106 . MOPAN 2017-18 ASSESSMENTS . UNITED NATIONS RELIEF AND WORKS AGENCY FOR PALESTINE REFUGEES IN THE NEAR EAST MI 9.2: Interventions assessed as having realised the expected positive benefits for target group members Score MI Rating Satisfactory MI score 2.5 MI 9.2 Analysis Source document Four of the evaluations sampled articulate the extent that positive benefits for target group members have been achieved. However, these evaluations do not consistently present baselines or targets and so it is not possible to make an overall assessment of the extent to which expected positive benefits have been achieved for target groups. Nonetheless, the evaluations point to mixed levels of achievements undermined, in large part due to contextual challenges. • Although the evaluations do not provide evidence of the overall benefits for target groups, programme successes for target group members are noted in three evaluations. The Evaluation of the E-Health Programme identifies positive benefits for target group members. The programme successfully expanded and improved “non-communicable disease services with enhanced screening and patient control of Diabetes Mellitus over the duration of the programme.” The Evaluation of the Transition to e-Cards finds that the programme contributes to food security and protection people from slipping further into poverty, also enhancing feelings of choice and dignity among target group members. Although the overall effectiveness of the programme is variable, the Evaluation of the Gender Initiative also points to positive benefits for the women involved in the programme in terms of enhanced self-confidence which was an aim of the project. • The Evaluation of the Improvement of Living Conditions of Vulnerable Palestine Refugees in Jerash Camp finds that the interventions didn’t realise the expected positive benefits for target group members. The project which was intended to improve shelters for the most vulnerable residence of “Gaza Camp” failed to provide support to the most vulnerable. This was due to flaws in the targeting 9, 66, 133, 77, 141 criteria that was applied (and an imprecise definition of ‘vulnerability’) and failure to consider or meet beneficiary needs. UNRWA’s management results are mixed in terms of UNRWA’s ability to meet the critical needs of Palestine refugees. While management reporting shows that UNRWA has achieved important gains for target group members, there are still high levels of unmet needs across target groups. Successes include improved training and livelihoods throughout the West Bank with a resulting growth in loan numbers and loan values. However, due to shortfalls, UNRWA was not able to meet food insecure families’ emergency food needs or to fully deliver cash transfers for food to all eligible families. Two evaluations (The Evaluation of the Office of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East and the Evaluation of the Transition to E-Cards) discuss mixed performance regarding how the interventions have helped vis-à-vis poverty reduction. Both evaluations suggest that although UNRWA provided assistance toward offsetting poverty among poor refugees through its programming, UNRWA’s targeting criteria is somewhat opaque and it is difficult to ascertain to what extent UNRWA contributed to alleviating poverty across the identified poor groups. The Evaluation of the Office of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East finds that “Targeting social safety net transfers did not always translate into lifting the identified population out of abject poverty” and the Evaluation of the Transition to e-Cards raises questions about whether the targeting managed to reach those most in need. MI 9.2 Evidence confidence Medium confidence