Guidebook for Monitoring and Evaluating Ecosystem-based Adaptation Interventions

This Guidebook describes the complete process needed for designing and implementing effective monitoring and evaluation (M&E) for Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA). The tools and methodologies provided in the Guidebook aim to assess whether EbA interventions have the desired effects in terms of climate change adaptation and to evaluate their impacts on people and ecosystems.

The document stresses the importance to monitor not only the design and implementation phases of an intervention (measuring the quantity of resources invested: i.e. hectares of mangrove seedlings planted) but also to assess the outcomes and impacts of the measure implemented to understand if it is effective  (measuring the adaptation benefits to people: i.e. reduced exposure of coastal communities to storm surges).

The Guidebook starts by providing information on important terms and concepts related to EbA and M&E, as well as on the associated complexities and challenges. The remainder of the Guidebook describes the following four steps that any project team of an EbA intervention can follow for developing an effective M&E system for EbA: (1) developing a results framework, (2) defining indicators and setting a baseline, (3) operationalising a monitoring and evaluation system, and (4) using and communicating the results.

Throughout the different sections, the Guidebook refers to additional resources that provide more detailed guidance, and uses examples from actual EbA interventions to illustrate how M&E has been applied on the ground.