The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) commissioned IOD PARC to conduct an independent review to generate learning from the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal (UHA). The review had a specific focus on localisation, partnerships and new ways of working introduced during the response.
Our review found that the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal demonstrated the strengths of the DEC’s operating model in practice. Flexible funding, member autonomy and a clear commitment to localisation enabled a rapid, large-scale response while also creating space for learning, adaptation and more locally led approaches. The DEC’s convening role and willingness to innovate supported collaboration across members and partners and reinforced the DEC’s position as a sector leader in partnership-based humanitarian action.
We also found important learning areas that can further strengthen future appeals. Predictability of funding, clearer articulation of innovative funding mechanisms, more structured risk sharing, and consistent approaches to transition and exit planning would enable deeper and more sustained localisation, particularly in protracted crisis contexts.
We worked closely with our partners at the Ukrainian Evaluation Association, whose expertise was invaluable throughout the course of the review.
