This evaluation serves the dual purpose of accountability and learning and fulfilled the requirement of the UNICEF Evaluation Policy (2018) that all L3 emergencies must be evaluated. This evaluation:
Will generate evidence-based lessons on the preparedness, planning and implementation of UNICEF's emergency response in Sudan.
Will generate recommendations to inform ongoing operations and strategy in Sudan and more broadly to inform future L3 responses.
Will support accountability by demonstrating results achieved in relation to objectives through the UNICEF response – in terms of quality, coverage and equity.
The evaluation has a range of audiences. These can be differentiated as both primary stakeholder audiences for whom the evaluation makes specific recommendations and secondary audiences with an interest in the findings. Primary users will include Sudan Country Office (CO) and Field Office (FO), UNICEF Regional Offices (ROs) and Headquarters (HQ), UNICEF Office of Emergency Operations (EMOPS) and UNICEF Executive Board. Secondary users include international partners working in Sudan, national and local government stakeholders, NGOs, civil society organisations, beneficiaries of the response, as well as the wider humanitarian community and the general public.
The evaluation aimed to assess:
Adherence to the Core Commitments for Children.
Effectiveness of the response, including access to Hard-to-Reach areas.
Application of emergency procedures, other SOPs, timeliness of the L3 declaration, emergency preparedness and organizational readiness.
Coordination between and among HQ, ROs, SCO, and external partners.
Interagency scale up commitments.
Integration of cross-cutting issues, including PSEA and localization.
Leadership and advocacy, including vis-a‘-vis UNICEF cluster lead agency role
Effectiveness of operation support activities.
The thematic scope covered:
the programmatic, operational and cross cutting dimensions of the L3 response all of UNICEF’s key programmatic areas engaged in the response efforts.
An assessment of the preparedness of the actions in advance of the Corporate Emergency Activation Procedure (CEAP).
An assessment of the performance of the whole organisations approach (at country, regional and head quarters levels)
The temporal scope covered from January 2023 to April 2023 (preparedness phase) and from April 2023- October 2024 (conflict phase).
The geographical scope covers the strategic response across Sudan and also its cross-border operations. The operational response includes HQ, RO (West and Central African Regional Office, Middle East and North African Regional Office and Eastern and Southern African Regional Office, and the Sudan CO.
The evaluation team travelled to Sudan and completed field work in Port Sudan, Kassala, Atbara, Gedaref, Central Dafur, Blue Nile and South Kordofan.