ReliefWeb

Introduction

1. The Global Shelter Cluster (GSC) developed its first comprehensive strategy for the period 2013-17 (Annex 1). The start of the strategy also coincided with the first donor funding from ECHO in order to strengthen the GSC; the funding went on to cover the periods 2013-14 and 2015-16.
   The GSC awaits positive news of its application for continued funding for the period 2017-18, which overlaps with the end of the strategy and the beginning of its new strategy 2018-22.

2. IFRC commissioned a number of its own evaluations reviewing its Shelter role (2011, 2013).
   During the lifetime of the GSC, 27 country cluster evaluations have been implemented, of which 12 took place during the period of the 2013-17 strategy; this review however is the first that includes the overall Global Shelter Cluster.

3. This review of the GSC Strategy 2013-17 was commissioned by the Co-leads and the Cluster’s Strategic Advisory Group and covers the strategy implementation to the end of 2016.

Purpose

The purpose of the evaluation is to (i) assess progress of the implementation of the strategy (ii) identify achievements (iii) identify gap areas covering both those parts of the strategy that have not been sufficiently achieved and those which may have been missed in light of a changing context, with a view to (iv) making recommendations for the last year of implementation and inform the development of the 2018 - 2022 strategy.
Additional questions that were included to assist the evaluation included:

Effectiveness of the Strategy

1. To what extent have the strategic aims and results been achieved?

2. What are the contributing and/or mitigating factors for achievement?
   Impact of the Strategy

3. What positive and negative changes, intended or unintended, have taken place as a result of the implementation of the GSC Strategy?

Efficiency of Strategy Implementation

1. Did the actual, intended or unintended, results justify the costs incurred?

2. Have the resources been spent as economically as possible?

3. Did the activities overlap and duplicate other similar initiatives?

Relevance

1. Did the GSC Strategy goal, strategic aims and expected results reflect the needs and ambitions of GSC partners?

2. To what extent did the G SC partners engage and participate in GSC activities?

3. Should the priorities be changed or adjusted in light of new needs, policies and humanitarian trends (i.e. Transformative Agenda, Agenda for Humanity, WHS Commitments to Action, Habitat III).

4. Was the GSC Strategy 2013 - 2017 too narrow or too broad? Is there anything it overlooked?