The Reflections series synthesizes lessons from past evaluations to support organizational learning about what works and what doesn't. This paper examines past evaluations of UNDP-supported environment initiatives financed through the Global Environment Facility to provide 12 lessons:

Climate change mitigation and adaptation

1. Climate change mitigation initiatives in the energy sector need to understand the capacities of governments to adopt the necessary regulatory practices and the readiness of countries to take changes on board.
2. Climate change adaptation initiatives should respond to well-identified local needs and consider local knowledge in providing technical guidance to beneficiary communities.
3. Climate change mitigation and adaptation interventions can benefit from engaging with the private sector, but there must be a clear action-oriented strategy and commitment maintained throughout.

Land degradation

1. Land management interventions were most successful when they addressed local needs and livelihood strategies, and fostered cooperation between stakeholders.
2. Dissemination of land management guidance and project results through a broad range of media channels can enhance and strengthen awareness and sustainability.
3. Land management serves as a catalyst for integration with other focal areas/sectors to deliver environmental and development benefits.

Conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity

1. Strategic links with poverty alleviation, promotion of alternative livelihoods and involvement of private donors can help ensure sufficient financing and sustainability of biodiversity conservation interventions.
2. Local interests and biodiversity conservation efforts can reinforce each other with interventions benefiting from close cooperation with community-based organizations.
3. Participatory approaches to biodiversity conservation initiatives enable more effective adaptive management of interventions and enhanced sustainability and gender inclusion.

International waters

1. The promotion of regional and cross-sectoral collaboration through GEF interventions is a key incremental contribution to transboundary water management.
2. International waters interventions benefit from ecosystem valuation and demonstration activities that foster policy-level support and sufficient funding for long-term, complex monitoring.
3. Cross-sectoral stakeholder engagement and knowledge sharing are essential to the long-term sustainability of multinational international waters interventions.