This panel will provide an introduction to adaptation monitoring and evaluation (M&E) theory and practices. The session will cover four aspects of M&E:

1. An introduction to the role of monitoring in helping foster clarity of goals, inclusion of equity and nature, and learning if you are achieving success (Jennie)
2. Examples and lessons of an M&E approach used by sites across the country (Susi)
3. An inventory of resilience metrics for M&E practice in adaptation (Jarrod)
4. How M&E could be incorporated into actions at each level of the Steps of Resilience (Lara)

Presentation PDFs can be downloaded by clicking on individual presentation titles above

This session will be made up of three short presentations that will provide a variety of perspectives on M&E.

1. Global: Raising the Bar: Designing, Monitoring, and Evaluating Climate Resilience (Colleen & Kanmani)
2. Federal: Adaptation and Accountability: The Role of GAO’s Disaster Resilience Framework in System-Wide Action (Kathryn & Joe)
3. Local: Enabling Homeowners to adapt to Coastal Flooding: The Case of Rockaway in New York City (Malgosia)

Presentation PDFs can be downloaded by clicking on individual presentation titles above

This session will offer a comprehensive set of criteria for evaluating adaptation projects, examine evaluation efforts in the U.S. conservation sector, and share examples of evaluation in action. An opening presentation by Dr. Lauren Oakes will introduce a “scorecard” of 16 criteria for evaluating adaptation projects that was developed and honed through interviews and surveys with adaptation experts and conservation practitioners. She will also share results from an analysis of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) plans from 76 site-based adaptation projects designed to benefit conservation targets that span a diversity of ecosystems and climate impacts. This analysis examined the types of indicators practitioners are monitoring in relation to reported ecological and social outcomes, to what extent they may be adopting M&E best practices, what factors enable more comprehensive M&E efforts (e.g., partnering with researchers), and practitioner views on what could improve evaluation of adaptation actions. The session will also include presentations by practitioners describing the purpose of their M&E efforts, indicators linked to near- and long-term goals, and practical aspects of evaluating adaptation projects in coastal South Carolina and in forests and rangelands of California

Monitoring and evaluating adaptation progress and success is elusive to adaptation practitioners. The ultimate outcomes may not be seen for a long time; climatic conditions are changing; and people’s perspectives and values evolve over time. Thus, development of successful adaptation indicators and metrics (SAIMs) has lagged behind yet are increasingly demanded by funders, credit rating agencies, stakeholders, and elected officials.

During this training, attendees will be able to explore a toolkit created for the development, selection and use of tailored SAIMs. The toolkit draws on 10+ years of work with government officials, academic experts and boundary individuals defining a framework for thinking about adaptation success; developing project-, program- and entity-relevant SAIMs; and distilling the tools, lessons, and tips practitioners find useful in identifying indicators that work for their purposes, constituency and budgets.

The site (www.resiliencemetrics.org) includes didactic material about adaptation, indicators, monitoring and evaluation; facilitation tools, tip sheets for developing, assessing, choosing, using and communicating SAIMs; case studies; sample indicators; and additional resources (data sources, readings and examples of SAIMs developed by others).