Evaluation of the Climate and Environment Plan of Action of the ICRC

Context of the evaluation

For several years, humanitarian actors have been increasingly aware of the potential negative impacts of their programmes and the crises themselves on the environment and climate. These impacts can result from inadequate ways of working, implementation of programmes in countries in crisis or from the logistics deployed, both at headquarters and at the local level. Humanitarian operations can therefore have significant negative consequences for beneficiaries and surrounding communities, which can exacerbate precarious climatic and environmental situations, going against the ‘Do no Harm’ principle. As such, many humanitarian actors, including the ICRC, have taken up commitments and goals to reduce their environmental and climate impact and to better adapt to and anticipate the needs arising from the ongoing triple crisis (climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss).

In both aspects of humanitarian engagement – considering the impact of climate and environmental risk on humanitarian need and considering the impact of humanitarian action on the climate and environment – ICRC, as part of the wider Red Cross / Red Crescent Movement, has aimed to play a leading role. Among other activities, the organisation co-developed and continues to support the Climate and Environment Charter for Humanitarian Organisations, which galvanised members of the humanitarian community to engage on this topic and take actions. Internally, the ICRC already committed to turning the Climate Charter commitments into action and developed its own Climate and Environment Plan of Action (2021-2024+) focusing on 3 pillars:

1. Integration of climate and environmental risks into programmes;
2. Reducing the ICRC’s environmental footprint;
3. Policy and legal development and engagement on climate and the environment.

The Plan of Action spans the period from May 2022 to December 2024. As such, and in preparation for the first Progress Report, the ICRC needs to evaluate its performance with regards to the achievement of the goals set. Groupe URD, in collaboration with partner experts from the PLAN A alliance¹, respond to the ICRC’s need to evaluate the advancement of these commitments as well as their efficiency and appropriateness to ensure the ICRC attains its climate and environment ambitions.

Main objectives

The overarching objective of this evaluation is to generate evidence and understanding of the progress of the ICRC towards its Climate and Environment ambitions and suggest any adaptations and recommendations needed to improve the organisation practices and ensure it meets its climate and environmental targets.

The 4 main objectives of the evaluation identified are:

• Reporting on initial progress to contribute to the first progress report of the Plan of Action;
• Assessing to what extent the plan of action – if implemented successfully – will lead to the ICRC reaching its ambitions on climate and environment and advise on how to close the possible gap, barriers and challenges;
• Analysing the current organizational set-up and resources (human, financial, etc.) available (within the ICRC, the RCRC Movement and beyond) to work on the Climate and Environment Charter implementation and advise on future evolutions and/or needs;
• Identifying key enablers and collect lessons learned and best practices that have led to some delegations performing well in advancing environmental sustainability, climate risk integration or policy engagement on climate.

© Photo : Laurent Saillard, Groupe URD

1. Plan A is made of Groupe URD, ADAPT Initiative and AIDMI