Consultancy – Ukraine Project Evaluation

1. Introduction
a. Evaluation Overview

In the run up to the completion of the Global Affairs Canada (GAC) International Humanitarian Assistance (IHA) funded project (herein ‘IHA Project’), this evaluation will assess the project and the lessons learnt during its two-year duration. Its purpose is to ensure accountability to clients and communities, partners and donors, and to present learnings that can inform future programming for Depaul, CAFOD, and the wider sector in Ukraine. It will assess the project using the Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS) and the OECD/DAC criteria.

b. Background

Following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and continued humanitarian situation, Oblasts in Ukraine are experiencing heightened risk in Mental Health, Protection, including GBV, and an increase in IDPs. The 2026 OCHA Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (HNRP) for Ukraine reported that 11.9 million people need protection related support, including 2.5 million children, and a further 5.6 million people with health-related and/or shelter needs. However, Ukrainian Government Services remain stretched, with only 1 psychologist for every 100,000 people.

In response to the gaps in services for the most vulnerable households, Depaul Ukraine, along with the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD) and Development and Peace - Caritas Canada (DPCC), with International Humanitarian Assistance (IHA) funding from Global Affairs Canda, have implemented a two-year Integrated Protection Support project.

Depaul Ukraine (DPU) is a national Ukrainian NGO and homelessness charity founded in 2007 that has consistently worked with vulnerable and marginalised people. Before 24 February 2022 DPU employed around 60 staff, working in Kharkiv, Kyiv, and Odesa cities in Ukraine as well as in Ivano-Frankivsk oblast. Services delivered were typical of an organisation working with people affected by homelessness – night shelters, day centres, hygiene services, working with vulnerable children, and social support / casework. By March 2023 DPU had over 150 full-time staff plus volunteers and was managing funding equivalent to around 30 times the 2021 budget, with services including food and NFI distribution, shelter repairs/ building materials, mental health and psychological services (MHPSS), cash transfers, and accommodation for internally displaced people (IDPs). DPU has continued to develop its MHPSS, case management, and homelessness service provision following the initial phase of the humanitarian response.

The Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD) is the official development and humanitarian relief agency of the Catholic Church in England and Wales and is part of Caritas Internationalis (CI). With an annual income of approximately £56m, it works alongside people of all faiths and none, and with around 450 partners in over 30 countries across the world to bring hope, compassion and solidarity to poor communities to end poverty and injustice. In response to the conflict in Ukraine, CAFOD has raised over 4.5M GBP through their Ukraine Emergency Appeal and received over 18M GBP via the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC). Since 2022, CAFOD has supported 10 national partners in Ukraine,