Terminal Evaluation of the UNEP/GEF project: Enabling South Africa to Prepare its Third National Communication (TNC) and Biennial Update Report (BUR-2) to the UNFCCC 2014-2019 (GEF ID 5237)

This report is a Terminal Evaluation of the UNEP/GEF project “Enabling South Africa to prepare its Third National Communication and Biennial Update Report to the UNFCCC”, which was implemented between 2014 and 2019. The project's overall objective was to prepare the Third National Communication (TNC) and the First Biennial Update Report (BUR-1) of South Africa to enable the country fulfil its obligations under the UNFCCC, in accordance with Articles 4.1 and 12.1 of the Convention while strengthening its capacity to integrate climate change concerns into national and sectoral development plans and priorities through the implementation of the National Climate Change Response Strategy. At the onset, only the TNC and BUR-1 were envisaged in the workplan; however, the scope of the project was later changed to include the second and third Biennial Update Reports. Despite the additional BURs, the project spent US$ 2,071,040 against a budget of 4,006,650 (52 percent). 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 UNEP, and the relevant agencies of the project participating countries.