Questions/Answers
Question 1
Please briefly describe the initiative, what issue or challenge it aims to address and specify its objectives. (300 words maximum)
At the national level, an Evaluation Coordination made up of six social councilors appointed every four years, carries out the evaluation of the National Climate Change Policy. This with the support of a technical secretariat that belongs to the INECC. These evaluation exercises generate information to modify, incorporate or totally or partially reorient the National Policy on Climate Change.
The results are published in the Official Gazette of the Federation and delivered to the actors indicated in the report. Subsequently, in coordination with the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit, a quarterly monitoring mechanism is implemented on the progress made in complying with the recommendations.
Since 2016, three evaluations have been developed and in addition to allowing the identification and registration of areas of opportunity both in planning and in the implementation of climate policy, they have also generated information that has led to approximately 20 audits by the Superior Audit of the Federation.
Unlike other evaluation practices that are carried out by other agencies and entities of the Federal Public Administration, in this case the evaluation can also link sub-national actors and issue recommendations to become members of the National Climate Change System.
In addition to the fact that there were not many similar experiences at the national level, the main challenge has been the development of adequate methodologies for the evaluation of the policy, since more than 90% of the experiences of the evaluations carried out in Mexico have been budget programs using the logical framework methodology. Finally, it should be noted that in this case, the involvement of the actors being evaluated, throughout the entire process, has been decisive.
Question 2
Please explain how the initiative is linked to the selected category. (100 words maximum)
The evaluation of the climate policy adds to the fulfillment of the 2030 Agenda, specifically (although not only) with the Sustainable Development Goal 13 Climate Action, specifically in the goal 13.2 Integrating climate change measures in policies and planning.
Although the General Law of Climate Change in Mexico indicates that climate policy is transversal, and must be present in the planning instruments of both the Federal Public Administration and subnational governments, through the evaluation it has been possible to identify areas of opportunity in the planning and programming of climate policy in government agencies and entities. Provide relevant and useful information to improve design and implementation. And with this, effective attention to the challenges of mitigation and adaptation to climate change associated with SDG 13.
On the other hand, the assessment exercises shed a lot of light on what to do about it. There are many actors who have an important role in the implementation of the policy and who today do not know how to approach it. And this work is helping fill those gaps.
Question 3
a. Please specify which SDGs and target(s) the initiative supports and describe concretely how the initiative has contributed to their implementation. (200 words maximum)
As previously explained, the initiative is mainly related to goal 13.2 Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning.
b. Please describe what makes the initiative sustainable in social, economic and environmental terms. (100 words maximum)
It promotes the permanent improvement of the national climate change policy and its adequate mainstreaming.
Question 4
a. Please explain how the initiative has addressed a significant shortfall in governance, public administration or public service within the context of a given country or region. (200 words maximum)
The exercise considers the three levels of government, recognizing the importance of the role of local governments for the successful implementation of climate policy.
b. Please describe how your initiative addresses gender inequality in the country context. (100 words maximum)
c. Please describe who the target group(s) were, and explain how the initiative improved outcomes for these target groups. (200 words maximum)
The effective implementation of climate policy benefits the population most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Population that to a great extent also presents the highest levels of poverty and marginalization at the national level.
Question 5
a. Please describe how the initiative was implemented including key developments and steps, monitoring and evaluation activities, and the chronology. (300 words)
A joint effort was developed with key stakeholders to identify the questions that guided the evaluation. Workshops were held with the agencies and entities evaluated, and a consulting team coordinated the participatory exercise and the development of a methodology based on the Theory of Change carried out for the case of Mexico.
b. Please clearly explain the obstacles encountered and how they were overcome. (100 words)
Enter into the evaluation of transversal policies, achieve the interest and commitment of the evaluated actors, as well as coordinate evaluation exercises with sub-national governments that have their own competencies and monitoring and evaluation systems for other evaluation issues.
Question 6
a. Please explain in what ways the initiative is innovative in the context of your country or region. (100 words maximum)
These are evaluation exercises that are carried out with the support of Social Counselors. Furthermore, its results are binding and its observance is mandatory in accordance with the General Law on Climate Change.
b. Please describe, if relevant, how the initiative drew inspiration from successful initiatives in other regions, countries and localities. (100 words maximum)
The exercises carried out have aroused the interest of state authorities in evaluating and improving climate policy and have positioned the issue in public opinion.
c. If emerging and frontier technologies were used, please state how these were integrated into the initiative and/or how the initiative embraced digital government. (100 words maximum)
Question 7
a. Has the initiative been transferred and/or adapted to other contexts (e.g. other cities, countries or regions) to your organization’s knowledge? If yes, please explain where and how. (200 words maximum)
State governments have expressed interest in replicating this exercise and have developed regulatory instruments to do so, but none have yet been carried out.
b. If not yet transferred/adapted to other contexts, please describe the potential for transferability. (200 words maximum)
Question 8
a. What specific resources (i.e. financial, human or others) were used to implement the initiative? (100 words maximum)
In addition to the six social counselors, the INECC General Coordination team (made up of six to eight people) in its capacity as technical secretariat carried out an important part of the work with the support of a consulting team that intervened. In addition to the agencies and entities evaluated that provided an important part of the information analyzed.
b. Please explain what makes the initiative sustainable over time, in financial and institutional terms. (100 words maximum)
When a legal mandate is fulfilled, fiscal resources are assigned to carry out the evaluations, but due to the limited availability of resources, the Technical Secretariat that is part of the INECC assumes the greatest amount of work possible to reduce costs.
Question 9
a. Was the initiative formally evaluated either internally or externally?
No
Question 10
Please describe how the initiative is inscribed in the relevant institutional landscape (for example, how is it situated with respect to relevant government agencies, and how have these institutional relationships been operating). (200 words maximum)
The results of the evaluation are directed to the members of the National System of Climate Change who have the obligation to attend the recommendations and consider them for planning. This System is made up of 14 strategic federal agencies for this issue, 32 state governments, municipal associations and members of Congress. In addition, social and academic actors participate who ensure its proper functioning. In this scenario, the evaluation generates evidence for decision making.
Question 11
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development puts emphasis on collaboration, engagement, partnerships, and inclusion. Please describe which stakeholders were engaged in designing, implementing and evaluating the initiative and how this engagement took place. (200 words maximum)
Compliance with SDG 13 is at the heart of the climate policy assessment objective.
Question 12
Please describe the key lessons learned, and how your organization plans to improve the initiative. (200 words maximum)
Participatory processes generate significant learning benefits that are beyond the scope of the recommendations.