Evaluation of emergency response in Ukraine funded by the Disasters Emergency Committee

Evaluation of the Joint Emergency Response in Ukraine (JERU), funded by the Disasters Emergency Committee, supporting vulnerable households and individuals through multipurpose cash activities, winterisation assistance and psychosocial support in Mykolaiska, Sumska and Zaporiska Oblasts.

As a proud member of the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), The Joint Emergency Response in Ukraine (JERU) has been entrusted with the responsibility to commission and publish an independent evaluation of our response efforts. The summative evaluation will provide an assessment of JERU’s DEC Phase 2 programming and operational delivery. Recognizing the importance of transparency and accountability, the Terms of Reference (ToR) for this evaluation will undergo a rigorous review process and was approved by the DEC prior to advertising. This pre-advertisement review ensures that the ToR meets the highest standards of quality assurance, aligning with our shared commitment to effective humanitarian response and continuous improvement within the DEC membership. JERU values this collaborative approach, reinforcing our dedication to learning and enhancing the impact of our interventions in times of crisis.

1. About Concern Worldwide/ JERU

The Joint Emergency Response in Ukraine (JERU) is a joint humanitarian programme by two international non-governmental organisations: Welthungerhilfe (WHH), and Concern Worldwide (CWW). It was established in 2022 to support war affected communities in Ukraine. The joint structure of JERU means that we can draw on the expertise of the two organisations, while also being more cost efficient in pooling funds and resources to support quality programming. JERU’s country office is based in Kyiv with offices in Khmelnytsyki, Poltava, Kharkiv and Mykolaiv. CWW and WHH are also members of Alliance2015, a network of European non-government organisations engaged in humanitarian and development action and have a long-term experience in many crisis-prone countries.

JERU works with war affected communities in rural and urban areas, and those affected by forced displacement, including internally displaced persons, returnees, and host communities. We address the special needs of all people we work with to develop holistic, people-centred, and rights-based programs. JERU has been working together in east and west of Ukraine since February 2022 using our combined financial, technical and human resource expertise and reach, to ensure a quick and effective emergency response to assist the crisis-affected population with principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, and accountability to affected population.

1. Project description

This project funded by the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) aims at providing essential assistance to vulnerable individuals affected by the crisis in eastern Ukraine. The project aims to address immediate needs by targeting crisis-affected individuals, prioritizing the most vulnerable based on criteria such as age, disability, household composition, and income limitations. Basic needs assistance will be delivered through multipurpose cash transfers, aligned with the Ukraine Cash Working Group’s recommendations. Additionally, recognizing the impending winter challenges, the project extends to cover winterization needs for vulnerable individuals through labelled cash transfers, focusing on winter clothing and heating expenses. Furthermore, this project addresses conflict-related trauma, through mobile Psychosocial Support (PSS) teams comprising psychologists and social workers to reach remote areas. These teams will deliver both individual and group support, utilizing solution-focused brief counselling methods in line with the “Do No Harm” principle during individual psychological counselling sessions. Group activities will encompass counselling sessions and psycho-social training for adults, while activities for children will be tailored to their age.

OBJECTIVES AND FOCUS OF THE EVALUATION

The overall purpose of the evaluation is to assess the effectiveness, appropriateness and timeliness of the multipurpose cash assistance delivered between June to August 2023, under phase 2a, and the winterisation assistance through cash for utilities and psychosocial support, delivered between October 2023 and March 2024, under phase 2b.

The evaluation will seek to understand the relevance of the assistance provided against the needs of the targeted project participants focusing on three regions (oblasts) of implementation. The first is in the Northeast of Ukraine, Sumska Oblast, where multipurpose cash, winterisation cash and psychosocial support was delivered; the second and the third are in the south Zaporizka and Mykolaivska oblasts.

The evaluation will also assess the effectiveness of the complaints and response mechanisms used in the project focusing on awareness and use of available CRM mechanisms among programme participants throughout project implementation.

Data collection will primarily be focused on adding qualitative data to the existing quantitative data collected as part of the project monitoring process.

Timeframe

The consultant will complete the work over a period of forty-seven (47) working days, including travel to project areas. It is envisioned that the field work will take place in April 2024.