From September 10-12 in Quang Ninh, the Department of Climate Change (Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment) and the Secretariat of the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Global Network organized an international workshop titled "Sharing International Experiences: Building and Strengthening Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Systems in the Implementation of National Adaptation Plans (NAPs)."
The workshop was joined by government representatives from eight countries in the Asia-Pacific region, including Viet Nam, Bhutan, Cambodia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Timor Leste, and Tonga. The event focused on training and exchanging methodologies for building and implementing systems to monitor and evaluate climate change adaptation activities, ensuring transparency and improving the management of these efforts in various countries.
In her opening remarks, Dr. Mai Kim Lien, Deputy Director of the Department of Climate Change, noted that alongside the issuance of Viet Nam's National Adaptation Plan for the period 2021-2030 with a vision to 2050 (NAP), the Vietnamese government also issued a national Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) system for climate adaptation activities. This system aims to monitor and assess the effectiveness of adaptation efforts, providing a foundation for managing and coordinating these activities. To streamline reporting, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has developed an online platform enabling easier reporting for ministries and local authorities.
Dr. Emilie Beauchamp, Head of MEL at NAP Global Network, emphasized that M&E systems are not only for monitoring and evaluation but also include training as a critical element to ensure adaptation strategies are grounded in scientific evidence and practical experience. The international workshop provided an opportunity to build effective reporting mechanisms on climate adaptation progress and to discuss solutions to the challenges countries face in developing and implementing M&E systems.
During the three-day workshop, experts from NAP Global Network presented concepts and processes for building national-level M&E systems for climate adaptation. Participating countries shared their experiences overcoming challenges and discussed solutions for establishing effective M&E systems.
Particular attention was given to promoting training, capacity building, and experience-sharing on reporting progress, financing, and data management within M&E systems. Delegates also visited the Dong Rui mangrove forest in Tiên Yên district, Quang Ninh province, to observe local climate adaptation models in action.