Mr. Achim Steiner, UNDP Administrator 

Mr. Oscar A. Garcia, Director, UNDP Independent Evaluation Office

Ms. Preeti Sinha, Executive Secretary, UNCDF

Mr. Haoliang Xu, Assistant Administrator and Director of BPPS

Mr. Osvaldo Feinstein, IEO Evaluation Advisory Panel member

Dear Colleagues and Friends

Warm greetings and a very good evening from Palau

Firstly, please allow me to add my congratulations to all the winners here today. I guess we can all agree that it hasn’t been an easy year - we have been faced with so many challenges during the pandemic, nevertheless we can also agree that we can continue to ensure that our work is moving forward.

The Evaluation of the Tuvalu Coastal Adaptation Project responds to the country’s vulnerability to the climate crisis. Its implementation is based on strong partnership with the island leaders and communities.

The Project is the pride of Tuvalu, as it implements measures and best practices that reduce exposure to coastal hazards in the three target islands, building capacity of national and local authorities and investing in youth and people living with disability.

Worth US$ 38.9 million, the project will benefit 6,600 people, which represents two thirds of the population - with 3,100 direct beneficiaries.

2021 was a successful year for Evaluations where a total of 16 decentralized evaluations were completed for the Pacific Office, among them the TCAP Evaluation which paved the way for this award. We are thankful and indeed the learning and improving must continue.

One thing is clear - these Evaluations drive us towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and support transformative change. They are part of our commitment to constantly learning and improving – and ensure that the services we provide meet the needs of the communities.

This award demonstrates this commitment, and the Pacific Office accepts this award with deep appreciation. The award is a result of the different findings and lessons - from project management/implementation arrangements, project design, sustainability to finance. The key lessons learned have also informed our response to the recommendations and how the project moves forward. 

Finally, this further strengthens our commitment to ensure effective implementation of the project. The Pacific Office will continue to ensure that all UNDP-supported GCF projects undergo Independent Evaluations midway through project implementation in accordance with the guidance, rules, and procedures established by UNDP and GCF, as reflected in the UNDP project guidance documentation.

Dear guests and colleagues, this Innovation Award is a reflection of the effective teamwork amongst the independent consultants, TCAP Team, the Resilience and Sustainable Development Programme, the Regional Technical Advisers and the Pacific Office M&E team in strengthening the quality of the evaluation. I acknowledge their combined efforts and thank everyone involved for their tremendous support.

Thank you.