Terminal Evaluation of the UNEP/GEF Project “Support to the Integrated Program for the Conservation and Sustainable Development of the Socotra Archipelago, Yemen, and GEF ID 5347” (2016 – 2025)

This report is a Terminal Evaluation of the UNEP/GEF project: “Support to the Integrated Program for the Conservation and Sustainable Development of the Socotra Archipelago, Yemen, and GEF ID 5347”, implemented between 2016 and 2025.The project's overall goal was to strengthen governmental and non‐governmental capacities sustainably to manage and protect the Socotra Archipelago WHS through Biodiversity (BD) conservation, IAS management and Sustainable Land Management (SLM). The evaluation sought to assess project performance (in terms of relevance, effectiveness and efficiency) and determine the sustainability of its results. The evaluation 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) strong strategic relevance and adaptive management continuity despite protracted conflict, a change of Executing Agency, and COVID-19 disruptions; ii) largely achieved outcomes in core biodiversity and protected area management including four operationalized PA management plans and an updated Conservation Zoning Plan — while sustainable financing mechanisms were cancelled and institutional strengthening progressed only moderately; iii) promising sustainability supported by strong community ownership and a follow-on UNEP/GEF project approval, but constrained by the absence of long-term financing mechanisms and persistent political instability. The main recommendations to UNEP are to embed gender-responsive frameworks into future project design, strengthen EPA Socotra's institutional mandate, and improve outcome-oriented monitoring systems. Implementing parties are advised to scale conservation-compatible livelihoods initiatives and establish a locally hosted knowledge-management platform to sustain biodiversity programming beyond project closure.