Consistent and comparable information is essential for tracking progress and identifying gaps in mountain research and development. Formal systematic review methods are designed to generate this type of information. Systematic reviews are focused assessments of the literature that use pre-defined eligibility criteria for documents and clearly outlined methods to provide evidence-based answers to specific research questions. They are distinct from other approaches to literature synthesis in their methodological systematization, transparency, and reproducibility. Furthermore, systematic reviews benefit from widely accepted reporting guidelines (e.g. PRISMA), which increase understanding of review procedures as well as the nature of review results. This formalization underpins the power of systematic reviews in providing credible information about topics of interest to researchers, decision makers, and the broader public. Notwithstanding these strengths, the methodology has only seen limited application in the context of mountain systems. This presentation provides an example of a recent formal systematic review of adaptation action and research across glaciated mountain regions to illustrate the potential of this method for monitoring the implementation of Post-2015 UN Frameworks in mountain areas. It concludes by outlining key prospects and challenges of formal systematic review methods for tracking progress in mountain research and development.