Responding to Refugee cRises in developing countRies: what can we leaRn fRom evaluations ? i ForewordThe OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) has recognised that international co-operation and development assistance in relation to forced displacement, refugees, and migration need greater attention. In 2016, the DAC formed a Temporary Working Group on Refugees and Migration.This working paper provides evidence from evaluations to feed into guidance on better programming in refugee contexts that is being developed through the DAC Temporary Working Group. The paper draws from evaluation findings to highlight some of the key lessons and recommendations for positive change going forward. Key topics covered in the paper include: lessons on bridging the gap between humanitarian and development programming; efforts to strengthen international response to protracted crises; lessons on whole-of-government approaches in refugee contexts; learning from work in urban settings; improving access to employment and quality education; new financing mechanisms for refugee crises in middle income countries; and lessons on financing in response to the Syria crisis. The paper highlights the evaluation work of DAC members and aims to help strengthen the evidence base to improve response to situations of displacement in developing countries.Three cases studies (Afghanistan, South Sudan and Ethiopia/Uganda) complement the main paper and look at how policy objectives have been implemented in specific country contexts.

A young Burundian refugee farms his little plot on the edge of the Kashjowa village, Uganda. © UNHCR/Frederic Noy This case study looks at efforts by the international community to support the approaches adopted in Ethiopia and Uganda towards refugee self-reliance. It compares outcomes in the countries, with a specific focus on access to employment and business creation. The case study draws from a number of evaluations and recent reports. Refugees from South Sudan cross the border with Uganda at the Kaya River via a bridge built by UNHCR.

Afghan locals, internally displaced and returnees in the Shomali Plain, Afghanistan. © UNHCR/Piers Benatar RESPONDING TO REFUGEE CRISES: LESSONS FROM EVALUATIONS IN AFGHANISTAN AS A COUNTRY OF ORIGIN III ForewordThe OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) has recognised that international co-operation and development assistance in relation to forced displacement, refugees, and migration need greater attention. In 2016, the DAC formed a Temporary Working Group on Refugees and Migration.This working paper is a case study on Afghanistan as a refugee country of origin. The case study looks at whole-of-government efforts by OECD member countries in Afghanistan, specifically looking at how states have co-ordinated development, diplomatic and defense resources in a refugee country of origin. The case study also examines efforts by the international community to promote stability and state building objectives. The case study was undertaken as part of a wider research project on learning from evaluations to improve responses to situations of forced displacement.The study, Responding to Refugee Crises in Developing Countries: What Can We Learn From Evaluations? provides evidence from evaluations to feed into guidance on better programming that is being developed through the DAC Temporary Working Group. The main paper and three accompanying case studies draw on evaluation findings to highlight some of the key lessons and recommendations for positive change going forward. The main paper and three case studies (Afghanistan, South Sudan and Ethiopia/Uganda) can be found at: www.oecd.org/dac/evaluation/evaluating-refugee-migration.htm.