The European Disability Forum (EDF) and CBM have joined forces in a programme addressing the needs of persons with disabilities impacted by the war and ensuring that they are fully included in the response and recovery from the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine since the war escalated.
Phase 1 of the programme supported persons with disabilities in Ukraine as well as those who have left Ukraine and were in other countries including Latvia, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Lithuania and Moldova.
We undertook an evaluation of the programme to ensure its impact, key strengths and challenges.
Evaluation – Strengths, gaps and challenges
The evaluation highlighted several key strengths related to achievements in service delivery, advocacy, and capacity building:
- Speed, and flexibility of funding that could be used for several different activities – it enabled partners to respond rapidly to the most pressing challenges in their local environment.
- Clear, simple, and effective programme management and decision-making processes, together with the operational support and guidance provided by EDF.
- The support strengthened the dialogue and cooperation between organisations of persons with disabilities and humanitarian actors.
The evaluation identified the following gaps and challenges:
- lack of accessible and accurate data on persons with disabilities and low awareness of disability rights among Ukrainian health professionals and decision-makers.
- The need for continued support for the personal wellbeing and mental health of staff and partners working on the programme.
- Concerns exist regarding the long-term financial sustainability of some partner organisations and service providers.
Long-term sustainability
It is important to note here that many of the gaps and challenges are outside the sphere of the programme. EDF and CBM have already identified some of those which we can address and are responding in the ongoing Phase 2 of the Ukraine programme and the EMPOWER programme.
The process of evaluation
Phase 1 of the programme ended in June 2023, and the evaluation took place in the third quarter of 2023. It consisted of 3 phases, and the main objectives were to identify the key strengths and weaknesses of the programme, generate programme evidence to inform programme priorities and activities and identify key lessons learned.
The methodology of the evaluation consisted in a desk review, interviews with key informants, and a field visit to Ukraine.
The outcomes of the assessment were shared with program partners during a meeting in March 2024. Representatives from Ukraine and Moldova underscored the significance of collaborative efforts for the resilience and longevity of organisations of persons with disabilities, the ongoing support of their missions, the bolstering of advocacy capabilities, and the ability to impact the lives of individuals with disabilities.
Larysa Baida, the project coordinator at National Assembly of Persons with Disabilities of Ukraine, remarked:
You stood by us during our toughest moments. Thanks to the project, we’ve been able to persist in our efforts and provide vital support for people’s well-being.
Related documents
Contact
Gordon Rattray, EDF programme coordinator: gordon.rattray@edf-feph.org