Main conclusions and recommendations include:

(Conclusions)

• SCP actions supported by the EU are relevant to EU and global development policies, taking into account the importance of SCP in the 2030 Agenda and the contribution of SCP to key priorities of the new European Consensus on Development, including climate change, jobs and sustainable growth. EU interventions are also relevant to partner countries’ priorities.
• The effectiveness of interventions –e.g. regional SWITCH programmes and the 10YFP Secretariat- is satisfactory, as shown for example by results achieved in terms of improved stakeholder capacities and knowledge sharing.
• Actions targeting the private sector and promoting green business development through the SWITCH programmes have achieved "high impact in terms of uptake of SCP practices and increased levels of investments by MSMEs, contributing notably to the creation of green jobs". The impact of policy support impact has been variable across programmes and has not been sufficiently documented.
• EU supported programmes on SCP are relatively cost effective. In particular, there has been take up of green technologies by MSMEs, new investments and major green job creation resulting from the green business component of the SWITCH programmes, with a far higher financial value than programme costs.
• EU funded SCP and Green Economy interventions are generally coherent and complementary to each other; however there is insufficient interaction between actions promoting green business development with the private sector and those providing policy support.
• SCP actions supported by the EU show positive elements of sustainability, as evidenced by the local ownership of programme outcomes, effective capacity building, some evidence of policy take-up, and the existence of self-funding mechanisms allowing the continuation of green business development projects.

(Recommendations)

• There is a need to improve the understanding within EU institutions of the Green Economy and its contribution to EU development priorities; this requires more effective monitoring and evaluation, a better documentation of EU interventions and their results, as well as more guidance.
• The EU should better prioritise Green Economy / SCP actions based on a return on investment approach, in the form of cost-benefit analysis. Higher attention to employment impacts is of particular importance, considering the potential contribution of the green economy to job creation.
• In many countries, green economy policies are in place, and support should build on these. National support should focus on the translation of international and regional policies into national policies. This means a lesser focus on developing new policies, but more attention to policy coherence and implementation.
• SCP actions should focus more strongly on sustainable consumption, including sustainable public procurement, as support in this area has been limited, whereas demand for green products is one of the main drivers for sustainable production and for the adoption of green practices by businesses.
• Further support to networking, as well policy and business dialogue, is necessary. The existing SWITCH networking facilities are well positioned to assist with information dissemination, foster multiplier effects and increase investments in Green Economy sectors.
• The EU should enhance the coherence and complementarities of the overall EU intervention on SCP; this requires further engagement with key partners such as EU Member States and Development Banks, but also functioning coordination mechanisms at country level.