Results-based management

All GCF Board decisions and policies on results, monitoring and evaluation can be found in the GCF policies webpage, with this page providing further guidance on all operational matters.

The initial results management framework (RMF) and mitigation and adaptation performance measurement frameworks (PMFs) were the tools the GCF applied to monitor, assess and analyse the results for its projects/programmes approved up to the thirty-first meeting of the GCF Board (March 2022).

Taking the lessons from implementation of the RMF and PMFs, integrated results management framework (IRMF) – GCF’s revised and updated results framework integrates the RMF/PMFs and ensures better alignment with other GCF policies and tools including the Investment Framework (IF). The IRMF was approved at the twenty-ninth meeting (B.29) of the GCF Board (decision B.29/01) to replace the RMF/PMFs and will apply to:

• Projects/programmes submitted to the Board beginning with and going forward from the thirty-second meeting of the Board (B.32); and
• All existing funding proposals in the pipeline, including resubmissions for Board consideration at or after B.32.

Adopted by the GCF Board at its 29th meeting (decision B.29/01), the integrated results management framework (IRMF) establishes a well-structured results architecture through which the performance, progress, and results of individual GCF projects/programmes – and the whole GCF portfolio – can be assessed, understood, and strengthened.

The IRMF also provides clear definitions and measurement methodologies for GCF’s priority indicators and monitoring and assessment processes, thereby ensuring that GCF projects/programmes apply the same approach and generate consistent, robust data that can be aggregated and compared across the entire GCF portfolio. Crucially, all these measures will allow the GCF to track the Fund’s contributions to the goals put forward by the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement.

The following documents, templates and multimedia resources provide in-depth information and guidance on the IRMF application for GCF stakeholders.

• Guidance note to support the completion of the IRMF elements of the revised funding proposal template for PAP and SAP
• Funding Proposal template
• Simplified Approval Process Funding Proposal template

As per the Board decision B.29/01, the Secretariat developed a guidance note and templates for a new funding window dedicated to Direct Access Entities (DAEs) for their implementation of GCF’s integrated results management framework (IRMF). Accredited DAEs are encouraged to refer to the guidance note and use these templates in submitting proposals to access this new funding.

Adopted by the GCF Board through decisions B.07/04 and B.08/07, the initial results management framework (RMF) and mitigation and adaptation performance measurement frameworks (PMFs) established the basis of GCF’s mitigation and adaptation logic models and eight result areas of the Fund consisting of four relating to mitigation and four relating to adaptation. All GCF projects/programmes approved up to the thirty-first meeting of the GCF Board (B.31) are being implemented or will be implemented under the umbrella of the initial RMF/PMFs.

The Performance Measurement Framework for REDD+ Results-based Payment was adopted by the GCF Board at its eighth meeting (B.08). It provides a results framework for projects/programmes funded under the REDD-plus results-based payments pilot in line with the Warsaw Framework for REDD+ and other REDD+ decisions under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The pilot programmes runs from 2017 - 2022.

The Revised Readiness Results Management Framework (“Revised RRMF”) serves as a key instrument for the GCF and its Readiness and Preparatory Support Programme (“RPSP”) in supporting developing countries in strengthening their capacities, planning and programming frameworks towards a transformational long-term climate action agenda. This includes the development of low-emission and climate-resilient strategies, multi-stakeholder engagement and coordination for climate planning and programming, and knowledge-sharing and learning, to eventually contribute to the achievement of commitments made by developing countries under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), as articulated in their respective Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), National Adaptation Plan (NAPs) and other Long-Term Strategies (LTSs), and other relevant national commitments and processes under the Convention, in alignment with GCF’s mandates.

The previous RRMF has been revised to align with the Readiness Strategy 2024–2027 and its three streamlined objectives and eight outcomes and Operational Modalities for the Readiness Strategy 2024–2027, streamlined to optimize the Readiness resources that are channeled to support programming efforts in line with the targeted results of the Updated Strategic Plan (USP-2) for GCF 2024–2027 and the Core Indicators of the GCF Integrated Results Management Framework (IRMF). The Revised RRMF is anchored in the Theory of Change Statement of the Readiness Strategy 2024-2027. Accordingly, the RPSP vision is that “by 2027, developing countries have strengthened programming capacities and enabling environments for NDC, NAP, and LTS implementation, investment planning and enhanced access to GCF resources through an enhanced focus on climate programming and direct access to advance implementation of the UNFCCC and Paris Agreement”.

The Revised RRMF builds upon feedback from the implementation of the previous RRMF as well as the findings and recommendations of the Independent Evaluation of the GCF’s RPSP, which highlighted the potential for the RPSP to pursue greater strategic intent, a stronger country-centric approach, and enhanced mechanisms to enable periodic measurement of outcome and impact-level results. In response, the Revised RRMF introduces a progressive Readiness results pathway, emphasizing country-centric outcomes, while retaining key project-level outputs. To follow the USP-2 intentions of ensuring predictability, speed, simplicity, complementarity, the Revised RRMF is designed to guide countries in priority results-based interventions under the RPSP, while enabling the GCF to effectively track and measure impactful results delivered by the RPSP, thereby ensuring robust, fit-for-purpose monitoring and reporting of the impact GCF delivers in accordance with its relevant mandates.

Revised Readiness Results Management Framework (Revised RRMF):

1. Proposals under the new Readiness Strategy:
   The revised RRMF will be applied to all readiness proposals developed and submitted under the new readiness strategy, ensuring alignment with the latest strategic objectives and methodologies.

Previous Readiness Results Management Framework (RRMF):

1. Legacy readiness proposals:
   The previous RRMF will continue to be used for legacy readiness proposals that were developed and submitted before the implementation of the new readiness strategy.
2. Transitional readiness proposals:
   Transitional readiness proposals that use old readiness templates should also utilize the previous RRMF. This ensures consistency in their evaluation and management, aligning them with the methodologies and metrics established in the previous framework.