In early 2005 Aguaconsult undertook an evaluation of ECHOs actions in the DPRK. The DPRK has been subject to ongoing humanitarian crises since the 1990s. Humanitarian programmes are greatly hampered by restrictions on access and data gathering and the secrecy or unavailability of even basic information. Steady improvements in this environment may have stopped or gone into reverse in late 2000. ECHO has responded to the humanitarian crisis in DPRK since its beginning in 1995 and continues to do so despite the nuclear crisis. To date funding has been allocated for humanitarian assistance, primarily in the fields of health and nutrition, water and sanitation, and food. Additionally the EU has allocated more than Û90 million under the food security budget line.The purpose of the evaluation was to assess the appropriateness of ECHOs interventions since 2001 and to produce recommendations for improving the effectiveness of future operations.
Evaluation methodology focused on documentary research and interviews with primary stakeholders. The evaluation team spent three weeks in DPRK, spending about half the time on field visits to ECHO-supported projects.