Title: GOPA External Evaluation of GRÓ 2018-2023

An extensive independent external evaluation carried out on the work of GRÓ and the four training programmes on fisheries, gender equality, geothermal energy and land restoration in 2018-2023, confirms good development results of the work of the programmes. The evaluation was conducted by the GOPA consultancy firm and sets forth 37 recommendations.

Findings indicate that the GRÓ programmes are highly relevant and fully aligned with Iceland’s international development cooperation policies and strategic goals. The GRÓ programmes complement the wider development efforts of Iceland undertaken at the international level and in partner countries. Further, the GRÓ programmes have positively contributed to advancing the cross-cutting priorities of Icelandic policy (i.e. gender equality, human rights, and climate change and the environment).

The evaluator recognizes the significant progress achieved since 2022 in the development of a standard framework to define the collective GRÓ programme intervention theory of change, including the definition of the intended results of the programmes. The programmes offer a coherent mix of interventions, with good potential for the realization of synergies across the different outputs.