Joint Evaluation of the Protection of the Rights of Refugees during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Description What is done in the programme or project and why, what results are pursued, who benefits from the activities and who are involved in the implementation.

The emergence of COVID-19 has exacerbated pre-existing protection risks for refugees and host communities alike due to the impact of the virus. Amongst these protection considerations, COVID-19 has led to heightened focus on a number of basic rights: freedom of movement, liberty and security of persons; concerns around discrimination and mistreatment, and the need to protect the most vulnerable. The joint evaluation puts in scope the right to seek and enjoy asylum; the right to health; protection against sexual and gender-based violence and protection of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR); child protection and family reunification; and addressing the protection rights of persons with specific needs. It also focuses on the importance of communities as the centre of the response. The purpose of the evaluation is to examine the effectiveness of international cooperation, and the combined response of international and national actors, in ensuring the protection of the rights of refugees during the COVID-19 pandemic as well as to identify emerging good practice, innovation and adaptation to protection responses. The primary audiences for this evaluation are United Nations member states, including those party to the 1951 Convention and Optional Protocol, the states that affirmed the Global Compact on Refugees, and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The findings of the evaluation will support the high-level officials’ mid-term review of progress towards the objectives of the GCR (held between Global Fora) in December 2021. The secondary audiences are international organizations, civil society organizations, including refugee-led organizations, and other actors who are providing critical assistance to refugees during COVID-19. The joint evaluation will be carried under the auspices of the COVID-19 Global Evaluation Coalition of the OECD. The Management Group for the evaluation includes the Evaluation Units of UNHCR, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland, Governments of Colombia and Uganda, and the humanitarian system network ALNAP. Furthermore, the reference group consisting of experts will be established. The budget of the joint evaluation is 470 000 usd. Finland's contribution is 120 000 Euros.