Events

Ben Murphy presented a UNDP reflections paper on climate change adaptation in highly vulnerable contexts, while Tina Tordjman-Nebe moderated. The paper synthesized evidence from 37 recent country, project, and thematic evaluations. The broader reflections series searches UNDP's repository of more than 7,000 evaluations. An artificial-intelligence tool supports evidence retrieval, followed by human inductive and deductive analysis. The synthesis asked which recurring lessons could improve adaptation for vulnerable communities. It found that local capacities are usually deployed first when climate hazards occur. Effective programmes developed community climate maps and locally tailored scenarios. Local planning could then combine lived knowledge with meteorological information and external services. The paper advocated an adaptive mindset based on multiple options rather than a single fixed solution. More

Robbie Wilson, Jake Sales-Dupont, Constanza Gonzalez Parrao, Birte Snilstveit, and Pierre Marion discussed the evidence base linking climate, biodiversity, and livelihoods. The work combined an evidence gap map developed by 3ie for the UK's Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs with a subsequent systematic review. More

Denis Jobin, Thomas George, and Paola Pereznieto discussed a UNICEF formative evaluation of work in urban slums and informal settlements, with Simon Ruhnke (DEval) moderating. The evaluation examined how climate vulnerability intersects with child deprivation in rapidly growing urban settlements. It reviewed UNICEF country-programme and annual reports and conducted deep dives in Colombia, Cambodia, India, and Kenya. Additional countries were examined remotely. More

Alper Dincer, Michael Taylor, and Kevin Moull examined evidence on mobilizing private investment for renewable energy. The discussion combined evaluations from development institutions with market evidence from the Global Renewables Alliance.
The climate-action lesson was that falling technology costs do not remove institutional, financial, political, or currency risks. Evidence is therefore needed on both investment results and the public cost of de-risking private participation. More

Daniel Slunge and Richard Mulwa presented EBA-evidence on public support for carbon pricing in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, with Numi Ostlund moderating. The study asked whether citizens supported fossil-fuel taxes or subsidy reductions and whether stated revenue uses changed that support. It also examined preferred uses of revenue and the role of institutional distrust. More

Anne Sophie-Kervella and Claire Eschalier presented the midterm evaluation of the Transforming Financial Systems for Climate programme, with Laurene Seca moderating. The programme is a joint initiative of Agence Française de Développement and the Green Climate Fund. It provides concessional credit and technical assistance to financial institutions in emerging and developing countries to help them promote investment in climate change adaptation and greener infrastructure, as well as to improve access for vulnerable or underserved groups More

The session brings together evaluators to discuss what works — and what still needs to improve — in climate adaptation and resilience efforts supported by the GEF. Panelists trace the evolution of the GEF's climate mandate from its early focus on mitigation to the development of dedicated adaptation financing through the Least Developed Countries Fund and the Special Climate Change Fund. More

Sithabiso Gandure presented an evaluation of the Adaptation Fund's Readiness Programme, with Vladislav Arnaoudov moderating. The programme supports developing-country institutions seeking stronger capacity to access and use adaptation finance. Its components include technical assistance, accreditation support, partnerships, grants, and knowledge management. More

Theo Sands presented an evaluation of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development's green-economy financing approach, with Olga Mrinska moderating. The evaluation contrasted reported finance volumes with evidence of wider green transition effects. More

Caitlyn McCarthy presented an independent evaluation of the United Kingdom's Climate Finance Accelerator, with Phil Jones moderating. The programme supports low-carbon businesses in emerging markets through tailored technical assistance and connections with investors and policymakers. Its first phase operated in ten countries between 2020 and 2024. Ipsos evaluated the programme at the end of that phase. More