Migration and Development

The Nexus Pilot (2020-2022) in Budi County, South Sudan addressed conflict, displacement and poverty through e.g. conflict resolution mechanisms, Village Savings and Loan Associations, activities aimed to reduce gender based violence, a grinding mill and boreholes. It was a pilot to learn more about the humanitarian-development-peace nexus approach managed by Church of Sweden.

Main evaluation method: Narratives from partner reporting and interviews with local stakeholders, triangulated with independent statistics.

Positives: The shortcomings below mainly reflect an “absence of evidence”, not “evidence of absence” of impact. It is plausible that the project achieved at least some of the suggested impacts.

Potential shortcomings: The evidence is contradictory and of limited confidence. Beneficiary interviews and project reports make numerous positive claims, but these could either not be triangulated or were sometimes seemingly contradicted by independent statistics. As a pilot project, learning was a key objective, yet documentation was inadequate. No quantitative baseline data were collected. The implementing partner received insufficient monitoring and evaluation support.

This Brief provides a summary of key guidance for Sida staff on assessing ODA (Official Development Assistance) in the field of migration. The guidance draws on the principles and criteria issued by the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) with the goal to preserve the integrity of ODA. When it is difficult to determine the main objective of the activity, please consult with statistics@sida.se.