Amplifying the Value of Impact: A Rigorous Evaluation of Multi-Year Emergency Interventions in South Sudan

Abstract Information: One of the critical challenges facing humanitarian agencies in fragile situations relates to addressing the humanitarian needs of affected households and communities and building resiliency so that affected families and communities can wither repeated humanitarian emergencies with minimum to no external support. Our paper presents findings from an impact evaluation of an emergency assistance program in the challenging humanitarian context of South Sudan. Our evaluation employed a mixed-method approach that included a Randomized Control Trial (RCT) augmented with additional qualitative data collected to assess food security and other resilience-related impacts of a Multi-Year Emergency (MYE) program. We surveyed over 3400 households, supplemented by insightful focus group discussions and key informant interviews in highly vulnerable villages in three counties in South Sudan. With a baseline survey conducted between October and November 2021, followed by an endline around the same period in 2023, our study captured the evolving humanitarian dynamics during the MYE program implementation period. In this research, we explore the multifaceted impacts of MYE interventions on critical domains that include food security, household resilience, gender dynamics, Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH), and peace and security. Our findings bridge a significant gap in the literature concerning the impact evaluation of humanitarian programs, offering valuable insights to inform the design and policymaking of humanitarian initiatives in complex settings. By amplifying the voices of disaster-affected communities, our research contributes essential perspectives for enhancing the effectiveness and responsiveness of humanitarian interventions.