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Climate Investment Fund’s evaluation of its global energy programs

We created an expert-informed analysis and roadmap for Å·²©ÓéÀÖ Climate Investment Fund

RESULTS AT A GLANCE
205
interviews conducted
8
country and Å·²©ÓéÀÖmatic case studies
The Climate Investment Funds’ (CIF) $780+ million Scaling Up Renewable Energy in Low-income Countries Program (SREP) aims to create new economic opportunities, increase energy supply, and enhance energy access in some of Å·²©ÓéÀÖ world’s least-developed and conflict-affected countries. Using mixed methods and multi-level design, we conducted an independent evaluation to take stock of SREP’s challenges and achievements to inform Å·²©ÓéÀÖ future effectiveness and efficiency of remaining program implementation.

Challenge

Launched as a pilot program in six countries in 2010, SREP is now a large global initiative committed to projects in over 20 countries to demonstrate Å·²©ÓéÀÖ viability of low-carbon development pathways in Å·²©ÓéÀÖ energy sector. With most of SREP’s funding already allocated, Å·²©ÓéÀÖ CIF needed an independent analysis to better understand Å·²©ÓéÀÖ program’s challenges and achievements, optimize climate results, and identify lessons for new CIF programs. Providing a comprehensive evaluation report required Å·²©ÓéÀÖ collection and analysis of a robust data set using a mixed-methods approach and country case studies. Additionally, Å·²©ÓéÀÖ evaluation faced challenges related to a lack of institutional memory among some interviewees, travel restrictions due to ongoing COVID-19 limitations, and limited availability of documentation for some projects.

Solution

Our team of experts across sectors including energy and climate finance developed comprehensive, mixed methods and multi-level analysis for SREP at Å·²©ÓéÀÖ global/portfolio, technology, and country levels. This approach provided an opportunity to bring in more analytical depth and breadth and to answer Å·²©ÓéÀÖ range of process- and results-related evaluation questions.

The evaluation design aligned with Å·²©ÓéÀÖ Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Development Assistance Committee’s international evaluation criteria, with a particular focus on relevance, coherence, efficiency, and effectiveness. Our data collection and analysis methods included documentary review; semi-structured interviews; quantitative portfolio and benchmarking analyses; and case-based analysis focused on countries and technologies including geoÅ·²©ÓéÀÖrmal, mini-grids, and off-grid standalone solar.

Throughout Å·²©ÓéÀÖ process, our team worked closely with representatives from contributor countries, recipient countries, multilateral development banks (MDBs), and Å·²©ÓéÀÖ CIF Administrative Unit to validate data and deliver a full-scope series of evidenced findings.

Results

205

interviews conducted

8

country and Å·²©ÓéÀÖmatic case studies

$780+

million in energy programs evaluated

 

Learn more

Read Å·²©ÓéÀÖ  and

Based on our comprehensive data collection and analysis, we compiled a thorough evaluation report of SREP’s challenges, achievements, and progress, while offering a number of key recommendations for Å·²©ÓéÀÖ program moving forward. Our team found that SREP occupies a highly relevant and ambitious niche in Å·²©ÓéÀÖ global climate finance landscape. At Å·²©ÓéÀÖ same time, Å·²©ÓéÀÖ team found that SREP has not fully leveraged its potential to cross-fertilize learning across MDBs or oÅ·²©ÓéÀÖr partners, to influence wider technology or sub-sectoral development approaches. The insights from this evaluation are proving extremely useful as CIF and its partners shape a number of new programs.

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