Work Program

The Evaluation Office evaluates the effectiveness of GEF programs and resource allocations. We conduct evaluations on project, country, portfolio, and institutional issues. We plan our activities on a four-year rolling basis; with a work program that is approved annually by the GEF Council. See the current work program (GEF/ME/C.28/7 Four Year Work Program and Budget 2007-2010, June 2006) and Council comments (Joint Summary of the Chairs, paragraph 12). Evaluations are planned based on specific criteria and a phased approach over a GEF replenishment period.

As part of its work program, the Evaluation Office conducts various independent evaluations of:

• cross-cutting and thematic issues
• organizational and procedural issues
• country portfolios
• impact evaluations

Every year we prepare the GEF Annual Performance Report, a report to Council on the results of completed projects, factors affecting accomplishments and results of the portfolio. Every four years, the Office arranges for a comprehensive study of GEF’s overall performance (Overall Performance Studies). This review addresses such overriding issues as the global impact and benefits of GEF programs, as well as the appropriateness of GEF institutional arrangements, policies, strategies, programs, and priorities.

Ongoing evaluations include a pilot country portfolio review of Costa Rica, a pilot impact evaluation, examination of incremental cost calculations, and the Joint Evaluation of the GEF activities cycle and modalities. Also, preparations for the 2006 Annual Performance Report are under way.

The Evaluation Office also performs the following ongoing tasks:

• Developing policies and operational guidelines on monitoring and evaluation in projects, portfolios, and programs, or on corporate monitoring and evaluation activities, and providing related support.
• Tracking and reporting on implementation of evaluation recommendations and management responses.
• Collaborating with partners and international professional groups on evaluation and monitoring issues.
• Supporting performance measurement within the GEF by establishing criteria for measuring performance, results, and impact.
• Providing methodological support to the development of program indicator systems in partnership with agencies and the GEF Secretariat.
• Conducting validation exercises, as required, for oversight of monitoring and evaluation systems, including project reviews, reviews of evaluations, verification of progress toward targets and/or implementation of recommendations.
• Working with partners to disseminate lessons learned and best practices from monitoring and evaluation activities.
• Responding to requests of Council.