COMBINED EVALUATION OF THE EU’S HUMANITARIAN INTERVENTIONS IN THE SAHEL AND IN THE FOOD ASSISTANCE AND NUTRITION SECTORS 2016-2020

This is the Final Report for the combined evaluation of the European Union’s humanitarian interventions in the Sahel and in the food assistance and nutrition sectors in 2016-2020. The evaluation uses a mixed-methods approach and concludes that: the interventions in the Sahel were relevant, coherent, added value, effective and efficient; and the food assistance and nutrition interventions were relevant, coherent, effective and efficient.  The strategic recommendations for the response to the Sahel are that DG ECHO should: (1) progressively complete the implementation of its exit strategy in Mauritania, (2) adopt a more regional approach to address common issues in Central Sahel, (3) further enhance the centrality of protection, (4) draw on lessons learned from responding to a rapidly changing humanitarian context in the Sahel, and (5) consider increasing its share of multi-year funding. The strategic recommendations for the response to food insecurity and malnutrition are that DG ECHO should: (1) further explore opportunities to respond in anticipation of / earlier and quicker to crises, (2) further promote and adopt a multi-sectoral approach, (3) strengthen supply chains, (4) promote livelihoods and resilience-building approaches in the context of the triple Nexus, and (5) consider revising its Food Assistance Policy and the Nutrition Policy.