1. Tracking of GEF Portfolio: Monitoring and Evaluation of Results Sub-regional Workshop for GEF Focal Points Aaron Zazueta March 2010 Hanoi, Vietnam

2. 2 Monitoring and Evaluation  Monitoring provides management with a basis for decision making on progress and GEF with information on results. Involves: –Ongoing, systematic gathering of qualitative and quantitative information to track progress on project outcomes & outputs –Identify implementation issues and propose solutions  Evaluation provides lessons learned and recommendations for future projects, polices and portfolios. Involves: –Periodic assessment of results according to the criteria of relevance, effectiveness, efficiency and sustainability

3. Role of GEF Focal Points in M&E  Keep track of GEF support at the national level.  Keep stakeholders informed and consulted in plans, implementation and results of GEF activities.  Disseminate M&E information, promoting use of evaluation recommendations and lessons learned.  Assist the Evaluation Office, as the first point of entry into a country: –identify major relevant stakeholders, –coordinate meetings, –assist with agendas, –coordinate country responses to these evaluations. 3

4. Main Messages  FPs participation in M&E enhances country ownership.  Role for the FPs in M&E – depends on the institutional setting, capacity and portfolio scope, size.  FP role has become more prominent during GEF- 4 (implementation of the RAF). It is expected that there will be further changes for GEF-5. 4

5. Use of tracking system  Document environmental achievements and their relationship to national goals, Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and GEF strategic targets;  Prevent duplication of efforts by other donors or government agencies;  Identify implementation problems and delays;  Support Adaptive Management of projects.  Contribute to reporting on national targets, MDGs, conventions, and GEF strategic targets. Establishing a system for tracking Country Portfolios helps evaluations by gathering all major GEF project information in one place. 5

6. Tracking the Portfolio: An Example  Basic Data – such as: Project Data (name, agency, focal area etc.) Financial information: GEF grant and cofinancing Project cycle dates (entry into pipeline, approval, start up) Found in the PMIS  Substantive Data – such as: Objective(s), Expected Outcome(s), Ratings: implementation progress and likelihood of achieving objectives, Once completed: actual achievements and lessons learned, Found in project documents  Keep it simple and only collect and record information that will be used! 6

7. Good practices  GEF National Committee: –chaired by the GEF FP –members: FPs from Conventions, other ministries (agriculture, industry, energy, planning and finance), GEF Agencies, civil society organizations, etc. –should be linked to an already existing inter-sectoral coordination mechanisms (to ensure its institutionalization).  Develop criteria and national protocols for the selection of GEF projects.  National Business Plan for use of GEF funds.  Active participation of the GEF FP in the project M&E: GEF Agencies should share the reports on project implementation and final evaluations with GEF FPs. 7

8. Available Sources of Information  Project documents: supervision (PIRs) and independent evaluations (mid-term and final) from GEF Agencies.  National development goals tracking systems.  Knowledge exchange with different stakeholders (workshops, conferences, etc)  Information from established focal area task forces, networks, environmental assessments and other relevant activities.  Evaluations conducted by GEF-EO and independent evaluation offices of GEF Agencies.  GEF Project Management Information System (PMIS) 8

9. Country Support Programme Website (www.gefcountrysupport.org)www.gefcountrysupport.org 9

10. Review of the GEF Monitoring and Evaluation Policy 10

11. Process Council has asked for an update the GEF M&E policy for GEF-5 –Update of “Monitoring” will be led by the GEF Secretariat –Update of “Evaluation” will be led by the GEF Evaluation Office Revision of the Policy to be presented to Council in November 2010 Wide consultation and interaction with stakeholders foreseen, through e-survey, interviews, and interagency meetings Interaction with focal points: through e-survey, questionnaire and sub-regional workshops As with OPS4, the Pacific region is the first! 11

12. Issues for discussion that need to be further addressed in the M&E Policy Integration of M&E and the Results- Based Management Framework Minimum standards for M&E –Full budgeting of project M&E –Base lines by CEO endorsement –Minimum requirements for PIRs and Midterm Reviews The role of Focal Points in M&E –Council has twice asked GEF Agencies to involve focal points in M&E, –Need to further define role of FP in mid-term evaluations, PIRs, portfolio monitoring, missions, oversight, and terminal evaluations Programmatic Approach is not mentioned in the current M&E policy –As a result, several programs have only project level M&E Support to M&E Capacity Development Role of the GEF Secretariat in monitoring Link between M&E and knowledge management 12

13. Thank you Aaron Zazueta azazueta@thegef.org www.gefeo.org 13