ALNAP Lessons Papers series
The 2019 - 2024 strategic period was marked by enormous global change both within and outside of the humanitarian sector, during which time the DEC launched six appeals, through which associated programming took place across more than 15 countries. Though not explicitly covered within this learning review, during this period the DEC and its members were also managing ongoing responses across the Indonesia Tsunami Appeal and Rohingya Crisis Appeal, both of which had launched prior to the start of the strategic period.
The DEC commissioned this meta-review of lessons from its last strategic period (2019-2023), the first review it has undertaken of an entire strategy period. This comprehensive analysis aimed to consolidate insights from the six appeals conducted between 2019 and the end of 2023, identifying strengths, best practices, and areas for improvement. These findings will inform the approach for the upcoming strategic period (2024-2029).
The six appeals launched were:
- Cyclone Idai Appeal (2019 – 2021)
- Coronavirus Appeal (2020 – 2022)
- Afghanistan Crisis Appeal (2021 – 2023)
- Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal (2022 – 2025)
- Pakistan Floods Appeal (2022 – 2024)
- Türkiye-Syria Earthquake Appeal (2023 – 2025)
The review team analysed the comprehensive documentation as part of the DEC’s accountability framework, DECAF, including: 13 individual member evaluations (9 from Covid-19 and 4 from cyclone Idai); 13 response reviews of all the appeals during the strategic period including individual and global Covid-19 appeals; Various monitoring reports, strategy documents, perception survey data and reports, project proposals, and interim reports provided by the DEC Secretariat.
This lessons paper was initially produced for, and edited by, the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC). The DEC brings together 15 leading UK aid charities to raise funds quickly and efficiently at times of humanitarian crisis overseas.