Seite - (000090) - in Evaluating Climate Change Action for Sustainable Development

Amodular systemcanbestmeet thedemandsof theprogramasawhole and its projects, aswell as thewider CGIAR system (see below; Thornton et al. 2014d). SomeelementsareprescribedbyCGIARgovernancebodies, includingthecarrying out of baselines, independent impact assessments, and periodic external evalua- tions. Programmatic flexibility existswithin the day-to-day operationalMEL, as a system is required that allows enough flexibility and adaptability to be applied to the different types of projects andprograms. CCAFShas identified the followingmodules toguide itsMELsystem(Schuetz et al. 2014g): Harmonization of TOCs: the framework for thismodular approach is set through theTOCdevelopmentacrossCCAFSthematicandregionaloperations,describ- inghowCCAFSflagships, regions andprojects anticipate changes in next-user behavior and practices, and their role in it. Investment in the development, harmonization and use of IPs and more elaborated TOC: (1) ensures that CCAFSplan ofwork is targeted at achieving outcomes and requires that tasks addressing the ‘useofoutputs’arebuilt into eachactivityplan; (2) strategically encourages communication and collaboration among colleagues within research, regions and projects and guides exchanges across disciplines and regions; and (3) revisits the trajectory of CCAFS contributions to change and uses themas an ex-ante impact assessment. Indicators &Baselines: In preparation for a harmonization process, as described above, indicatorsandoutcometargetnumbers towhichtheprogramandprojects will be held accountable were defined by the regional and research program leaders. The regionally and thematically aggregated targetswere then checked againstwhat individualprojectsproposed tocontribute towardsanagreedsetof targetvalues.Additionally, aprogrammaticbaselineat site levelwasconducted at the beginning of the program to be able to compare achievements against these later on,with respect tobehavior andpractice changeof farmers. Further- more, projects are responsible for conducting specific baselines to monitor progress over timewithin their respective thematic and regional foci. Reflexivespaces&activities:Theseneedtobebuilt insystematically toensure that the key elements of adaptivemanagement are operationalized. Adaptiveman- agement provides for flexibility and corrective actions to strengthen predictive capacity, which is essential whenworking in a constantly changing, complex environment. In working with TOCs, we make assumptions as to how we anticipatechangewillhappen,butweknowthatchangedoesnotalwayshappen as predicted, and so reflexive spaces are critical for allowing us tomakewell- documented and well-justified adjustments in response to the insights gained throughourwork. Planning and reporting support: First, an online planning and reporting platform (P&R)collects project informationat project inception, so that projects popula- tion the system once, and build on this for follow-up planning, reporting and learning. Project teams are guided in their TOCs/IPs-building from the begin- ninganduse thisasbasis formonitoringannualprogress.Thematicandregional 4 Pathway to Impact: Supporting andEvaluatingEnablingEnvironments for. . . 71