Climate change - Scottish National Adaptation Plan 2024-2029: monitoring and evaluation framework

Knowledge Exchange and Learning

Gathering learning from monitoring and evaluation activities

Monitoring and evaluation has an important role in both accountability and learning. The monitoring and evaluation activities set out in this document will generate evidence to assess the effectiveness and impacts of policy actions associated with SNAP3. This will help to provide accountability. Monitoring and evaluation evidence will also support our understanding of what works, for whom, in what contexts and why. This is likely to be available in a range of formats. Some evidence will be available in the form of full, robust policy evaluations. Other smaller, local evaluation activity and learning can also be useful. There may also be opportunities to draw on smaller scale qualitative or quantitative research gathered from interventions.

Evidence from across these multiple sources can be combined and used to inform decisions about whether to stop, change or extend policies in SNAP3 and beyond. For example, process and implementation evidence can be used to inform the ongoing rollout of projects so that delivery can be enhanced and better targeted. Evidence of policy impacts can help us to understand whether policies are impacting on the people we want it to, and if there are particular groups who are not being reached we can adapt policies so that they better work for those who most need them. Economic and value for money evidence can help us assess the near term costs and long-term benefits of our policies. This allows us to understand if we are using our resources in the most efficient way and re-allocate or adapt our budgets if needed.

Sharing learning from monitoring and evaluation activities

In order to be used in the ways described above, the evidence gathered from monitoring and evaluation activities needs to be presented in a way that is accessible, understandable and useful for decision makers and wider stakeholders. Knowledge exchange and learning is therefore a key principle underpinning this evaluation framework. We will look to build a shared commitment across stakeholders (both within Scottish Government and beyond) to capture and share good quality evidence as it emerges throughout the SNAP3 period. It will be important to discuss any learning in an open and transparent way and to consider what the evidence, and any differences in evidence across places and people in Scotland, is telling us about what is working well, and less well, in adaptation policies across the country.

We will establish specific mechanisms to ensure this learning is shared in an ongoing way and not just at the end of research projects through technical research reports. These mechanisms will be established with input from local and national stakeholders. For example, they may include a workshop series or knowledge sharing events, newsletters or other forms of sharing learning in a regular way across the lifetime of the Plan. Existing structures and activities taking place to deliver the Public Engagement Strategy for Climate Change (such as Climate Action Hubs and the Climate Policy Engagement Network) will be explored as mechanisms which can support the sharing of learning widely across key groups in Scotland involved in adaptation policies. Importantly, knowledge sharing mechanisms will be informed by key priorities for learning and evidence gathering at a national but also local level. This local focus will support the commitment to place based policies set out in the Plan and ensure a wide range of voices and evidence can feed into our understanding of the needs of, and what works, in providing successful adaptation action across different places in Scotland.