Harnessing Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning for evidence-based policies and programmes in Climate and Nature

Please arrive from 10:30 for the 11:00-12:30 panel, which will be followed by networking lunch until 13:30.

Grounding climate and nature policy making in knowledge obtained through monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) is more crucial than ever. Climate change and biodiversity loss are complex, interconnected issues that require nuanced understanding and evidence-based solutions. The dynamic nature of environmental issues means that policies must be adaptable, and policymakers need reliable data to make informed decisions. MEL provides the evidence base that supports sound decision making, ensuring that new policies and programmes harness this vital knowledge and experience.

To explore how this is being done in practice, we will hear from two BEI members who are instrumental in enhancing the monitoring, evaluation, and learning aspects of the FCDO’s and Defra’s programmes.

Integrity’s work focuses on integrating climate and biodiversity considerations into programme design, implementation and evaluation processes. This involves using innovative techniques to assess the impact of climate change and environmental degradation on development programmes, particularly in fragile and conflict affected countries. Lamia Renaud, a Senior Expert at Integrity, has developed an “Environmental Approach for Generational Impact,” which encourages evaluators to consider the long-term environmental costs and benefits of development initiatives through the system-thinking approaches. This approach aims to ensure that climate and biodiversity issues are central to programme design and evaluation, promoting benefits for both people and biodiversity.

Cadmus integrates rigorous MEL frameworks to ensure effectiveness of environmental and climate initiatives. By leveraging their extensive experience in international development, Cadmus ensures that nature programmes are grounded in robust evidence, promoting sustainable and effective solutions. They collaborate with various stakeholders, including governments and international organisations, to provide comprehensive evaluations that inform policy and programme adjustments, ensuring long-term environmental benefits.

The UK’s Biodiverse Landscapes Fund (BLF), managed by Defra, is a £100m ODA investment running from 2021-2030 which is supporting developing countries to fight poverty, protect nature, and tackle climate change. Working in six landscapes across the world, the BLF focuses on several strategies to do this such as  on promoting eco-friendly businesses, empowering Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) to manage their environments, supporting sustainable livelihoods, minimising human-wildlife conflicts, and encouraging better policies from governments. The BLF works with consortia of both international and local experts in development and conservation to achieve its goals. This collaborative approach breaks down silos, ensures diverse knowledge is utilised, and supports a participatory approach, allowing the BLF to tailor its approach to each landscape. The BLF collaborates with independent evaluators (including BEI members Oxford Policy Management, Cadmus and Itad) to ensure rigorous monitoring, evaluation and learning to test different strategies, learn from them, and adapt based on what works best for addressing the global biodiversity crisis and its effects on vulnerable populations.