Rapid Review: Blue Planet Fund - Approach Summary Paper - September 2023

Introduction The rapid review of the Blue Planet Fund will build on ICAI’s previous scrutiny of UK aid funding for climate and nature, in particular the 2019 review International Climate Finance: UK aid for low-carbon development and the 2021 review International climate finance: UK aid for halting deforestation and preventing irreversible biodiversity loss.1 The previous reviews examined issues u. [...] The Blue Planet Fund supports the delivery of the UK government’s Integrated review 4 and the 2022 Strategy for international development,5 both of which list tackling climate change and biodiversity loss among the government’s top international priorities. [...] It will address the following questions: (i) the relevance of the Blue Planet Fund through an analysis of governing policies and strategies, paying particular attention to how the Fund responds to developing country needs as part of meeting the UK’s wider international climate finance objectives; (ii) the coherence and coordination of programme delivery within and between the two departments; and. [...] Table 1: Our review questions Review criteria and questions Relevance: How relevant is the Blue Planet Fund to developing country needs as part of meeting the UK’s international climate finance objectives? Coherence: How coherent and coordinated is the Fund within and across the two departments (Defra and FCDO)? Effectiveness: Are the systems, controls and procedures of the Blue Planet Fund adequa. [...] These will cover key themes such as the Fund’s direction and operations, including strategy, governance and management processes; funding decision making, including the approval process, procurement and contracting processes; the Fund’s results management; and the shape and coherence of the Fund’s emerging portfolio.