C 264/20
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
27.7.2023
The prevailing practice focuses on monitoring and evaluation of processes set by adaptation policies, responding to the question 'what is being done?'.
However, to get a complete picture of the overall effectiveness and efficiency of adaptation policy, it becomes increasingly important to understand the effects and outcomes of these processes and associated adaptation actions, responding to the question 'what difference does it make to our vulnerabilities and risks?'.
Focusing on the effects and outcomes of adaptation policies can also help to determine whether the strategy/plan is ambitious enough to significantly contribute to build resilience and explore emerging issues that need more attention in the future.
Unlike the prevailing practice, not only physical, but also social effects and outcomes of adaptation actions, including their distribution in different population groups, should be monitored and evaluated.
This is important to ensure that adaptation actions target and support vulnerable communities and do not have unintended effects of worsening or creating new inequalities.
Step 5.a.
Defining the aim and purpose of monitoring and evaluation Case example 5: ‘Mückenatlas’: A citizen science project for mosquito surveillance in Germany Disease agents transmitted to animals and humans by mosquito bites have hit the headlines across the EU, as cases of dengue, chikungunya and West Nile Virus (WNV) have been recorded, especially in southern Europe.
However, the spread of mosquito species carrying these disease pathogens (such as viruses, bacteria and parasites that can cause diseases) has also been documented in more northern EU countries, including Germany.
Climate change has been recognised as one of the factors contributing to this spread.
To address the potential health risks, surveillance, prevention and abatement measures need to be combined.
The German ‘Mückenatlas’ (‘mosquito atlas’) is an example of how a citizen science project can not only contribute to research, but also supplement traditional monitoring methods to function as an early warning system.
The project engages people who submit mosquito samples, which are then identified and used for research by experts.
The ‘Mückenatlas’ therefore contributes to knowledge on native and invasive mosquito species and related diseases in Germany and seeks to establish an information base for policymakers and researchers to assess future risks.
The first step in developing a monitoring and evaluation system is defining its aim and purpose, as this decision has consequences for the coordination and organisation of the work.
Monitoring and evaluation can serve multiple purposes, the most prominent being tracking the progress and performance of adaptation policy to inform and improve policymaking.
It is good to focus not only on the adaptation strategy or plan itself but also on relevant sectoral policies.
In this regard, the first step is checking whether and to what extent sectoral policies have integrated adaptation.
The second step is regular monitoring of adaptation related actions that are already articulated in sectoral policies.
The secondary purpose of monitoring and evaluation could be to increase accountability within public administrations, improving the knowledge base, learning to adjust ongoing or upcoming processes, or raising awareness of the need for adaptation.
Step 5.b.
Deciding whom to involve in the process Deciding who takes overall responsibility for monitoring, reporting, and evaluation, clarifying the roles of different actors and establishing mechanisms to coordinate vertically and horizontally with various actors across sectors and administrative levels are essential for effective monitoring, reporting, and evaluation.