In this chapter we presented a review of key evaluation issues in relation to the timely and urgent task of assessing climate change adaptation projects. A comprehensive Evaluation Framework should use specific Evaluation Criteria to evaluate the robustness of proposed CCA interventions and a Logical Framework for Adaptation (LFA) as analytical tool bridging what is done (i.e. implementation), what should be produced or delivered and the results expected (i.e. development results). In other words, the LFA, contains all the information needed to understand the theory of change behind the intervention. Based on the LFA it is possible to configure indicators, baselines, milestones, targets, identify data sources and techniques.
We also show how the different evaluation components can be incorporated in an integrated evaluation framework. Based on the overall flexible evaluation framework we suggested selected Evaluation Criteria (Implementation, Efficiency, Effectiveness, Equity and Sustainability) that can be incorporated in the proposed integrated evaluation framework (see Figure 5). We also devised a quantification and scoring mechanism that provides a standardized way to monitor the extent the climate adaptation activity achieves its intended objectives and outcomes against the evaluation criteria. In cases where there are multiple objectives and outcomes we proposed a scoring and weighting system to capture these depending on the level of importance. The integrated evaluation framework was illustrated by its application to a LoCAL adaptation intervention.
Based on the application of the proposed integrated evaluation methodology to the LoCAL programme of adaptation activities we can draw the following recommendations:
The integrated Evaluation Framework presented in this chapter should be considered as an in-progress framework, which was thoughtfully built using the latest knowledge in the field of Evaluation of adaptation projects.