The third Annual Country Portfolio Evaluation Report provides a synthesis of the main conclusions and recommendations of the county portfolio evaluations focused on Moldova and Turkey. These countries were selected for portfolio evaluations based on their long history with the GEF, their large and diverse portfolios, the nature of their GEF country allocation under the Resource Allocation Framework, and their participation in numerous regional international waters focal area projects.
The synthesis of the findings from the two countries revealed a number of positive results in biodiversity, climate change, persistent organic pollutants, and international waters. Land degradation did not receive the attention and support the countries were expecting. Further progress towards impact in biodiversity is limited by unresolved institutional barriers and socioeconomic factors. In spite of low funding levels, GEF support in climate change has produced limited but promising results. International waters initiatives strengthened the countries' commitment to regional cooperation, but it is still too early for observable improvements in the water borders to materialize. GEF support has been relevant to national priorities as well as to the global GEF mandate. National ownership of the GEF portfolio is limited, but improving in both countries. Duration of project processing and implementation compares well to average figures for GEF projects. However, mixed perceptions on the complexity and length of the GEF project cycle linger in both countries. In addition, in both countries, the GEF focal point mechanism has not been fully effective in its coordination and strategic guidance roles, including sharing of information, monitoring and evaluation.
Follow-up
The GEF Council requested
- the GEF Agencies to systematically involve operational focal points in M&E activities by sharing M&E information with them in a timely manner;
- the Secretariat to consider provision of specific M&E training to the national focal point mechanism through the Country Support Program;
- the Evaluation Office to strengthen, in collaboration with the Secretariat on monitoring issues, the role of operational focal points in M&E while revising the GEF M&E Policy.
The Council also encouraged the Agencies to give stronger support to environmental issues outside their GEF projects and promote up-scaling with partner governments.