This independent evaluation assesses HelpAge International’s Humanitarian Capacity Strengthening (HCS) programme (2021–2025), examining its relevance, effectiveness, coherence, inclusion, accountability and sustainability across the global network.
The evaluation finds that HCS was a strategically coherent and highly relevant investment, with the SHAPE framework at its core enabling partners to identify and lead their own capacity strengthening priorities. Through a blended learning model combining organisational accompaniment, peer‑to‑peer support, training and e‑learning, the programme strengthened partners’ governance, preparedness, inclusion practices and advocacy capacity. Partners reported increased confidence, stronger systems and improved participation in humanitarian coordination and policy processes, contributing to more age‑inclusive humanitarian action.
The evaluation also identifies key challenges and priorities for the next phase. While policy and system changes are well advanced, translating these into consistent day‑to‑day practice remains uneven, and sustainability is a significant risk due to staff turnover, funding uncertainty and reduced accompaniment following organisational restructuring. Older people’s participation in the design and governance of the HCS programme itself was limited, despite improvements in partners’ inclusion and accountability practices. The report recommends that the next HCS strategy chapter be co‑designed with partners and older people, strengthen implementation accompaniment, formalise peer‑to‑peer exchange, build partners’ financial resilience, and embed participation and sustainability as core programme principles.
