Gender- and conflict-sensitive Project Evaluation

The primary issues in Uganda's refugee settlements involve conflicts between refugees and host communities, worsened by food insecurity from drought, pests, livestock movement, security concerns, and illegal logging. In South Sudan, conflict-related sexual and gender-based violence (CRSGBV) is prevalent and usually addressed through customary law, which tends to prioritise community reconciliation over individual justice. A consortium of seven organisations implemented the project to enhance the resilience of communities in protracted crises, especially women and girls. The end review aimed to derive lessons learnt, gather background information and recommendations on the Nexus HDP project, and assess its overall performance against objectives and intended results.

Undertaking evaluations to assess impact and draw lessons is a quality benchmark in humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding efforts. However, projects under review typically fall within a single sector. Evaluating a cross-border HDP Nexus project in Uganda and South Sudan demanded a deep grasp of the triple nexus and conflict sensitivity, along with additional tools from the Do No Harm approach. Our methodology drew i.a. from the Guide for Evaluating Humanitarian Action (ALNAP 2016), OECD-DAC criteria with a Human Rights and Gender Equality focus (OECD 2023), and the Inter-Agency Humanitarian Evaluations Process Guidelines (IASC 2018). Anchored in a Human Rights-Based Approach, the review adhered to principles of participation, inclusivity, respect, and confidentiality. We employed the Most Significant Change approach to centre on community stakeholders' experiences, capturing what they perceive to be the most significant changes in their lives and their understanding of whether/how the project may have contributed to this. This method lets interviewees steer the conversation, avoiding unintended emphasis on traumatic issues. We also used a simplified outcome harvesting to track changes in behaviour influenced by the project and an adapted theory-based approach, utilising the log frame instead of a theory of change to evaluate the causal connections between activities and their effects.

The evaluation uncovered unintended positive outcomes, stemming from the close collaboration between peace actors and development and humanitarian professionals. However, adopting an HDP Nexus approach for the first time also bore challenges. Most of these were successfully navigated by the implementing partners, while some require further attention in the next phase, for which we have provided specific recommendations. The documentation of their challenges and solutions can serve as model for other HDP actors in the region and beyond. Read the full review: https://care.at/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SCCR-Final-Project-Review-Mai-2024.pdf