March 30, 2012

The World Food Programme (WFP) has commissioned DARA two impact evaluations of food assistance to the Rohingya refugee population in Southern Bangladesh, and Central African refugees living in camps along Chad’s southern border and nearby host communities.

Both evaluations, currently underway, are part of a series of four joint WFP‐UNHCR impact evaluations for learning and accountability purposes. They seek to better understand the complex role that long‐term food assistance interventions play in protracted refugee situations.

The Bangladesh evaluation will not only focus its scope on immediate impacts of food assistance in terms of nutritional effects among the beneficiary population, but focus more on how food assistance may contribute to increased resilience and attainment of self-reliance among refugee populations in protracted crises.

The presence of an ever‐growing refugee population places considerable strain on Chad’s scarce and fragile resources (access to land, water and effects of climate). Measures to alleviate this pressure are an operational priority both for WFP and UNHCR, along with the pursuit of durable solutions in the form of repatriation or resettlement, where feasible.

Bangladesh team: Nicolai Steen (Team Leader), Gana Pati Ojha, Kate Gooden, Covadonga Canteli, Ferdous Jahan
Chad team: Pierre Leguéné (Team Leader), Tim Morris, Mija‐Tesse Ververs, Soledad Posada, Covadonga Canteli