Canada’s Strategy to respond to the Rohingya and Myanmar crises, 2017-18 to 2022-23 – Evaluation summary

About the evaluation

Global Affairs Canada’s Evaluation Division conducted an evaluation of Canada’s Strategy to respond to the Rohingya and Myanmar crises (the “Strategy”), for the period from fiscal year (FY) 2017-18 to FY 2022-23. The evaluation aimed to highlight areas of strength and gaps in Canada's Strategy objectives, resources and delivery of services, and provide neutral evidence and recommendations to inform Canadian engagement in the dual crises beyond the current phase of the Strategy.

Key findings

• Canada exerted considerable influence among the donor community in international coordination and advocacy for the Rohingya refugee response in Bangladesh. 
• Canada helped save lives and alleviate human suffering in Myanmar and Bangladesh, although its humanitarian funding decreased in Phase 2 while needs increased.
• While Canada achieved the Strategy’s intended development assistance results in key sectors in Bangladesh, contextual constraints hindered lasting outcomes.
• Canada’s development assistance in Myanmar achieved the Strategy's intended results, but increased violence, instability and operational constraints hampered lasting outcomes.
• Despite Canada’s efforts to hold human rights violators accountable, increase pressure and advance conditions for Rohingyas refugees’ return to Myanmar, the context and the Myanmar military regime’s continued use of violence hindered success in these areas.
• While operational and access constraints resulting from the coup and military rule in Myanmar were a key limitation, Canada’s administrative flexibility and strong partner engagement enabled implementing partners to better adapt to the post-coup context.
• Canada’s advocacy and support to livelihoods and skills development were key to meeting the needs of Rohingya refugees and crisis-affected populations, as the protracted crises led to continued dependence on international humanitarian assistance.
• Canada’s role as a leading donor on third-country resettlement was an unexpected result of its response to the crises.

Recommendations

1. In Canada’s response to the Rohingya crisis in Bangladesh, focus on efforts to improve Rohingya refugees’ self-reliance while still pursuing complementary solutions to repatriation, as well as addressing humanitarian needs.
2. Identify ways for Canada to target the underlying causes of the conflict and political instability in Myanmar and support lasting solutions to the Myanmar and Rohingya crises.