A closer look at Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) of Adaptation

Adaptation monitoring and evaluation (M&E) assesses whether adaptation measures have achieved their desired results and whether resources have been used efficiently and effectively. M&E can ensure accountability, which is particularly important in the context of climate finance. In addition, adaptation M&E can also support project and programme management under uncertainty and facilitate learning about what does and does not work, and why. The learning aspect is particularly important as adaptation is still a relatively new policy field.

The core question addressed by adaptation M&E is whether the adaptation has actually taken place, i.e., whether vulnerability has been reduced or adaptive capacity has been strengthened. For instance, adaptation M&E tries to answer whether an adaptation project has supported its target group to better cope with the likely impacts of climate change.

Given the overlap of adaptation with established development areas such as rural development or disaster risk reduction, it is essential to demonstrate the additional benefit of adaptation projects to justify the resources spent.