57
I
ssue
5 -W
iden
the
scopeofmonitoring
and
evaluation
Why do we need to discuss monitoring and
(ex-post)
evaluation? It is
already compulsory, for example, as a result of existing regulation (e.g.
for monitoring water quality, water status or the status of habitats), or
requirements defined by access to public subsidies (to check best use
of funds anddeliveryof expectedbenefits).And it is a clear added value
when youwant to assess or demonstrate the impacts of your decisions.
But it needs further attention by:
ņ
ņ
Addressing the different management challenges
identified at the
integrated diagnosis phase
(whichwas described in Step 1)
;
ņ
ņ
Shifting the focusofmonitoring
frommonitoringmeasures to
monitoring
impacts and effectiveness
, including when the delivery of specific services
is the basis for (financially supported) agreements;
ņ
ņ
Starting
monitoring activities
prior to the implementation of NWRM
, in
particular for the lesser-known services and benefits that are expected to
be provided.This ensures that baseline reference conditions, against which
impactsandeffectivenesscanbeassessed,arebetterknown.Interviewswith
inhabitants and key stakeholders for understanding reference conditions
prior to implementation can also help raise awareness, refine the designof
NWRM and strengthen local community involvement.
The specific aspects of NWRM have direct implications for their monitoring and
evaluation because:
ņ
ņ
It is
not just about water
! For example NWRMmight deliver: amenities
to urban inhabitants; improved landscape; carbon storage; enhanced
biodiversity; the capacity to respond to extreme events or to adapt to
climate change.These expected impactsmight need to bemonitored too.
ņ
ņ
Monitoring cannot be limited to assessing the contribution of NWRM
to a single policy objective.Their
potential simultaneous contribution
to
different policy objectives needs to be assessed.
More systematic monitoring and ex-post evaluation of the multiple benefits
effectively delivered byNWRMwill progressively enhanced the existingNWRM
knowledge base, supporting the future uptake of NWRM.
Monitoring every single relevant biophysical impact and ecosystem servicemight
be cumbersome,not tomentionexpensive.But expense shouldnot be anexcuse
Selecting,designingand implementingNWRM:pre-conditionsforensuringeffectiveness
Ensureknowledge
is truly
‘multidimensional’
Find the right
incentives
Make the
functioningand
the scaleof the
hydrological cycle
explicit inyour
measure selection
process
Widen the scope
ofMonitoringand
Evaluation
Mobilisestakeholders
whorepresent the
expectedmultiple
bene ts inyour
planningprocesses
