Real Time Assessment of the COVID response (Jordan)

At its July 2020 meeting, the UNICEF Executive Board encouraged evaluative work on UNICEF’s COVID-19 response. The Evaluation Office, in consultation with the Office of Emergency Programmes, therefore designed a “Real Time Assessment” (RTA) to assess the quality of UNICEF’s COVID-19 response. The RTA is a forward-looking reflection on the country offices’ response to COVID-19 thus far.

Key findings and opportunities:

-During the second phase of the response, the Regional Office (MENARO) has provided a number of robust sectoral guidance packages for COVID-19 response

-The COVID-19 response highlighted the importance of investing in and enhancing disaster preparedness at the CO level

-The response increased decision-making agility in the COs

-COVID-19 allowed UNICEF COs to forge new partnerships and strengthen existing partnerships

-As the crisis has developed, it has been challenging for COs to assess the quality of their response due to constrained response resources and the limited availability of the data and tools necessary to conduct assessments in the current operating environment

-There is widespread concern about adequately financing the next phase of the response

-CO staff has shown remarkable dedication and motivation

-UNICEF can leverage the COVID-19 response an opportunity to build response capacity in government partners

-COVID 19 has increased many governments’ awareness of and political will to use social protection approaches

-COVID-19 precipitated an increased use of remote communications and casework, which in turn allowed UNICEF to attain greater reach in some cases

-The crisis has been an opportunity to strengthen the partnership with WHO and with ministries of Health in many countries

-The crisis accelerated some processes benefiting child protection especially detention

-It provided an opportunity for increased intersectoral coordination at both the RO and CO levels

-Led to a renewed focused on WASH’s implications for child wellbeing