The world is changing at an unprecedented pace and scale. In the ‘new normal’ of a vulnerable, unpredictable, interconnected world that is more prone to shocks and stresses, the work of international humanitarian and development actors is also increasingly complex. To be effective in these complex environments we need to be more agile, able to adapt to changes in needs and opportunities in a timely and intentional way, by better understanding contextual dynamics. This requires constant learning, measuring, innovating, and iterating. This document articulates why adaptive management is important, unpacks what it is, and elaborates the four elements that underpin it: culture, people and skills, tools and systems, and enabling environment.