Evaluating CHAF4: Strengthening Canada’s Humanitarian Response

In a world where humanitarian crises are becoming more frequent and severe, ensuring rapid and effective response mechanisms is more critical than ever. How do we measure the impact of these efforts, and how can they be improved? These were the key questions guiding a recent evaluation of the Canadian Humanitarian Assistance Fund 4 (CHAF4).

In February, Nexus and its partner, the Observatoire canadien sur les crises et l’action humanitaires (OCCAH) from the University of Quebec in Montreal (UQAM), led a conversation with The Humanitarian Coalition and its member organizations to review initial findings of an evaluation conducted by Nexus and OCCAH of the CHAF4. CHAF4, the fourth iteration of the mechanism, was a 3-year, $15 million agreement between Global Affairs Canada and the Humanitarian Coalition, that was implemented between 2021 and 2024. In total, CHAF 4 reached 905,260 people with over 45 projects responding to 34 disasters in 25 countries.

The meeting, held at Plan International Canada’s head office in Toronto, was an opportunity to unpack and validate the findings of the evaluation. To complete the evaluation, Nexus and OCCAH reviewed all CHAF 4 reports, conducted a survey, and held virtual key interviews and workshops with CHAF 4 partners in in Latin America, Africa, and Asia.  We unpacked CHAF 4’s efficiency, effectiveness, and alignment with the Core Humanitarian Standard on Quality and Accountability (CHS)—ensuring it remains a timely and impactful response mechanism for rapid-onset disasters.  The final evaluation was submitted in early March 2025. 

Evaluations like these serve a broader purpose within the humanitarian sector. As global crises become more frequent and complex—ranging from natural disasters to conflict-driven emergencies—the need for agile, well-coordinated response mechanisms has never been greater. Humanitarian funding must be both flexible and accountable, ensuring that aid reaches those who need it most while continuously improving efficiency and effectiveness. By assessing programs like CHAF 4, we contribute to a learning process that enhances future response efforts, strengthens partnerships, and refines best practices for humanitarian action worldwide.

We extend our gratitude to all who contributed to this process and to the Humanitarian Coalition for inviting us to play a role in shaping the future of one of Canada’s most important humanitarian response mechanisms.