6.2 Deciding who to involve in the process

The cross-cutting nature of adaptation means that multiple actors from different sectors and administrative levels, including the private sector, are involved in its implementation. Tracking progress of these activities needs to engage multiple actors and stakeholders who hold information, data and knowledge on the implementation activities. Deciding who takes overall responsibility for MRE, clarifying the roles of different actors and establishing mechanisms to vertically and horizontally coordinate with different actors across sectors and administrative levels are essential for effective MRE.

Overall responsibility for MRE of adaptation is usually given to one organisation or actor, such as the Ministry of Environment, Environment Agency or a working group bringing together multiple actors. This does not necessarily mean that the responsible actor implements MRE on its own, but rather that they are responsible for coordinating the process and reporting the results. Depending on the governance structures and administrative traditions of a country, the body responsible for MRE of adaptation can be the same as the body coordinating adaptation policies more generally at national level. It can also be an actor independent from those responsible for planning and implementing adaptation policies. On the one hand, a close connection between MRE and policy development can for example facilitate learning and uptake of MRE findings in policy development and revision. On the other hand, in some countries, independence may be desirable, especially for evaluation activities.

A key part of this responsibility is to actively coordinate with relevant stakeholders who hold useful information for MRE. The first step is to reflect on the purpose of MRE and consider whose input is needed to answer the questions set out for MRE. For example, broad engagement of sector ministries and experts in public agencies and research communities can provide highly relevant information on how different sectors are progressing with implementing adaptation policies. Considering justice in adaptation policy benefits and burdens is an essential part of developing the MRE scheme. If the aim is to understand how implementation of adaptation policies on the ground is contributing to reduction in vulnerability, increased adaptive capacity and resilience, it may be important to engage more broadly local actors, who are engaged with the implementation activities.

Mechanisms are needed for engaging the views of actors from different sectors, administrative levels and societal groups, to facilitate coordination, communication, information and knowledge sharing and learning in the MRE process. Working groups, Steering Committees, Coordination Councils or the like can provide such platforms but are by no means the only way to engage stakeholders. Forms of deeper involvement, such as active engagement, partnerships and empowerment, throughout the policy cycle, are typically more inclusive when involving stakeholders from different sectors. The needs and levels of stakeholder engagement desired for MRE also influences the selection of MRE methods.

The greatest learning occurs for all actors involved during the course of the evaluation itself. Information and knowledge sharing, presentations and workshops as well as the discussion of findings contribute to the learning.

Greater emphasis has to be placed on the provision of early feedback from stakeholders. The lessons learned from evaluating adaptation efforts must be actively shared and discussed with all stakeholders throughout the entire policy process. This interactive communication ensures that the evaluation findings truly become "lessons learned" that inform future actions, rather than just being reports.

The co-development and co-production of knowledge and various forms of stakeholder engagement and participatory elements and approaches are common and very relevant elements of adaptation policy development and its implementation.

Stakeholder engagement is crucial for MRE on the one hand to receive relevant quantitative and qualitative information including on impacts on vulnerable groups, data and knowledge for monitoring the process and progress, but also on the other hand for interpreting and deriving relevant messages from available data. MRE contributes to further building up resilience and increasing adaptive capacity.

Stakeholder engagement and the co-creation of adaptation policy throughout the strategy and planning process can help to ensure uptake from diverse/multiple actors and strongly support implementation.

This varies between statutory requirements (such as Climate Acts) and voluntary approaches, under which stakeholder engagement comes even more strongly into play for the implementation of the measures foreseen in the climate adaptation action plans.