systems an initial list of specific purposes for adaptation M&E was drafted. These
specific purposes are universally formulated to ensure broad applicability and to
avoid an unmanageable number of individual cases. The initial list was sent for
comments to adaptation and M&E experts, including selected participants of the
2nd International Conference on Evaluating Climate Change and Development.
The resulting list includes nine specific purposes for adaptation M&E which are
categorised into process or outcome-oriented assessments:
• Assessing adaptation processes
– Monitoring the integration of adaptation into planning processes
– Monitoring the implementation of adaptation programmes, projects or
actions
– Monitoring the implementation of the National Adaptation Plan (NAP)
process
– Tracking which adaptation activities are taking place at national or
sub-national level
• Assessing adaptation outcomes
– Assessing the results of adaptation projects or actions
– Assessing the results of a programme or portfolio of adaptation projects
– Assessing whether vulnerability has been reduced as a result of adaptation
programmes, projects or actions
– Assessing progress towards adaptation goals, targets or intended outcomes at
national level
– Assessing whether resilience to climate change has been improved at national
level
These nine specific purposes are examples of common reasons for undertaking
adaptation M&E – either during or after the implementation of an intervention. The
Adaptation M&E Navigator does not, however, include consideration of assessments that typically take place before implementation starts such as identifying
climate change impacts and appraising adaptation options (e.g. PROVIA 2013). An
exception is the assessment of vulnerability at the start of an intervention if its
purpose is to measure adaptation progress over time (e.g. Fritzsche et al. 2014,
pp. 155–163). The Adaptation M&E Navigator does not cover tracking financial
flows for adaptation (see for example Terpstra and Peterson-Carvalho 2015).
18.3 Connecting the Specific Purposes to Suitable M&E
Approaches
The specific purposes for adaptation M&E outlined above differ in regard to what is
being monitored or evaluated, at what level, over shorter or longer time periods and
whether the focus is on processes or outcomes. Accordingly, each of the specific
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T. Leiter
specific purposes are universally formulated to ensure broad applicability and to
avoid an unmanageable number of individual cases. The initial list was sent for
comments to adaptation and M&E experts, including selected participants of the
2nd International Conference on Evaluating Climate Change and Development.
The resulting list includes nine specific purposes for adaptation M&E which are
categorised into process or outcome-oriented assessments:
• Assessing adaptation processes
– Monitoring the integration of adaptation into planning processes
– Monitoring the implementation of adaptation programmes, projects or
actions
– Monitoring the implementation of the National Adaptation Plan (NAP)
process
– Tracking which adaptation activities are taking place at national or
sub-national level
• Assessing adaptation outcomes
– Assessing the results of adaptation projects or actions
– Assessing the results of a programme or portfolio of adaptation projects
– Assessing whether vulnerability has been reduced as a result of adaptation
programmes, projects or actions
– Assessing progress towards adaptation goals, targets or intended outcomes at
national level
– Assessing whether resilience to climate change has been improved at national
level
These nine specific purposes are examples of common reasons for undertaking
adaptation M&E – either during or after the implementation of an intervention. The
Adaptation M&E Navigator does not, however, include consideration of assessments that typically take place before implementation starts such as identifying
climate change impacts and appraising adaptation options (e.g. PROVIA 2013). An
exception is the assessment of vulnerability at the start of an intervention if its
purpose is to measure adaptation progress over time (e.g. Fritzsche et al. 2014,
pp. 155–163). The Adaptation M&E Navigator does not cover tracking financial
flows for adaptation (see for example Terpstra and Peterson-Carvalho 2015).
18.3 Connecting the Specific Purposes to Suitable M&E
Approaches
The specific purposes for adaptation M&E outlined above differ in regard to what is
being monitored or evaluated, at what level, over shorter or longer time periods and
whether the focus is on processes or outcomes. Accordingly, each of the specific
330
T. Leiter