Institute of Development Studies

Evaluating adaptation to climate change from a development perspective

'Current state of evaluation of climate change adaptation interventions and next stages'

Evaluation of CCAI (climate change adaptation interventions) is challenging as they are diverse, cutting across sectors and scales. Few evaluations have yet been undertaken. Monitoring and evaluation is often designed post-hoc and not embedded in the project.

Methods could be improved through: 

• Mechanisms to provide ongoing feedback on impacts beyond the lifespan of the project;
• Participatory evaluation - 360°
• Impact indicators developed in partnership with beneficiaries
• Baseline scenarios and development of the capacity to monitor change over long timescales, retain the information and provide it in usable formats at the right time.

Other conclusions:

• With the move to larger scale, sector-wide thematic country level and synthesis evaluations, it will be important to promote integration.
• Rather than fostering an explosion of evaluations, greater efforts are required in ensuring adaptation rests within Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs) at the outset with consequent integration of National Adaptation Programmes of Action (NAPAs).
• It is vital that sectoral plans, particularly water and agriculture, have climate change fully integrated within them.

A conceptual framework is proposed to provide indicators which can measure progress in: knowledge generation and application: flexible institutions at all scales and use any established monitoring and reporting systems on sectoral issues related to adaptation are already in place avoid creating new metrics.

• IDS key contact: Merylyn Hedger
• Project dates: March 2008 - August 2008
• Project status: Closed
• Funder: Global Environment Facility (GEF); Department for International Development (DFID)

Researchers

• Merylyn Hedger
• Tom Mitchell
• Jennifer Leavy
• Martin Greeley
• Lisa Horrocks, AEA Technology

Selected Outputs

• Hedger, M., Mitchell, T., Leavy, J., Greeley, M. and Horrocks, L. (2009) 'Evaluating Climate Change Adaptation from a Development Perspective' in Feinstein, O. and van den Berg, R. (eds), Evaluating Climate Change and Development, Edison: Transaction Publishers
• Hedger, M., Greeley, M. and Leavy, J. (2008) 'Evaluating climate change: pro-poor perspectives', IDS Bulletin 39.4:75-80, Brighton: IDS
• Hedger, M., Horrocks, L., Mitchell, T., Leavy, J. and Greeley, M. (2008) 'Evaluation of climate change adaptation from a development perspective'