EVALUATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL WATERS FOCAL AREA Issued on 2025 by GEF-IEO

The evaluation portfolio includes 277 projects (i.e., 44 closed, 153 ongoing, 80 at CEO endorsement stage) from GEF-5 to GEF-8, covering more than 140 countries. The total GEF funding for these projects was over $1.7 billion, with expected cofinancing of almost $17 billion. Approximately 40 percent of the portfolio projects are part of programs, while 60 percent are stand-alone projects. Geographically, Asia (67 projects with $399.6 million) and Africa (61 projects, $446.6 million) account for the largest share of projects and grants. Over 75 percent of the projects have been implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the World Ban