As more countries develop monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) systems to track progress under their National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process, UNDP, UNEP, and the NAP Global Network convened a dedicated exchange at the 2023 NAP Expo to share good practices and lessons learned in this critical area of climate action.
Here are the top 8 tips that our panelists and participants shared for building effective MEL systems for adaptation based on their experiences.
- Keep it simple: A MEL framework should be simple, user-friendly, with easy-to-understand indicators.
- Design fit-for-purpose: Adaptation is context specific, so are MEL systems. There is no one-size-fits-all approach.
- Start early: A MEL strategy needs to be formulated from the beginning of the NAP process, not at the end.
- Maximize synergies: NAPs, Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and Sustainable Development Goals provide opportunities for integrated MEL systems for climate-resilient development. Aligning and integrating with existing national MEL systems helps avoid parallel, redundant processes.
- Collaborate for results: Adaptation is a collaborative effort. Engage government and non-government stakeholders at the national and local levels, and cultivate a ‘MEL culture’. Stakeholders are ‘agents of change’ who help sustain the MEL system and ensure NAP implementation.
- Provide motivation: MEL is not just a compliance exercise, but it facilitates learning and informs decision making. It also provides an opportunity to mobilize adaptation finance through better tracking of investments and results, as well as in translating risks, efficiency gains, and avoided losses in financial terms or in terms that stakeholders understand.
- Check your progress: NAP progress reporting can enhance the effectiveness of the NAP process by supporting decision-making, increasing transparency, and helping identify barriers and opportunities.
- Remain flexible: As climate actions continue to evolve, it’s essential that MEL systems are designed to be flexible so that they can adapt to the changing needs and to changing climate.
We thank our panelists:
- Ms. Maritza Jadrijevic Girardi, Head of Adaptation in Climate Change Division, Ministry of Environment, Chile
- Ms. Karina Barrera, Undersecretary of Climate Change, Ministry of Environment, Water and Ecological Transition, Ecuador
- Ms. Raquel Gomez, Project coordinator, United Nations Environment Programme, Costa Rica
- Ms. Binaya Parajuli, M&E Officer, United Nations Environment Programme, Nepal
- Ms. Maier Sifflet, Sustainable Development and Environment Officer, Department of Sustainable Development, St Lucia
And all our extended ‘panelists’.
This article was published jointly by the United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Environment Programme, and the NAP Global Network. To learn more about their NAP-relevant work, please visit the websites: United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Environment Programme, and NAP Global Network.
