Combined evaluation of the EU’s humanitarian response to sudden-onset disasters (2016-2020) and of DG ECHO’s partnership with the IFRC

This combined evaluation covered DG ECHO’s response to Sudden Onset Disasters from 2016 to 2020 (Part A), and DG ECHO’s partnership with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) (Part B). It drew evidence from desk research, data analysis, interviews with stakeholders and beneficiaries, and field missions. Part A concluded that DG ECHO’s tools were well designed to respond to sudden onset disasters, and were complementary in nature. The mix of tools added considerable value to the humanitarian aid architecture. It allowed partners to cover all types of disasters and to provide life-saving support across sectors and geographies. The tools generally enabled partners to target and rapidly address needs of most vulnerable affected populations. Scope for improvement remains notably in awareness on the tools, monitoring, and support for pre-positioning and anticipatory action. Part B demonstrated that the DG ECHO-IFRC partnership was strongly anchored in common core values. It contributed to improving DG ECHO’s humanitarian response. It provided strategic added value for DG ECHO in promoting the localisation agenda, delivering large-scale humanitarian response, and scaling up the use of multi-purpose cash transfer programming. Areas for strengthening the partnership remain notably in terms of strategic dialogue, joint advocacy and lesson-learning.