ShelterBox Morocco Earthquake Response Evaluation

The evaluation assessed ShelterBox’s emergency shelter and non-food item (NFI) response following the September 2023 earthquake in Morocco, which targeted approximately 1,200 earthquake-affected households in the Atlas Mountain region.

The assessment applied a mixed-methods approach aligned with OECD-DAC criteria (relevance, coherence, effectiveness, and efficiency), combining desk review with household surveys, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and field-level verification of shelter assistance. The methodology enabled a comprehensive analysis of both implementation processes and community-level outcomes across remote and hard-to-access areas.

Findings confirm that the response addressed urgent shelter needs and supported households to remain close to their homes during the early recovery phase. The intervention demonstrated strong community engagement practices and effective collaboration with local partners and authorities, particularly in a context with limited formal coordination structures.

At the same time, the evaluation identified key areas for strengthening future responses. These include the need for more robust and systematic needs assessments to inform targeting, improved communication with communities regarding eligibility and assistance, and enhanced accessibility of distribution processes for vulnerable groups, including women and persons with disabilities.

The evaluation also highlighted opportunities to strengthen accountability systems, particularly through more effective use and communication of feedback and complaints mechanisms.

Overall, the evaluation contributed to strengthening organisational learning by informing more context-responsive, inclusive, and accountable shelter programming, particularly in complex, rural, and rapidly evolving emergency settings.