Validated Terminal Review of the UNEP/GEF Project Capacity Building for Enhanced Transparency in Climate Change Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (GEF ID 10002) 2020 – 2025

This report is a Terminal Review of the UNEP project: Capacity Building for Enhanced Transparency in Climate Change Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (Eswatini), implemented between 2020 and 2025. The project's overall goal was to strengthen the capacity of institutions in Eswatini and set up an information system to fulfil the enhanced Transparency requirements of the Paris Agreement. The review sought to assess project performance (in terms of relevance, effectiveness and efficiency), and determine the sustainability of its results. The review has two primary purposes: accountability and learning. Data collection methods included: field observations, in-depth interviews, Focus Group Discussions and document reviews. Data analysis was based on applying triangulated data to assess performance against a reconstructed Theory of Change and its causal pathways. With an overall performance rating of Moderately Satisfactory, the 4th point on a six-point scale, the main findings include: i) the CBIT project enhanced the awareness and capacities of stakeholders in relation to GHG inventories and MRV ; ii) tools, methodologies and a MRV coordination platform were developed ; but iii) the project design was overambitious for a 3-year medium-sized project ; and iv) the absence of a national Climate Change Bill was an impediment to the establishment of fully functional institutional structures and processes for MRV. The main recommendation to UNEP is to continue supporting the government of Eswatini in strengthening its climate transparency capacities through the development of a CBIT phase 2 project, as part of the next GEF cycle. Implementing parties are advised to focus on the establishment of the legal and formalised institutional frameworks necessary for advancing on the MRV system, and to operationalise the online MRV platform developed through the CBIT project.