Provision of Professional Services for 2010 Evaluation od the Common Humanitarian Funds

The purpose of this evaluation is to provide evidence of operational effectiveness to date as a basis for improved priority-setting and future performance. The Evaluation Team will examine the processes, outcomes, operational effects and operational impacts of the Common Humanitarian Funds (CHFs) as outlined in the CHF Logic Model which was developed through an interagency process in 2009. The evaluation will assess at progress and challenges, from the inception of the funds until the end of 2009, and all three countries where CHFs currently exist (Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan and Central African Republic), and provide recommendations for potential areas of improvement. OCHA was requested to undertake this evaluation by the CHF Working Group.[1] A number of donor members of this group were particularly vocal in calling for the evaluation in order to better understand the impact that the CHF is having on humanitarian systems and to provide recommendations for improving the effectiveness of existing and future CHFs. There has not been a comprehensive evaluation of the CHFs since 2007[1]. The 2006[2] and 2007 evaluation focused primarily on processes and structures so as to help guide implementation of the Funds in Sudan and DRC (the only two in existence at the time) as they were still relatively newly established, and neither employed a logic model as a guide. Given the continued evolution of the Fund and planned expansion to include Somalia, 2011 proves timely to assess progress to date, analyze how they are operating and look beyond processes to their role in and effect upon the humanitarian response. [1] Evaluation of Common/Pooled Funds in DRC and Sudan, Barnaby Willitts-King, Tasneem Mowjee, Jane Barham (December 2007). [2] Common Funds for Humanitarian Action in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo: Monitoring and Evaluation Study, Abby Stoddard, Dirk Salomons, Katherine Haver, Adele Harmer. Center on International Cooperation. (December 2006). [1] The CHF Working Group is a body comprised of CHF stakeholders (UN, NGOs and donors) that meets thrice each year to discuss and address issues around CHFs.