Terminal Evaluation of the UNEP Project “Providing Support to Countries and Cities in Improving Air Quality in Order to Improve Environmental Quality and the Health and Well-Being of All (SMA ID 40440)” (2019-2023)

This report is a Terminal Evaluation of the UNEP project: Providing Support to Countries and Cities in Improving Air Quality in Order to Improve Environmental Quality and the Health and Well-Being of All (SMA ID 40440), implemented between July 2019 and June 2023 in 24 countries in Africa, Asia and Pacific, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, South Asia, and West Asia. The project's overall goal was to strengthen global, regional, and national efforts to improve air quality by supporting the implementation of UNEA Resolutions 1/7 and 3/8. The project sought to scale up UNEP’s global support to low- and middle-income countries by building capacity and addressing key gaps in legal frameworks, air quality monitoring (AQM) systems, and cross-sectoral coordination. It aimed to enhance air quality monitoring and pollutants emission assessment, promote affordable technologies, provide sectoral policy advice (mainly on transport, waste, energy, and industry), strengthen regional cooperation and knowledge sharing, and raise public awareness to advance effective air quality management and protect human health and the environment.

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 Satisfactory, the 4.75 point on a six-point scale, the main findings include: i) strong strategic relevance and alignment with UNEP mandates, UNEA resolutions, and donor priorities; ii) substantial delivery of outputs and meaningful outcome-level contributions, including strengthened Air Quality monitoring systems, AQM policy frameworks, and regional cooperation, with variable depth of implementation across countries; and iii) efficiency gains through partnerships and adaptive management, alongside areas for further strengthening in results-based monitoring, indicator design, and data traceability. The main recommendations to UNEP are (i) strengthening results-based monitoring and knowledge management systems in a ‘umbrella’ project; (ii) enhancing the integration and interoperability of air quality data platforms; (iii) strengthening linkages between air quality management and climate and development finance opportunities to support scaling and sustainability; (iv) reinforcing UNEP’s central technical leadership, coordination mechanisms, and staffing on air quality in line with the UNEP MTS 2026–2029; and (v) systematically integrating human rights, gender equality, and equity considerations across project design, implementation, and monitoring.