Enhanced policy adequacy facilitates national climate adaptation tracking across Africa

Inadequate information in national adaptation policies limits the ability to track national adaptation progress in Africa. Enhancing coverage, consistency and robustness of these policies offers a clear path to establish effective, nationally led adaptation-tracking infrastructure. Recommendations for policy NDCs and NAPs can inform adaptation assessments if they cover all elements of the adaptation cycle, are internally consistent and provide robust indicators to measure progress. The UAE–Belém work programme on indicators should champion robust indicators that reflect climate risks, adaptation needs and priorities outlined in national policies. NAP technical guidance revisions by the Least Developed Countries Expert Group can enhance NDCs–NAPs linkage, driving consistent adaptation planning, implementation and tracking. The research community can aid global and national efforts by establishing a database of indicators and methods that governments can use to build or enhance tracking systems. Enhanced researchers–practitioners–governments collaborations are needed to accelerate testing and refinement of indicators and to produce evidence on adaptation progress.