Holzaepfel, Erica A., 2015, Evaluating the Effectiveness of Livelihoods Programs for Refugees in Ethiopia, Final evaluation, Social Impact

2.4 APPROACHES TO ENHANCE LIVELIHOODS, EQUITY AND INCLUSION

2.4.10. Strengthening IE with attention to migrants, refugees, trafficked persons

Recommendation: 1) Implement good practices that are well established in all programming and which should also be used in livelihoods programming with refugees dependent on the IE. These include:

• Regular consultation and interaction with refugees and local communities in program design. This should include the participation of refugees in assessing livelihood challenges and needs and analysing internal and external factors influencing livelihoods.
• Liaise closely and organise coordination with relevant ministries and other national and local authorities, partner agencies and other stakeholders aiming at joint advocacy and programme planning to integrate livelihood services for refugees into the public system
• Through advocacy activities, promote the productive and creative potential of refugees, their skills and talents
• Regular monitoring and impact evaluation
• Testing and pilots of programs, especially those that are designed in headquarters and imported into field settings.
• Adapting and customising for all such programs to be fully specific to the situation settings and should be piloted and revised before full funding is allocated.
• Providing clear explanations of the length of the program, related benchmarks, and the planned exit strategy.

Reference: Holzaepfel, Erica A., 2015, Evaluating the Effectiveness of Livelihoods Programs for Refugees in Ethiopia, Final evaluation, Social Impact Inc., Washington, DC, projects: 1) International Rescue Committee (IRC) Livelihoods project; 2) Jesuit Refugee Services (JRS) Livelihoods project; 3) Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) Livelihoods project in Ethiopia.

Evidence sample: A related lesson learned cited in an evaluation of a programme in Ethiopia indicated that it should conduct an extensive situational analysis to understand the existing capacities, as well as needs and priorities of refugee communities. The situational analysis should include participatory assessments to identify the opportunities and challenges for implementing livelihoods activities in the context of the camp and surrounding communities. It should also seek to assess the capabilities, existing assets, skill and knowledge gaps, and aspirations of the refugee community members. Data collected should be disaggregated by nationality, sex, and age. Such a situational analysis should be conducted through partnership with UNHCR, ARRA, and other agencies in country.