Building a Mountain of Evaluative Evidence, 2004-2014

Abstract

Background: The book From Studies to Streams was for me an eye-opener when I worked as Director of the Independent Evaluation Office of the Global Environment Facility (GEF). Right from the start in that position I was working on gathering as much evaluative evidence as we could, mix this with knowledge and insight, and look at how to deliver recommendations and insights to the GEF. From Studies to Streams inspired me to work towards a potential mountain of evidence to inform and inspire the replenishment meetings of the GEF. While the book provided an analogy of evaluation insights and evidence streaming down to the ocean, I felt that the knowledge gathered in the Overall Performance Studies would be more moving up, to reach higher levels of decision-making. At the top of the mountain of evidence and insight, the GEF replenishment meetings would decide on the goals of the Fund in the next four years.

Purpose: The chapter aims to provide a historically accurate account of how evaluations at different levels of GEF funded activities were used to inform higher-level evaluations, leading to an integrative perspective of achievements. Evaluations incorporating both scientific and national/local perspectives aimed to capture findings and insights at all levels of the GEF and its partners. While this was not the stream downwards to the ocean, it could be likened to steam that gradually wafted up to the pinnacle of GEF decision-making.

Setting: The partnership of the GEF with multilateral banks, five UN organisations and the 120 recipient countries of GEF funding. While all agencies and countries had their own evaluation policies, agreement was reached about a minimum number of common elements that would be reported on. All evaluations that touched upon GEF issues were studied to subtract insights relevant for the GEF. This was combined with knowledge generated through the Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel (STAP) of the GEF, and any relevant knowledge available through literature and expertise.

Intervention: Not applicable.

Research Design: Not applicable.

Data Collection and Analysis: Not applicable.

Findings: It turned out to be possible to create a flow of evaluative evidence and other insights and knowledge regarding interventions from the many varieties of evaluation that were undertaken in the GEF and its many partners. This led to a veritable mountain of evidence that was presented every four years to the replenishment meetings for the GEF. While the GEF is a relatively unique international funding organisation, it turned out to be possible to make use of the evidence generated at various levels of the partnership and by different actors, along the lines of the Studies to Streams book.