B.36/06: Evaluation conducted by the Independent Evaluation Unit: Relevance and effectiveness of the GCF’s investments in African States

The Board, having considered document GCF/B.36/13 titled “Independent evaluation of the relevance and effectiveness of the GCF’s investments in the African States”:

1. Takes note of the findings and recommendations in the independent evaluation of the relevance and effectiveness of the GCF’s investments in the African States undertaken by the Independent Evaluation Unit;
2. Notes the Secretariat’s management response to the evaluation report as presented in document GCF/B.36/13/Add.01;
3. Also notes the common finding outlined in the Independent Evaluation Unit’s evaluations of the relevance and effectiveness of the GCF’s investments in the small island developing States, least developed countries, and African States (the “Evaluations”) in relation to language barriers as inhibiting access to GCF, and requests the Secretariat to develop an approach for multilingualism that addresses challenges related to language and access to the GCF for consideration by the Board no later than the thirty-ninth meeting of the Board;
4. Further notes the Independent Evaluation Unit’s recommendation regarding the GCF’s Policy on Fees and requests the Secretariat to present a revised policy on accredited entity fees for consideration by the Board no later than the thirty-ninth meeting of the Board;
5. Notes the common situation outlined in the Evaluations, in particular that GCF continues to be relevant to the needs of vulnerable countries;
6. Also notes the common findings that identified the urgency of climate action, the importance of adaptation, capacity constraints, high transaction/operational costs and the importance of enhancing access to climate finance for small island developing States, least developed countries and African States;
7. Further notes the common conclusion of the evaluations that many of GCF’s modalities and processes would benefit from further improvements, building on GCF’s progress to address the challenges of climate change and the urgency required for climate action;
8. Decides to further consider the Independent Evaluation Unit’s findings and recommendations in the Evaluations in the Board’s ongoing strategic and policy deliberations, and requests the Secretariat to continue to consider the Independent Evaluation Unit’s findings and recommendations in the Evaluations in its efforts to make GCF’s operations more efficient and responsive to the needs of developing countries; and
9. Requests the Independent Evaluation Unit to submit a management action report to the Board no later than one year following the adoption of this decision.