Evaluation of Humanitarian Logistics in the European Commission’s Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid operations, 2018 – 2022, and of the mobility package within the emergency support instrument re-activation 2020-2022.

This report presents findings, conclusions and recommendations from a thematic evaluation of logistics activities funded by DG ECHO for the period of 2018-2022; and of the Mobility Package within the Emergency Support Instrument activation, 2020-2022. On the humanitarian side, the evaluation covers operational support through the EU HAB and the EU HAF, funding of UNHAS, the Logistics Cluster and NGO-operated logistics services, the recently launched Humanitarian Logistics Policy and European Humanitarian Response Capacity, and DG ECHO’s internal and external advocacy on logistics. On the civil protection side, it covers UCPM transport and operations activities. The evaluation uses a mixed-method approach and concludes that overall, the EU’s investments in the area of logistics were relevant, effective, efficient and added value, particularly during the heightened crises of the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine, where DG ECHO acted quickly to develop new logistics services in aid of the humanitarian community and EU Member States. Evidence was somewhat more mixed regarding coherence, where DG ECHO´s innovations have the potential to disrupt the status quo and where DG ECHO needs to consider its specific role in the future n order to maximise its added value. The evaluation provides general and specific recommendations.