Evaluation of the UNDP-UNEP Poverty-Environment Initiative (PEI): partnership with Norway 2004-2008: report to Norwegian ministry of foreign affairs

The UNDP-UNEP Poverty Environment Initiative (PEI) aims to integrate environmentally sustainable natural resource use as a core objective in national development planning, and to build associated capacity. This paper aims to assess the effectiveness, efficiency and sustainability of PEI implementation, as well as to consolidate learning about the PEI model.

The paper states that the greatest challenge, but also the main opportunity, for PEI is that it is working towards a long-term process of political, institutional and behavioural change. In this respect, the paper emphasises that, at the very least, outline plans should be made to address the issues that cannot immediately be addressed within the initiative’s remaining time and resources available.

The following are key recommendations of the paper:

• PEI should retain its primary aim of integrating poverty/environmental (p/e) issues into the national development plan and budget
• PEI should be based in the Ministry of Finance, Development or Planning, where the key decisions are made and where the mainstreaming instruments are developed
• PEI should see environment authorities and interest groups as key players, but not lead players
• a p/e outcome basis should guide the national work, with p/e criteria and targets offering a framework for assessing and improving all relevant policies and plans
• PEI should continue to engage the donor community and should work very closely with donor coordination groups interested in supporting follow-up activities
• throughout the process, PEI should also engage relevant sector and decentralised authorities
• a stronger involvement and capacity of academic institutions, through their participation in PEI activities, is recommended
• PEI’s global growth and influence strategy should be developed.