Emergency Response That Reaches the Most Vulnerable

HBC Insights — Fri, 20 Sep 2024 10:21:00 +0000

Program Evaluation 5 min read

Emergency Response That Actually Reaches Vulnerable Populations: What a €4.5M Program Taught Us

Humanitarian programs often claim to reach vulnerable populations. Fewer achieve 94% delivery rates while ensuring meaningful inclusion for persons with disabilities. We evaluated one that did—and documented what made the difference across six provinces in crisis conditions.

Most humanitarian evaluations follow a predictable pattern: outcomes are measured, recommendations are filed, documents are archived. This evaluation was different because the program itself was different—and it achieved measurable results that exceed sector averages.

The Results: Across 6 provinces and 4 regions, the program achieved 94% humanitarian assistance delivery (vs. 75% baseline target), 93% mental health support outcomes (vs. 80% target), and deliberately achieved 33% persons with disabilities in our beneficiary sample—not accidentally, but through intentional protection-focused recruitment.

What Makes Emergency Response Work

We surveyed 521 households across multiple provinces using mixed-methods approach. Rather than asking only "did you receive assistance?" we assessed what actually changed for beneficiaries. Transportation access emerged as the strongest predictor of service utilization. Programs that solved mobility—through mobile service units or accessible facility locations—outperformed static facility models by 30-40 percentage points.

The disability inclusion wasn't a checkbox. Community-based recruitment strategies specifically reached persons with disabilities through established networks. Staff training emphasized accessibility at every stage: interview locations, timing, communication approaches. Result: persons with disabilities reported equal or superior outcomes compared to non-disabled beneficiaries.

The Sustainability Challenge

94%

Assistance delivery rate

521

Households surveyed

33%

Disability inclusion

Provinces covered

High delivery rates during active programming typically decline post-project when external support ends. We documented transition risks and identified cost-effectiveness pathways. Integration with government counterparts positioned some services for sustainability, while others clearly required continuation funding. We quantified each scenario to enable evidence-based sustainability planning.

The evaluation identified specific geographic areas where government capacity was strongest—prioritizing those regions for transition planning. This approach maximizes sustainability odds while being realistic about constraints.

Need the Full Evaluation Report?

Complete report includes survey instruments, qualitative analysis, province-by-province comparisons, sustainability recommendations, and detailed methodology documentation.

Request Full Report

Or email: research@hbcxconsulting.com

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HBC Partners with AQMesh to Enhance Air Quality Monitoring in Kabul

HBC Insights — Thu, 16 Dec 2021 11:33:14 +0000

In a move to better understand and address air pollution in the city, HBC has announced a new partnership with AQMesh, a leading provider of outdoor air quality monitoring systems. Through this collaboration, HBC has installed two advanced air quality monitoring pods that are now operational in Kabul’s PD 10 and PD 3 districts.

The AQMesh monitoring stations are tracking six key gases – nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O3), particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) – as well as humidity and temperature levels. This comprehensive data will provide valuable insights into Kabul’s air pollution challenges and help guide future efforts to improve the environment.

“Air quality is a critical issue that impacts the health and wellbeing of Kabul’s residents,” said HBC spokesperson Ali Ahmad. “By partnering with AQMesh, we’re taking an important step towards better understanding the problem and developing effective solutions.”

AQMesh is a London-based company that specializes in cutting-edge outdoor air quality monitoring systems. Their advanced sensor technology and cloud-based data platform make it possible to gather highly accurate, real-time information on a range of air pollutants.