Achim Daschkeit, Expert, Climate Impacts and Adaptation Section, Federal Environment Agency (UBA), Germany

1. Für Mensch & Umwelt
Evaluation of the National Adaptation Strategy in
Germany – Experiences …
OECD-UK Climate Change Committee
Measuring Progress in implementing national adaptation policies
Dr. Achim Daschkeit, supported by Dr. Petra van Rüth
Environment Agency Germany, Competence Center Climate Impacts and
Adaptation

2. National Adaptation Strategy (NAS) in Germany
Federal government approved NAS in 2008
1st Adaptation Action Plan in 2011
NAS Progress report 2015 & 2020, incl. 2nd
/ 3rd Action Plan
First Evaluation of the National
Adaptation Strategy (2017-2019)

3. 3
Objectives of the evaluation of the German adaptation strategy
1. Knowledge generation: generation of knowledge about the object
of the evaluation (adaptation process)
2. Learning function: identification of success factors and challenges
regarding the implementation of the adaptation strategy and
creation of transparency as basis for a common learning process
with all involved actors
3. Legitimation: underlining the legitimacy of the process by showing
that there has been adequate progress in the adaptation process in
Germany
4. Controlling function: check whether the implementation of
adaptation actions is on track or if there are any delays

4. 4
Logic model as conceptual framework
• Using a logic model as a conceptual framework allows a schematic identification and
analysis of complex connections and relations between an intervention and its impact.
• Elements of the logic model: five levels that allow the analysis of different aspects of a
process: input, implementation, output, outcome and (policy-)impact.
Input
Resources and
structures,
investments,
other non-
monetary
contributions
Implementation
Measures that use
inputs to create
outputs
Output
Products and
services, direct
results of
implemented
measures
Outcome
Explicit value of
products and
services, short
and mid-term
observable
changes
(Policy-)Impact
Direct and indirect,
observable effects,
long-term changes
Source: Kind et al. 2018

5. 5
Logic model for the German evaluation
Action
Plan II
(AP)
Implementation of AP II
•Cooperation of involved
actors
•Resources
•Role and responsibilities
regarding the
implementation of
measures
Results of AP II measures
•Status of implementation of
measures of AP II
Effects of measures of AP II on
a target group level (short- and
mid-term)
Process
•Development of the adaptation
strategy and relating documents
(barriers, work-flows,
cooperation of government
departments)
•Role of different actors in the
process
•Participatory processes
Products / results of the
adaptation process on a
strategic level
•Inventory of products
•Analysis of developed
documents (content,
structure, consistency,
relevance and integrity of
clusters and fields of action)
•Communication measures
•Anchoring of adaptation in
government departments
Effects of the adaptation
process on a strategic level
(short- and mid-term)
•Developments in federal
states
•Provision of knowledge
•Enabling political actors
•Mainstreaming
•Anchoring permanent task of
adaptation to climate change
Long term effects of
the adaptation
process
• Does the adaptation
process as a whole
contribute to
strengthening the
adaptive capacity and
reducing
vulnerability?
Input Implementation Output Outcome Policy-Impact
strategic
level
Operational
level
Process evaluation Evaluation of status of implementation Evaluation of effects
Source: Kind et al. 2018

6. 6
… Use of Indicators …

7. 7
Conclusion
• Use of indicators is not essential for
– the quality of results / insights and
– how results of evaluation will be considered in political actions
• Evaluation was time-cosuming (analysis of documents, numerous
interviews, delphi survey) but generated a lot of general as well as
specific insights

8. Dr. Achim Daschkeit
German Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt)
KomPass - Climate Impacts and Adaptation in Germany
Wörlitzer Platz 1
06844 Dessau-Roßlau
Germany
achim.daschkeit@uba.de