Good Practice Study on Principles for Indicator Development, Selection, and Use in Climate Change Adaptation Monitoring and Evaluation Issued on 2015 by GEF Independent Evaluation Office

This study was conducted by the GEF Independent Evaluation Office (IEO), on behalf of the Earth-Eval community. It identifies key challenges in Climate Change Adaptation M&E, offering principles for the development, selection, and use of indicators to enhance adaptation interventions. It highlights the importance of evaluative evidence in informing adaptation policy and provides guidance for policymakers and evaluators to foster evidence-based policy development.
The study concludes that no universal set of adaptation indicators exists and that examples of indicators alone won’t advance the field. It also notes that the link between indicators and policy making is weak, as few policies are directly guided by indicators. Data from indicators contribute to the broader knowledge base needed for policymaking, yet there is a gap in using evaluative evidence to inform adaptation policies.