Vertical integration is the process of creating intentional and strategic linkages between national and sub-national adaptation planning, implementation, and monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL).
The National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process aims to integrate climate change adaptation across different levels of governance. Vertical integration is not a single step in the NAP process—it is an ongoing effort to ensure that the NAP reflects local realities and enables adaptation at sub-national levels, including the local level. Leadership; institutional arrangements; engagement; data, knowledge, and communications; skills and capacities; and financing enable effective NAP processes for actors at all levels.
