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Mariana Vidal Merino

Germany

Mariana Vidal Merino Member since 22/04/2025

Adaptation Fund Technical Evaluation Reference Group

Evaluation Analyst
Website
  • Evaluation Analyst (STC) at the Adaptation Fund –Technical Evaluation Reference Group (AF-TERG)
    • Ex post evaluation of Adaptation Fund projects.
    • Thematic Evaluation of the Adaptation Fund Accreditation Process, including the Readiness Program in support of accreditation.
    • Thematic evaluation of scalability, including recommendations on supporting scalability through fund strategy and operations.
    • Technical evaluation of innovation: map, analyze, and derive lessons about the Adaptation Fund efforts and progress in fostering innovation in climate change adaptation.
  • Evaluator (STC) at the Global Environmental Facility -  Independent Evaluation Office (GEF IEO)
    • Policy coherence at the Program level in the GEF.
    • Support the review of resilience and adaptative management relevant features in project design, with emphasis on the GEF projects' response to COVID-19 Pandemic.
    • Support the review of behavior change in GEF-supported interventions:  examined the extent to which recent GEF projects explicitly pursue and promote behavior change for the achievement of global environmental benefits.
    • Validation of terminal evaluations of G-4 - G-7 projects: review and synthesis of the evidence on performance of relevant projects and programs; validation of the performance ratings and assessment of the quality of terminal evaluation reports.

My contributions

  • Discussion

    Maximizing the impact of South-South and Triangular Cooperation in a changing aid architecture through evaluation.

    • Mariana Vidal Merino

      Germany

      Mariana Vidal Merino

      Evaluation Analyst

      Adaptation Fund Technical Evaluation Reference Group

      Posted on 07/05/2025

      Such an important topic to reflect on! As you mentioned, SSTC began gaining recognition in the 1970s and has since been promoted as part of global development efforts. However, without critical evidence SSTC risks being seen more as a symbolic gesture than a genuinely development tool.

      In the context of climate change adaptation, SSTC is particularly valuable. It enables countries in the Global South (many facing similar climate risks like droughts, floods, and sea-level rise) to exchange practical, context-specific solutions rooted in shared challenges. 

      The Adaptation Fund actively supports SSTC through several key avenues, including:

      • Technical Assistance Grants for South-South Cooperation, which help countries without direct access to the Fund learn from others that do, paving the way for their own accreditation.
      • Workshops and peer learning events, where countries share adaptation experiences and lessons learned.
      • Publication of case studies from successful projects to promote replication and scaling of effective practices.
      • Support for partnerships among Southern institutions to strengthen collaborative climate action.

      While the Fund does not have a separate evaluation framework specifically for SSTC, it embeds SSTC considerations into its broader evaluation processes. One key approach is the monitoring of South-South Cooperation Grants, which are tracked through project documents, inception reports, and regular monitoring updates. 

      The Fund’s Technical Evaluation Reference Group (AF-TERG) also plays a role. Its 2024 Rapid Evaluation of the Adaptation Fund reviewed how well the Fund meets country needs and assessed the effectiveness of its support mechanisms—including SSTC initiatives. The ongoing evaluation of the Fund’s Readiness Program will go deeper into this analysis.

      Looking forward to  learning from others’ experiences with evaluating SSTC!

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