Validated Terminal Review of the UNEP/GEF Project “Strengthening Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS)” (GEF ID 5744 / SMA ID 28965) 2016 – 2023

This report is a Terminal Review of a UNEP/GEF project: “Strengthening Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) in The Bahamas”, which lasted from 2016 to 2024. The project's objective was to create and apply the enabling conditions for fair and equitable access and benefit sharing to ensure that an effective ABS regime is in place. The review sought to assess project performance (in terms of relevance, effectiveness, and efficiency), and to determine the outcomes and impacts (actual and potential) derived from the project, including its sustainability. The review has two main objectives: i) provide evidence of results to meet accountability requirements, and (ii) promote operational improvement, learning, and knowledge sharing through results and lessons learned among UNEP and the Department of Environmental Planning and Protection (DEPP) within the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources of The Bahamas. Data were collected through in-depth interviews (virtual and in person), document reviews, and a visit to The Bahamas. Analysis used triangulated data to assess performance against a reconstructed Theory of Change and its causal pathways. With an overall performance rating of 4.11 —corresponding to the fourth point on a six-point scale—the project was assessed as moderately satisfactory. The main findings include: (i)accession to the Nagoya Protocol, (ii) adoption of the ABS Act, and (iii) establishment of an online permitting system. These milestones highlight significant legal and institutional progress, positioning The Bahamas as a leader in ABS governance in the Caribbean. A key lesson is the importance of sustained government commitment and institutional leadership to consolidate ABS implementation. The central roles of DEPP and coordinated legal drafting were vital, though continued support and coordination are necessary to maintain momentum. Recommendations include the following: (1) for DEPP to address the technical issues of the ABS online permitting system and provide clear guidance to system users; (2) for DEPP to consider reconvening the ABS Committee to review operational needs, strengthen communication with researchers, and improve inclusion of local communities; and (3) for UNEP to consider using The Bahamas’ ABS experience as a reference case in regional knowledge-sharing efforts to support countries establishing or strengthening ABS systems.