Terminal Evaluation of the UN Environment GEF project: Micronesia Challenge: Finance Systems for Island Protected Area Management

This report is a terminal evaluation of a UN Environment-GEF project implemented between 2011 and 2015. The project's overall development goal was to support the Micronesia Challenge initiative to effectively conserve at least 30% of the near-shore marine and 20% of the terrestrial resources across Micronesia by 2020, in order to protect important, unique and globally important island biodiversity as well as sustaining the livelihoods and cultures of Micronesian communities. This was to be achieved through supporting the development of sustainable financing mechanisms for protected area networks in Micronesia, particularly the establishment, capitalisation and operationalisation of a long-term regional Micronesia Challenge Endowment Fund. The evaluation sought to assess project performance (in terms of relevance, effectiveness and efficiency), and determine outcomes and impacts (actual and potential) stemming from the project, including their sustainability. The evaluation has two primary purposes: (i) to provide evidence of results to meet accountability requirements, and (ii) to promote learning, feedback, and knowledge sharing through results and lessons learned among UN Environment, the GEF and their executing partner the Micronesia Conservation Trust, and the relevant agencies of the countries participating in the project.