Evaluation of UNHCR’s L3 Multi-Country Response to the Sudan Crisis

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Evaluation Office (EVO) commissioned Key Aid Consulting to conduct a centralized evaluation of UNHCR’s Level 3 (L3) Emergency Response to the Sudan Situation. The evaluation covered the period from July 2023 to June 2024 and focused on four countries: Chad, Egypt, South Sudan, and Sudan. The evaluation used a mixed-methods approach combining both primary and secondary data. The methodology included document reviews, 214 key informant interviews with UNHCR staff, implementing partners, government officials, and sector representatives; 55 focus group discussions with refugees and host communities; and three targeted online surveys with UNHCR staff, sector members, and implementing partners. Field visits were conducted in Chad and Egypt (deep-dive countries), while data collection in Sudan and South Sudan was conducted remotely as these were considered light-touch countries in the evaluation scope. UNHCR’s response to the Sudan crisis was relevant and addressed key needs through data collection and community engagement, but faced gaps due to insufficient monitoring and funding. The organization effectively scaled up life-saving activities but encountered challenges in shelter quality, registration services, and funding constraints, impacting overall effectiveness. Durable solutions remain limited, with resettlement being the primary but small-scale option. UNHCR integrated durable solutions into planning, engaged development actors, and prioritized resilience building, though implementation faced obstacles like limited development funding and humanitarian prioritization.