Falb Kathryn, Annan Jeannie
Airbel Impact Lab, International Rescue Committee, 1730 M St NW, Suite 505, Washington DC, 20036, USA.
Airbel Impact Lab, International Rescue Committee, 122 E 42nd St, New York City, NY, 10168, USA.
Confl Health. 2021 Mar 1;15(1):12. doi: 10.1186/s13031-021-00340-1.
Conducting ethical and rigorous research to measure the effectiveness of humanitarian programs is urgently needed given the global level of displacement and conflict, yet traditional approaches to evaluation research may be too slow and disruptive for acute humanitarian settings. The current case study utilizes an experience of implementing a mixed methods evaluation conducted between March-August 2018 in northern Raqqa Governorate, Syria. The key research objectives were to examine the influence of an unconditional, three-month cash transfer program on household basic needs and women's wellbeing, including experiences of violence. This setting was selected for the research as it shared many aspects of an acute emergency within a protracted conflict given its recent opening of access to humanitarian aid programming following the withdrawal of ISIS as well as influxes of internally displaced persons fleeing airstrikes and fighting in Raqqa City in late 2017.
The current case study was scientifically important as the use of cash assistance in emergencies has increased exponentially in recent years. Yet, little is still known about how cash assistance designed to help households meet their basic needs may also influence women's overall wellbeing in the home. Challenges of conducting the research included selecting an emergency site appropriate for research, implementing an evaluation that would not delay or disrupt critical cash assistance programming, and measurement of sensitive violence against women outcomes. Four strategies were identified to meet the challenges of conducting an evaluation in such a setting, which included: (1) developing clear decision-making criteria for assessing feasibility; (2) frontloading processes to reduce time lag in launching research; (3) integrating the research approach within programming; and (4) closely collaborating with practitioners throughout the study, especially for research on sensitive topics like violence against women. Conclusions Advance consideration of these factors through a pre-positioning process will allow for timely, ethical, and rigorous research to be implemented in the immediate aftermath of a crisis. Such studies should be prioritized to ensure the highest effectiveness and efficiency of humanitarian aid for populations grappling with acute emergencies.
鉴于全球范围内的流离失所和冲突状况，开展符合伦理且严谨的研究以衡量人道主义项目的有效性迫在眉睫。然而，传统的评估研究方法对于急性人道主义环境而言可能过于缓慢且具有干扰性。本案例研究采用了2018年3月至8月在叙利亚拉卡省北部实施的一项混合方法评估的经验。主要研究目标是考察一项为期三个月的无条件现金转移项目对家庭基本需求以及妇女福祉（包括暴力经历）的影响。选择该地区进行研究是因为它在长期冲突中具有急性紧急情况的诸多特征，2017年末随着伊斯兰国的撤离，该地区近期开始有人道主义援助项目介入，同时还有大量因拉卡市空袭和战斗而逃离的境内流离失所者涌入。
本案例研究具有重要的科学意义，因为近年来紧急情况下现金援助的使用呈指数级增长。然而，对于旨在帮助家庭满足基本需求的现金援助如何影响家庭中妇女的整体福祉，我们仍然知之甚少。开展这项研究面临的挑战包括选择适合研究的紧急情况地点、实施不会延迟或干扰关键现金援助项目的评估，以及对针对妇女的敏感暴力结果进行测量。确定了四项策略来应对在这种环境下进行评估的挑战，包括：（1）制定明确的可行性评估决策标准；（2）提前准备流程以减少开展研究的时间滞后；（3）将研究方法融入项目规划；（4）在整个研究过程中与从业者密切合作，特别是对于像针对妇女的暴力这样的敏感主题的研究。结论 通过预先定位过程对这些因素进行提前考虑，将有助于在危机过后立即开展及时、符合伦理且严谨的研究。此类研究应被优先考虑，以确保为难民提供的人道主义援助在应对急性紧急情况时具有最高的有效性和效率。
