The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) is committed to efficiency and effectiveness to ensure best value for money for partners and stakeholders. UNEP works with multiple oversight bodies to help achieve this.
UNEP applies a strong focus on results-based programming and learning lessons from its work. This is mirrored by the approach to evaluations – the independent Evaluation Office assesses UNEP's performance against the planned use of resources in its projects and programmes, providing accountability back to funding partners.
The evaluations also enable UNEP to continuously improve performance through the feedback and learning opportunities they provide, and by tracking the implementation of evaluation recommendations. This ensures that UNEP is better positioned to address environmental challenges and ultimately contribute substantially to a healthier, more sustainable world for all.
UNEP collaborates closely with the United Nations Board of Auditors, the Office of Internal Oversight Services and other oversight mechanisms that provide independent expert advice and recommendations for improved efficiency, effectiveness, transparency and compliance with regulations and rules. They also report on the health of UNEP's finances.
In 2021, UNEP underwent a substantive evaluation by the Multilateral Organization Performance Assessment Network (MOPAN), which comprises 21 countries that share a common interest in assessing the performance of the major multilateral organizations they fund. The assessment looked at UNEP’s organizational performance from mid-2016 to 2020, concluding that:
“UNEP remained highly relevant and its role in global environmental issues increased and it effectively delivered scientific assessments, policy advice and technical capacity building to Governments with visible outcomes.”
The annual Programme Performance Report provides a transparent overview of programme implementation and budget expenditure; demonstrates key results and successes; as well as outlines challenges faced. The Annual Report puts a human face on our achievements by showing results from around the world. On the UN Environment Open Data portal more information about UNEP projects can be found.
As UNEP continues to promote sustainability on the world stage, it also does so within the organisation and within the larger UN family. Since 2008, UNEP has been climate neutral, offsetting its greenhouse gas emissions. UNEP is the lead agency for environmental issues within the UN family with a mandate to provide guidance for the world on environmental issues and assist with environmental best practices in the UN. UNEP provides the secretariat of the UN Environment Management Group, which is tasked with Greening the Blue - working towards climate neutrality within the whole UN system.
