Kathmandu - As climate impacts intensify across Nepal’s mountains, hills, and plains, strengthening systems to track adaptation progress has become a national priority. In this context, Practical Action convened an Adaptation Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) System Workshop, bringing together government officials, climate experts, researchers, and development practitioners to reflect on Nepal’s journey so far and identify future needs in adaptation tracking.
The workshop provided a platform to review the evolution of Nepal’s national adaptation M&E frameworks, beginning with early initiatives such as the National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA), the Pilot Program for Climate Resilience (PPCR), and the Climate Change Policy–Results Management Framework (CCP-RMF), and progressing toward the country’s emerging National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Monitoring, Review and Reporting system.
Participants emphasised that measuring adaptation outcomes is increasingly critical, as climate risks now affect nearly all sectors—from agriculture and water resources to infrastructure, health, and livelihoods. Without robust monitoring systems, stakeholders noted, it becomes difficult to assess whether adaptation investments are reducing vulnerability or reaching the communities most at risk.
Discussions also focused on the alignment between national systems, global frameworks, and local-level actions. Experts highlighted the need for adaptation M&E systems that not only meet international reporting requirements but also remain grounded in local realities, ensuring transparency, accountability, and community-centred resilience.
Country experiences, including Cambodia’s adaptation tracking approach, were shared to illustrate how simple, integrated indicators can support national planning, guide resource allocation, and improve decision-making without overburdening institutions.
Another key theme was the role of climate finance, institutional readiness, and data systems. Participants noted that making adaptation measurable requires more than technical indicators—it depends on reliable data, coordinated institutions, and equitable financing mechanisms that prioritise vulnerable populations.
The workshop concluded with a shared understanding that for a climate-vulnerable country like Nepal, adaptation M&E is not optional. It is essential for building resilience, ensuring effective use of climate finance, and supporting long-term sustainable development.
Participants expressed optimism that insights from the workshop will contribute to designing an adaptation M&E system that is practical, inclusive, and aligned with global commitments, while remaining responsive to Nepal’s diverse ecological and socio-economic contexts.
As Nepal continues to face increasing climate uncertainty, strengthening how adaptation progress is tracked may prove as important as the adaptation actions themselves.
