Solution
Anju Lata answered on
May 18 2021
5
Critical Analysis of Humanitarian Intervention Report
Assignment
Topic: Critical Analysis of Humanitarian Intervention Report
Student Name:
Student Number:
University:
Purpose and Rationale for Evaluation
The purpose of the evaluation was to assess the humanitarian response of Australia to Cyclone PAM to recognize the potential support DFAT can give for the Pacific Island Countries in preparing and responding to the emergency situations and in recovering from the crisis (DFAT, 2017).
Methodology of Evaluation
Review of the documents and the interviews of key informants was used as a source of data collection. A two week field visit to Fiji and Vanuatu was also organized. The evaluation adopted a structured approach for data collection through multiple focus group discussions and the interviews of the key informants.
The team doing evaluation assessed and interpreted more than 115 documents provided by the DFAT and government agencies (Handmer & Ivason, 2017). The documents were retrieved from the academic and grey literature. The reviewed documents included reports and appeals, the partner strategies implemented, after action reviews, internal documents of DFAT and specialist studies along with other evaluations.
The assessment organized semi structured interviews for the 39 Australian Government Representatives, 30 people from the Government of Vanuatu, 10 private sector representatives and other 5 stakeholders (DFAT, 2017). The interviews were conducted on the basis of guide to allow flexibility in enquiring the respondents. Detailed notes were taken by one of the team members for every interview taken and the audio recording of the interviews was done.
The focus group discussions were conducted for the people from most severely influenced communities of Tanna, Efate and E
omango islands. The discussions were also based on the guide. The 14 groups of beneficiaries were consulted for their perspectives over the effectiveness of interventions and provided assistance. The guide for the focus group discussions also included exercises developed to involve enhanced participation. In one of the exercises the respondents were provided with a pe
le which was placed at the centre of the discussion group and the respondents were asked to offer their opinion about a certain issue. One of the other exercises was conducted to include the beneficiaries to inform about the different types of assistance they achieved during the crisis.
Principles and Values
The questions used to guide the evaluation were based on Good Humanitarian Donorship Principles. This initiative was appraised by the governments and imposed the basic humanitarian principles of Neutrality, Impartiality, independence and Impartiality in terms of funding and finance (Handmer & Ivason, 2017). The initiative was aimed to alleviate sufferings and save the lives while delivering relief as per the needs of the people. For example the assistance was provided to support the sufferers at different levels like health, shelter, education, gender and protection, food and ensuring basic amenities. The project was conducted without any discrimination between the recipients and the integrity and independence of humanitarian actions was maintained at political, military and economic grounds. The access to humanitarian services, human rights and respect for the international law was given primary importance. The intervention supported the outcomes in following manner:
· The humanitarian actions assisted the partner governments in preparedness to combat the disaster.
· The actions were coordinated and timely
· The actions met the accountability for the needs of affected population
· The humanitarian initiatives protected the dignity, safety and rights of the influenced population.
· The interventions integrated the recovery from crisis to assist the long term developments
What Data was collected?
The evaluation questions used in this study were structured to explore the
1. Response of Australia to Cyclone PAM in terms of strategies used to guide the response,
2. Effectiveness of Australian Aid;
3. Achievements from Australian Assistance,
4. Efficiency of the aid provided by Australia about the value of money;
5. Coordination of assistance with Australian Aid;
6. Connectedness of Aid provided by Australia;
7. Improvement of effectiveness of Aid provided by Australia
The data was collected about the response of Vanuatu Government, International Response, and the response of local responders to combat the crisis. The international response along with the government initiatives
ought remarkable achievements during the first three months of the rehabilitation program. The financial assistance provided by the Australia was adequate and according to the bilateral partnership with the government of Vanuatu. The DFAT partners engaged in implementation of humanitarian responses provided effective logistics and medical support. A number of partners involved in the intervention were HK Logistics, Australian Medical Assistance Teams, World Food program, U
an Search & rescue, Australian Red Cross, UN International Children’s Emergency Fund, and Australian NGOs. DFAT used strategic diversified approaches of these partners to deliver huge package of assistance.
The findings of the evaluation were categorized in different groups: Shelter, Health, Education, Gender & Protection, Logistics, Food and Drinking water Supply.
The data was also collected for the statistics about the achievements in providing the assistance to the affected populations on ground. For example 23% shelters were provided by the Australian Redcross and World Vision & Usar (Ovington, 2017). It involved fixing of tarpaulins and kits, and guidance on construction of safer shelters. The partners also assisted the repairs of Port Vila Central Hospital, clinics, schools and other infrastructural sites. The Australian Assistance supported 22% rehabilitation in healthcare by offering treatment and pharmaceuticals to the people, providing reproductive services and sexual health facilities for them, contributing to the vaccination for measles, distributing newborn kits, screening the children for malnutrition, supporting the disease surveillance, and refu
ishing the cold storage and vaccine storage facility (Dunn, 2015). In addition to it, the statistics were also collected for the establishments of child and women friendly spaces, extending psychological support, birth certification and food security.
The data was appropriate for the evaluation, as it reflected the effectiveness and contribution of different partners in achieving the overall objectives of the mission (Piper, 2017). The collected responses attributed all the undergone operations for their adherence to Humanitarian Policy. The contribution of Australia proved to be highly effective and accountable in the...