The evaluation assessed UNICEF's Level 3 (L3) emergency response to the 2023 earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria, focusing on the effectiveness of the response and coordination among various offices. Conducted from February 2023 to March 2024, the evaluation encompassed both Government Controlled Areas and Non-Government Controlled Areas in Syria, as well as the broader humanitarian context in Türkiye.
The evaluation aimed to provide accountability and learning insights regarding UNICEF's performance against its objectives and the needs on the ground. Key findings indicated that UNICEF's rapid surge in human resources was commendable, yet challenges arose in matching staff skills to local needs, particularly in Türkiye. Resource mobilization efforts yielded significant funding, but stringent donor conditionalities hindered flexibility, especially in Syria. The evaluation highlighted the importance of local procurement and long-term agreements in facilitating timely supply delivery, although the short lifespan of donor grants posed challenges. Coordination between HQ, regional offices, and country offices was generally effective, but instances of pushback and gatekeeping were noted, particularly regarding surge deployments.
The evaluation concluded that while UNICEF demonstrated adaptability and learning, there remains a need for clearer definitions of flexible funding and improved emergency procedures to enhance future responses. The recommendations included: (1) Develop standardized duty of care policies for implementing partners; (2) Review ERT, Humanitarian Surge Deployment roster and Regional Response Roster; (3) Continue to advocate among donors for more flexible funding; (4) Develop a clear, corporate-wide definition of flexible/non-flexible funding; (5) Develop and institutionalize a SoP for funding allocation in multi-regional L3 responses; (6) Improve alignment of data on results reporting; (7) Develop a fuller and more actionable definition of the no-regret principle; (8) Address clarity gaps in Emergency Procedures; (9) Support Senior Management in encouraging a higher risk appetite; (10) Improve strategic planning for Regional Office support; (11) Generate better understanding of emergency response in atypical environments.
