Systematic Review of monitoring and evaluation best practices for climate change adaptation programmes: Lessons for Kenya

Monitoring and evaluation (M&E) systems are critical for assessing the effectiveness of climate change adaptation programmes, yet gaps persist, particularly in resource-constrained regions like Kenya. This study systematically reviews global and Kenyan frameworks to identify opportunities and address gaps in M&E practices, focusing on their role in enhancing adaptation outcomes. The findings reveal that participatory approaches, robust indicators, and technology-driven tools significantly improve adaptation effectiveness, with participatory methods increasing resilience outcomes by 40% in urban settings. However, challenges such as inadequate localisation of frameworks, limited institutional capacity, and an overreliance on checklist-based methods undermine their potential. This article underscores the need for context-specific, inclusive, and learning-oriented M&E systems to address Kenya’s unique climate challenges. By aligning global best practices with local realities, the study provides actionable insights for developing robust M&E systems to support sustainable and scalable climate adaptation efforts.