A Review of the CALP Network’s Work in the MENA Region and More Broadly 2018-2020

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region exemplifies many of the successes and challenges for humanitarian CVA; programming ranges from large-scale initiatives such as the Emergency Social Safety Net (ESSN) to NGO cash consortia to sector-specific initiatives. In this context, the CALP Network has played a crucial role as a convener and a facilitator. The CALP Network’s activities between 2018 and 2020 in the MENA region offer best practices – and provide indications of the opportunities and challenges the CALP Network will face when implementing its new strategy.
This evaluation assesses the CALP Network’s overall contribution to building an enabling environment for CVA programming in the region and more broadly. It assesses past project objectives, considering the MENA context and project aims, and reflecting on the rapid shifts in context. It reflects on the CALP Network MENA operation and, to the extent possible and relevant, the CALP Network global initiatives, to frame future projects and regional engagement approaches. The evaluation focuses on the effectiveness, relevance, and coherence components of the OECD DAC criteria. Effectiveness was measured against the logical framework and relevance against priorities identified by the literature and key informants. Coherence was measured using an approach specific to networks; network connectivity, health, and results were analysed. This approach was taken in order to support forward-looking analysis and recommendations; the analysis and recommendations must be viewed in the context of the fact that the implementation of the CALP Network’s more networked strategy started towards the later end of the project.