Mid-Term Evaluation of the UNEP Project 515.2: Operationalization of the Special Programme to support institutional strengthening at the national level to enhance the implementation of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions, the Minamata Convention on Mercury and the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management

This report is a terminal evaluation of a UNEP Programme of Work project implementation began in September 2015 and was ongoing at the time of the evaluation. Whilst the evaluand is described as a project within the UNEP Programme of Work, the intervention pertains to the operationalization of the Special Programme which aims to support, by the issuance of grants to country level partners in the form of small projects; institutional strengthening to enhance the implementation of the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Conventions, the Minamata Convention on Mercury and the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management. The evaluation sought to assess the performance (in terms of relevance, effectiveness and efficiency), and determine, as far as feasible, outcomes and impacts (actual and potential) stemming from the Special Programme at mid-point. 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 UNEP, the BRS Convention Secretariats, SAICM, the GEF, the Special Programme Secretariat, the Special Programme Executive Board and the participating countries.