Multilateral and bilateral intermediaries are a crucial part of the climate finance landscape. In general, intermediaries are working hard to improve their monitoring and evaluation (M&E;) systems, but there is significant room for improvement, particularly to ensure that M&E; is applied across the full lifecycle of projects and programmes. This paper examines the M&E; systems applied by a selection of eight multilateral and bilateral intermediaries, as well as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change reporting framework. The report argues that a key ingredient for a successful M&E; system is simplicity. It is important to balance the need for rigor and comprehensiveness with the recipient country’s capabilities and related transaction and administrative costs and to focus on information that is genuinely required to understand how well money is being spent and the impact it is having on tackling the global challenge of climate change.

This PhD thesis focuses on certain characteristics of the state and of state formation in Malawi, with particular emphasis on the effects of development aid. It consists of three papers for publication in journals, each focusing on different aspects of the state and state formation, and an introductory discussion. The first paper looks at the institutional set-up of the state. The second paper focuses on bureaucratic practice. The third paper explores some observed and some potential consequences of the poverty line. All papers refer to different academic debates, but they all point to aspects of state formation associated with aid and development. They demonstrate some forms of dissonance: here used as a metaphor for the difference between how social phenomena appear when seen through the logic of the state, and how social life is experienced in actual, local, daily interactions. The conclusion is that aid can increase this dissonance.

This report analyses the legal framework for local governance in Nepal and how its is practiced in six districts. It focuses specifically on transfer of resources and delivery of services, how various groups participate in local planning, decicion-making and implementation of projects and programmes, and relations between local governance institutions and the central government.

The paper focuses on the public financing component of climate change actions, but also acknowledges the role played by communities, civil society, the private sector and international support. The objective of the study has been to develop an appropriate methodology and then conduct an exploratory Climate Public Expenditure and Institutional Review (CPEIR), at both the national and local level. This CPEIR reviews the financial management systems as well as the institutional arrangements and policy directives for allocating and spending climate change-related finance. The study entails:An assessment of current policy priorities and strategies as these relate to climate change.A review of the institutional arrangements for promoting the integration of climate change policy priorities into budgeting and expenditure management. A review of the integration of climate change objectives within the budgetary process, including as part of budget planning, implementation& expenditure management

This policy brief discusses the nature of climate change mitigation and adaptation in the wetland ecosystems of Indonesia. It describes the ecosystem services which accrue from peatland and mangrove forests and outlines the research themes of an international workshop held in Bali during April 2011. The brief makes the following recommendations: 1) the roles of tropical wetlands are currently understated in IPCC Guidelines and the scientific community should aim to overcome knowledge gaps to rectify this issue; 2) carbon-rich tropical wetlands must be understood as high priorities in climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies; 3) a multi-disciplinary scientific approach is needed to assist Indonesia in protecting it’s tropical wetlands; 4) a research agenda must be well co-ordinated to ensure that it remains relevant to the policy community; 5) research organizations should co-ordinate and collaborate to minimise overlaps.

This letter is written by the Executive Chair of Indonesia’s National Council on Climate Change, Rachmat Witoelar; it outlines Indonesia’s Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs). NAMAs are voluntary greenhouse gas reduction activities set out by Non-Annex 1 Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

The climate screening performed for the UNDAF-El Salvador is reflected through two analysis: the possible risks to achieving the objectives outlined in the UNDAF considering climate change impacts and the assessment of the potential changes or adaptation measures that could be implemented in order to reduce climate change risks.

The document is a climate assessment conducted for the Intersectoral Program on Food and Nutrition Security (ISAN), and is divided into two parts: (1) analysis of potential risks to achieving the objectives outlined in ISAN, considering climate change impacts, and (2) identification of potential adjustments or adaptation measures that could be implemented to reduce the risks from climate change. The assessment methodology takes into account the reference tool called 'Quality standards for integrating adaptation to climate change with development programming' developed by the UNDP (draft, 2009). The original document is in Spanish.