CASE STUDY – GAR AND RAP EVALUATIONS

Malatest Solution

Given the breadth and scope of the evaluation, a hybrid evaluation team was developed with staff from IRCC and Malatest. Working collaboratively we completed international site visits to Canadian Visa Offices Abroad (CVOA) examining pre-departure services, and inland site visits with Service Providing Organizations (SPOs) and Constituent Groups (CG) or Group of Five (G5) sponsors to examine settlement services. Site visits included interviews and focus groups with a wide variety of stakeholders. The secondary data sources for the evaluation included a document review, a literature review, and statistical analysis of government datasets. The hybrid model brought together evaluators with expertise in both evaluation and immigration to support this complex evaluation.

The findings of the evaluations were used to support policy changes designed to improve program operations and ensure that refugees entering Canada are provided the necessary supports to adjust and thrive. For example, the earlier evaluation’s findings supported the re-evaluation of the source country designation and an assessment of the appropriateness of the housing allowance, while the later evaluation’s findings supported the adjustment of RAP income support to better meet GARs’ needs, improvement of BVOR and VOR programs’ operational guidance, and a review of application intake management tools.