Terminal Evaluation of ABADEI Programme, UNDP Afghanistan

Terminal Evaluation - ABADEI Programme

Afghanistan's ongoing economic collapse following the Taliban takeover contributed significantly to the humanitarian crisis, including COVID-19, the impacts of drought and floods, and rapidly increasing poverty and food insecurity. The operational and programmatic environment for development organizations has undergone major change as a result of the Taliban's return to power. To lessen the need for humanitarian relief and stop subsequent reversals in development, especially for women and vulnerable populations, it is essential to save livelihoods. Additionally, these difficulties put the economy, social cohesion, and human security in danger, and they might even fuel extremism and violence. 

To tackle these issues, UNDP has worked in Afghanistan over the past 50 years on issues such as gender equality, governance, health, livelihoods, and the rule of law. The UNDP is assisting the Afghan people in achieving their goals of peace, prosperity, and sustainability under the umbrella of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and in close collaboration with other UN organizations. As part of the ongoing UN-led effort to avert a humanitarian disaster and the collapse of Afghanistan's economy following the change in power in August 2021, UNDP is now undertaking its flagship crisis response program, ABADEI (Area Based Approach to Development Emergency Initiatives).

UNDP Afghanistan has learned from its experience in Afghanistan that a one-size-fits-all or fragmented sector-based approach is ineffective. Instead, an integrated, flexible, and people-centered approach is necessary, prioritizing the most vulnerable and addressing local needs. UNDP is utilizing its knowledge and experience to implement the Area Based Approach to Development Emergency Initiatives (ABADEI), focusing on saving livelihoods and building community resilience.  Since the programme is nearing its closure, therefore, it has become imperative to conduct a terminal evaluation of the programme to assess the achievements of the project in alignment with UNDP Afghanistan's Transitional Engagement Framework (TEF) Outcome and Project indicators.  

Centre for Research and Development (CRD) has been awarded by UNDP Afghanistan the task of conducting the terminal evaluation. Dr. Md Mokhlesur Rahman, the lead consultant and CEO of CRD, is leading the evaluation team.