Monitoring and evaluation of the Delta Plan for Spatial Adaptation
In 2014, all the Dutch governments collectively set down the goal of rendering the Netherlands as climate proof and water resilient as possible by 2050. This goal was set down in the Delta Plan for Spatial Adaptation. It has been elaborated into seven ambitions comprising concrete agreements for the short and medium terms. The national government monitors and evaluates the agreements with the local and regional governments annually via 45 working regions. The results are published – in the form of a progress report – in the Delta Programme, which the Delta Programme Commissioner presents to the House of Representatives every year at the State Opening of Parliament.
What is the purpose of the progress report?
The progress report is intended to gain the best possible picture of the progress being achieved in the 45 working regions. It also identifies and agendises points for attention and bottlenecks. In addition, the discussions and reports open up opportunities for the exchange of knowledge within and among working regions, as well as points of departure for enhancing the Delta Programme for Spatial Adaptation network.
How is the progress report developed?
The progress report has been drawn up on the basis of surveys and progress meetings held in the spring of 2024 with the working regions engaged in the Delta Plan for Spatial Adaptation (DPRA). Fourteen meetings were held with representatives of the 45 working regions, in groups of one to a maximum of five working regions. Most of these representatives were officially in charge of a working region. The meetings were supervised by the Climate-proof Together platform, and were attended by the DPRA regional coordinator for a particular area, the DPRA programme manager or programme secretary and, in some cases, a member of the DPRA core team.
What does the most recent progress report say?
According to the progress report on 2023 (pdf, 2.2 MB) (in Dutch), nearly all the funds from the temporary Climate Adaptation Incentive Scheme have been allocated. Working regions increasingly focus on climate adaptation to preserve the quality of the living environment. Of note, however, are the considerable differences between working regions, for example, in terms of ambitions and goals. Points for attention include the future funding of climate adaptation in the working regions, confusion regarding the relationship between working regions and policy platforms, and staff shortages. With respect to monitoring, working regions are requesting both increased central coordination and regional customisation.
What did the progress reports on previous years say?
According to the progress report on 2022 (in Dutch), the government authorities were satisfied with the working region format for collaboration and with the results that have collectively been achieved in a short period of time. Points for attention were: staff shortages, knowledge preservation, and concerns regarding the lack of structural funding. Of note is the wide difference in the rate at which the working regions are progressing. Furthermore, the working regions reported that they lacked specific goals to check whether they are on the right track.
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