Francis was a member of the team in charge of the Thematic Learning Review of UNDP-GEF Ecosystems and Biodiversity Team’s Portfolio of Projects on Protected Areas. The Thematic Learning Review is focusing on a collection of approximately 120 GEF-financed protected area projects under the GEF-3, -4 and -5 funding cycles. The Thematic Learning Review is based on a review framework developed and agreed to at the beginning of the assignment. The report includes an in-depth exploration of themes that advance understanding of solutions that have worked or not worked within the UNDP-GEF EBD protected areas portfolio of projects, so as to improve the design and implementation of ongoing and/or future projects. As part of this assignment, 2 terminal evaluations and one mid-term review have been performed (following standard UNDP-GEF guidance):
- Terminal evaluation of the “Expansion and strengthening of Mali’s Protected Area system” project (Mali🇲🇱).
- Terminal evaluation of the “Protected Area Buffer Zone Management in Burkina Faso” project (Burkina Faso 🇧🇫).
- Mid-term review of the “Development of a national network of terrestrial and marine protected areas representative of the Comoros unique natural heritage and co-managed with local village communities” project (Comoros 🇰🇲).
