Impact Evaluation of PRM Humanitarian Assistance to the Repatriation and Reintegration of Burundi Refugees (2003-08)

This summary report presents findings, conclusions, and recommendations, extracted from the first volume of the complete evaluation report. This material concludes a six-month study of humanitarian assistance that was provided to Burundian refugees during their return to, and reintegration in their home country. The evaluation had a twofold institutional focus: (i) multi-sectoral programs of refugee assistance, led by UNHCR; and (ii) assistance provided under bilateral grants, financed by the Bureau of Population, Refugee and Migration (PRM) of the U.S. Department of State. The study relied on pre-existing and new evidence from multiple sources, including the UNHCR Statistical Database, UNHCR and PRM program documentation; a household survey, a survey of water sources, stakeholder interviews, and visits to 17 assistance sites in three provinces of high return. Analyses were based mostly on concepts and methodologies developed for this evaluation. The reported study answered five evaluation questions: Did Burundi refugees return? Did refugees return in safety and dignity? Did returnees achieve reintegration? Can it be attributed to humanitarian assistance? and, Will return be durable? Four rounds of analysis produced and validated the main conclusion: Near-complete repatriation and reintegration are facts of life and were achieved with an indispensable contribution from the program of assisted return. Risks to sustainable reintegration are discussed and recommendations provided on how to control some of them.

Objectives: To assess the impact of PRM’s assistance to Burundi refugees and returnees in the environmental health sector as provided by PRM’s NGO partners; to assess the impact of PRM’s assistance to Burundi returnees provided (financed) through UNHCR; to provide recommendations for PRM’s core indicators on reintegration assistance; to highlight lessons learned for future reintegration operations.

Comments: This report was commissioned by the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM) of the U.S. Department of State.