Virtual Peer Learning Event | Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) for National Adaptation in Pacific Small Island Developing States

This virtual peer learning event was organized by the NAP Global Network in collaboration with the Pacific Resilience Partnership (PRP) in order to provide a platform for Pacific Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to share perspectives, experiences and lessons learned on monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of national adaptation.

Participants included representatives from Kiribati, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Republic of Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Palau, Cook Islands, Niue, Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Tuvalu, as well as a range of bilateral development partner agencies and international climate support initiatives. The full agenda from this event is available here.

The event was part of a series of monthly webinars on the Framework for Resilient Development in the Pacific (FRDP) organized by the Pacific Resilience Partnership starting in August 2020 and focused on creating a sharing and learning online platform through structured sessions.

Watch welcome remarks provided by Ms. Le-Anne Roper, Government of Jamaica, on behalf of the Technical Expert Group on Comprehensive Risk Management (TEG-CRM).

This plenary discussion focused on what it takes to design pragmatic and user-friendly M&E systems for national adaptation using examples from the Pacific region.

Invited speakers:

• Nilesh Prakash, Senior Advisor for the NDC Pacific Hub and former Head of Climate Change and International Cooperation Division, Ministry of Economy, Fiji
• Julie Dekens, Senior Researcher, International Institute for Sustainable Sevelopment (NAP Global Network Secretariat)

Monitoring & Evaluation of National Adaptation: Key challenges and emerging solutions | Julie Dekens

Facilitating learning is increasingly identified as an important overarching  objective for monitoring and evaluating adaptation interventions. This breakout group discussed what it means and why it’s important and the implications for the M&E system in terms of information needs and methods.

Invited speaker:

• Viliami Takau, Consultant, Department of Climate Change, Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communications, Tonga

Moderated by:

• Paddy Pringle, Climate Analytic Consultant, SPREP

National Monitoring and Evaluation System of the Joint National Action Plan for Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Management (JNAP2) 2018-2028 | Viliami Takau

Learning from M&E | Paddy Pringle

Most M&E systems for national adaptation are designed to provide  accountability to stakeholders by demonstrating effective allocation and use of resources to different governance bodies. This breakout group discussed what it means practically, the implications for the M&E system in terms of information needs and methods, and ways to align reporting requirements between different, yet related, objectives.

Invited speaker:

• Ianeta Iororimo, Communications Officer, presenting on behalf of Choi Yeeting, Senior Policy Advisor, Office of the President, Kiribati and member of the Least Developed Countries Expert Group (LEG)

Moderated by:

• Vuki Buadromo, Principal Adviser, Deputy Director General’s Office, SPC

M&E Progress Report: Kiribati Joint Implementation Plan for Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management (KJIP) 2019-2028 | Ianeta Iororimo

We discussed how the Integrated Vulnerability Assessment (IVA) is a government-led, standardized approach to conducting community-level vulnerability assessment to climate change, which is being used and adapted in different countries in the Pacific region based on their specific needs and priorities. This plenary session provided a status overview of the IVA process in the region and discuss its role in M&E of national adaptation.

Invited speakers:

• Julie Dekens, Senior researcher, NAP Global Network/IISD

Integrated Vulnerability Assessment (IVA): Status overview and role in M&E of national adaptation from NAP Global Network | Julie Dekens

Closing remarks provided by:

• Exsley Taloiburi, Resilience Team Leader, Pacific Islands Forum
• Anne Hammill, Senior Director, Resilience, International Institute for Sustainable Development (NAP Global Network Secretariat)

This breakout group took the form of a knowledge clinic. Participants acting as “patients” shared their challenges around the use of community-level vulnerability assessments for M&E with a group of “doctors” who provided the patient with advice and ideas about how to address their problem.

Moderated by:

• Semi Qamese, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, SPREP

A key issue is often not the lack of data but understanding which data and information really matter based on the purpose and objectives of the M&E system and facilitating data sharing, analysis and use. This breakout session explored means to support data and information management including through centralized data systems. It explored how to get support and buy-in from all stakeholders to ensure that centralized data systems are effective and functional.

Invited speakers:

• Sioeli Tonga, Pacific Data Hub, SPC
• Alison Culpin, Statistics for Development Division, SPC
• Breanna Rose, Director of Operations & Partnerships, Hawai’i Green Growth

Moderated by:

• Anne Hammill, Senior Director, Resilience, International Institute for Sustainable Development (NAP Global Network Secretariat)

Data and information management for M&E of national adaptation

BACKGROUND ON M&E AND NATIONAL ADAPTATION

• Guidebook: Developing National Adaptation Monitoring and Evaluation Systems
• For a background on the National Adaptation Plan process, read this Frequently Asked Questions briefing note from the NAP Global Network.
• A presentation on M&E for learning from Paddy Pringle, Climate Analytics/SPREP.
• How Integrated Vulnerability Assessments Support NAP Processes in the Pacific Region

For a refresher on M&E of national adaptation, watch this nine-minute video in which Patrick Guerdat from the NAP Global Network Secretariat recaps the essentials.

A Resilient Future: the Framework for Resilient Development in the Pacific (FRDP)

• Pacific Data Hub’s SDG dashboard | read a one-page backgrounder
• Aloha+ Challenge dashboard | read a one-page backgrounder
• SPC Statistics for Development Division Tools — in particular, the PopGIS tool provides population, beneficiary and gender disaggregation figures at a sub-national level.