This chapter presents the conclusions of the evaluation on the performance and contributions of UNDP to development results in Ghana, the recommendations and the management response.
3.1 Conclusions Conclusion 1. UNDP’s programme is aligned with national priorities and UNDP has made efforts to adapt its programme to respond to the evolving context where possible. The programme objectives however were ambitious, and the lack of resources together with the pandemic challenged the delivery of the programme and the achievement of results. UNDP has managed to position itself not as a donor but as a reliable and trusted development partner finding solutions to help the Government. It has earned this position thanks to its technical acumen, professionalism and responsiveness. UNDP’s accountability, transparency and convening power which enabled it to bring multiple stakeholders together to discuss pressing and important development issues are also considered key strengths. The waste platform is an example of UNDP playing such a role. UNDP worked closely with key government agencies, aligning its programmes with national policies and strategies while at the same time bringing in international experiences and helping the country comply with internationally accepted standards. UNDP’s response to the COVID‑19 pandemic, including the work of strengthening communication channels and the linkages between diagnostics, planning and financing for pandemic recovery, demonstrated its efforts to adapt to the changes in context. The change in the country context with Ghana graduating to LMIC status and the government’s Ghana Beyond Aid vision had significant implications for UNDP’s resource base. UNDP has made efforts to take into consideration the current trends, reposition itself, and use staff resources efficiently, but this has not been an easy or fast process. Conclusion 2. UNDP is strategically positioned to support Ghana’s climate change programme and activities, environmental concerns and climate financing. Important results have been achieved in terms of technical capacity‑building and tool development for climate change action, sustainable environmental practices, and waste management. Environment and climate action is the largest portfolio of the country programme, providing crucial support to the Government for the development of key policies and frameworks. In addition, UNDP’s support includes the leveraging of financing instruments and partnerships for the country to deliver on its international commitments and national goals on climate change and environment. All this progress in terms of policies and frameworks stands the country in good stead to deal with climate change issues in the coming years. UNDP supported the development of a gender action plan for mainstreaming gender equality issues in all climate change frameworks and actions, but its implementation is still at an early stage. Progress is also being made towards ensuring that climate actions directly contribute to the lives and livelihoods of communities. UNDP has contributed to improved access of rural communities to knowledge and tools to increase their resilience through the adoption of good environmental practices, resulting in the regeneration of the forest cover in a highly deforested area and increased income for farmers. However, community participation in local environmental initiatives has been weak due to the short‑term nature of project interventions, and the effects of reforestation and forest regeneration efforts through community actions have been stymied by the lack of an appropriate land and tree tenure system in the country. As in
Conclusions, Recommendations and Management Response
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