This report introduces the National Adaptive Capacity (NAC) framework, a tool to help governments bring institutional capacity development into their adaptation planning processes. The NAC framework enables its users to systematically assess institutional strengths and weaknesses that may help or hinder adaptation. National adaptation plans may then be better designed to make best use of strengths or remedy weaknesses. The report describes three pilot assessments conducted using the NAC framework in Bolivia, Ireland and Nepal. The pilots used the NAC framework as a tool for monitoring and base-line setting, to catalyse action and fill capacity gaps, and to gather and synthesise resources (found particularly useful in Nepal and Bolivia). The pilot applications suggest that the NAC framework is useful across a range of countries and that it can be tailored to specific country contexts.