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Request for Expression of Interest
Sixth Comprehensive Evaluation of the GEF (OPS 6): Assessing the Partnership, Resource Mobilization, and the
Comparative advantage of the GEF (Selection #: 1228169)
Deadline for expressions of interest: September 22, 2016
1.
The Independent Evaluation Office of the Global Environment Facility is requesting Expressions of Interest
from qualified consulting firms to provide services in evaluating the funding channels, the overall health
of the GEF partnership, and the comparative advantage of the GEF, in the current changing landscape for
environmental finance.
Background
2.
The GEF, established in 1992, is a financial mechanism for 5 major international environmental
conventions: the Minamata Convention on Mercury, the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic
Pollutants (POPs), the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD), the United Nations
Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change (UNFCCC). The GEF Independent Evaluation Office (IEO) has a central role in ensuring the
independent evaluation function within the GEF. The IEO is responsible for conducting independent
evaluations that involve a set of projects, programs, policies or processes. The IEO is based in Washington
DC. It is administered by the World Bank, but is independent of its management, as well as the
management of the GEF. Its Director reports directly to the GEF Council, the GEF governing body. All
contracts with the Office are World Bank contracts. More information about the IEO can be found at
www.gefieo.org.
3.
The Instrument for the Restructured Global Environment Facility (GEF) was adopted in 2015. The GEF
Instrument sets out the principles for cooperation, and defines the functions of each body in the
governance structure, which in addition to the 18 Agencies consists of the Assembly, the Council,
Secretariat, and Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel (STAP) and the Independent Evaluation Office.
Other members of the partnership are the Conventions and the NGO Network. Collaboration with the
private sector is also an integral part of the strategy of the GEF. Based on this instrument, the GEF shall
operate, on the basis of collaboration and partnership among the Implementing Agencies, as a
mechanism for international cooperation for the purpose of providing new and additional grant and
concessional funding to meet the agreed incremental costs of measures to achieve agreed global
environmental benefits in the following focal areas: biological diversity; (b) climate change; (c)
international waters; (d) land degradation, primarily desertification and deforestation; and (e) chemicals
and wastes.
4.
As the GEF has evolved and expanded over time, roles and relationships have shifted and expanded,
reshaping network dynamics based on the incentives that influence each member’s degree of
participation in the partnership. Previous Overall Performance Studies have noted overlaps, gaps and
lack of clarity in expected responsibilities within the GEF framework. Reforms implemented in response
to these concerns, as well as to other changes in GEF operations have led to the expansion of the
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functions of the Secretariat. The Fourth Overall Performance Study (OPS4) and the Fifth Overall
Performance Study (OPS5) identified concerns related to the GEF partnership that remained unresolved
from previous replenishments, such as increasing competition among GEF Agencies, and overlapping
roles and functions among partners.
5.
These changes within the GEF are happening in a broader context of a changing landscape for
environmental finance. Other funds such as the Climate Investment Fund and the Green Climate Fund
have been established to address global environmental problems. The relevance of the GEF to address
global environmental issues, the specific value added of the GEF in this changing landscape, along with
the sufficiency of funds to tackle these problems, are important issues facing the GEF today.
II. Objective and key questions
6.
This evaluation aims to assess the (1) the comparative advantage of the GEF in this externally changing
landscape for environmental finance (2) the adequacy of donor financing for the GEF to be able to
deliver on its mandate that builds on the findings of the donor performance report of OPS5 (3) the
performance of the current governance structure and health of the expanded GEF partnership relative to
the beginning of the Fifth Replenishment. “Health” for the purposes of this evaluation is defined as the
extent to which the structure of the partnership and the quality and relevance of interactions between
the partners enable the GEF partnership to effectively and efficiently deliver global environmental
benefits through its support.
7.
The evaluation seeks to answer the following questions:
1) Given the emergence of new financing channels that address global environmental problems,
what is the relevance, added value and catalytic role of the GEF as a funding channel?
2) Does the GEF have sufficient funding to address the focal area strategies, guidance of the
conventions and the needs of recipient countries in a meaningful way? To what extent is the
GEF able to mobilize sufficient resources? To what extent do the donors perform as pledged?
3) To what extent have the concerns identified in previous overall performance studies on these
dimensions been addressed or remain relevant?
4) To what extent have structural changes in the GEF partnership since the last replenishment
affected the realization of key roles and functions of the various partners (Agencies, STAP, GEF
Secretariat) necessary for an effective partnership?
5) Which factors and developments have shaped and continue to shape the structure and function
of the GEF partnership? For example, what factors or conditions have contributed or hindered
STAPs fulfillment of its mandate? What steps should be taken to ensure the further
strengthening of STAP’s strategic, timely and effective advice to the GEF?
6) What are the areas of opportunity and risk with regards to more effectively achieving GEF’s
objectives as the partnership continues to evolve?
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TASKS AND DELIVERABLES
8.
The consultant will carry out the following tasks over approximately 5 months from October 2016 to
February 2017:
a) Develop draft concept notes for each of the components and an overall report (October, 2016)
b) Review documents, conduct interviews with stakeholders and Council members and travel as
needed (by February 2017)
c) Draft Report (February 15,2017)
d) Final Report (February 28, 2017)
QUALIFICATIONS
Lead evaluator(s) should have at least 15 years of relevant experience related to global environmental
issues
Familiarity with the GEF and other global environment funds
Experience in evaluation, particularly in field verification studies
Experience in evaluating corporate issues in development agencies related to financing, governance.
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